Brisbane: Where The Locals Go
When getting recommendations of where to go around Brisbane, most locals will tell you to leave entirely. Not because the city is bad per se; it’s just not where the locals hang out. That was the same experience I had in Vegas speaking to any local I came across. They stayed the hell away from the drunken hen nights and stag dos roaming the streets and instead struck off into the desert to explore nature. Brisbane locals seem to share that view, but we’ll do our best to capture a little of everything.
South Bank
Not exactly a best-kept secret nook or anything, but still worth mentioning as it’s a popular hotspot. If you want to make the commute interesting, catch the CityCat ferry, which will take you right there for just 50c (all public transport in Brizzy is 50c, and it’s fantastic). South Bank is opposite the city centre, right on the Brisbane River. It’s home to Streets Beach, an enclosed man-made beach. It’s within walking distance of all the culture you’ll need, with plenty of cafes and restaurants to pick from along the way to the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art or QPAC for a play. For food in the area, we recommend Bacchus, just across the road. More on that stunner later.
Hiking
There are better hikes further out, but keeping the drive from the CBD under an hour leaves us with Mt Glorious or Mt Nebo, which sit side by side just a 40-minute drive away. Mt Glorious is an easy walk, although the track markings are patchy in places. It’s a three-hour round trip in the bush, with a brief stopover at what’s been dubbed the Piper Comanche Wreck. It’s the remains of a light aircraft that clipped trees after flying too low and subsequently went down back in March 1977. Only the shell is left now, but it’s still a popular diversion on the trail. Take bug repellent and plenty of water. Be wary of leeches.
If you don’t mind a longer drive, head to the Warrie Circuit, about an hour and a half south of the city in Springbrook National Park. It’s a 14km hike and should take you about six hours. Go early and be prepared for hot weather. Parking is limited, so that’s another reason to get there early in the morning. There’s a waterfall to stop off at, so that’s a nice treat.
The Islands
When locals tell you to leave the city, one of the first suggestions is the many islands within view of it. Moreton Island is the top choice, and a ferry can have you there in just 75 minutes for a day of beach and snorkelling. There’s a row of wrecked ships which make a fun playground to explore. If you want to get the most out of the island there is a resort on it that can organise everything from quad bikes to helicopter tours and everything in between. It also has two restaurants and a beachside cafe so you can stay well watered the entire time you’re there.
If you don’t mind roughing it a little you can also camp there. You’ll need a permit first, but after that you have your pick of five camping zones along the beach.
XXXX Alehouse and Brewery
OK, this was supposed to be about what the locals do, but we’re here now, and we’re going to the brewery to act interested in conveyor belts and 145-plus years of Australian beer for 90 minutes, just so we can do some tastings at the end. Along the way, the crew at XXXX show you how to pour the perfect beer, so you go home with more than a couple of beers down your gullet. One hapless reviewer recommends not parking your car anywhere near the brewery on game day because “we got our car towed, $67.00 fine from police… took 3 hrs with the help of the traffic control lady”. They gave the entire experience 4 out of 5 stars.
Lone Pine
This one is more of a family hangout than a place for the lads. Who’s my target audience? I’m going to assume someone who’s got their life together enough to travel with kids, or at the very least have a girlfriend who’s very interested in koalas and quokkas. “What’s a quokka?” I hear you ask. Not telling; it can be a surprise. But probably yet another excuse for Australia to reinvent rodents. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is home to over 100 koalas and 75 species of native Australian animals. Bonus animals that aren’t officially living there but live there anyway because it’s Australia include birds, snakes, lizards, insects, and possums. It’s a 20-minute drive from the centre of town but well worth it for anyone who wants a quick encounter with nature.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to be treated like cattle yourself and have to pay for a ticket, you can see wild koalas without ever leaving town. Check out White Hills Reserve and tick those critters off your bucket list.
Fort Lytton National Park
Fort Lytton is a restored coastal fortress that was active from 1881 until the end of WWII in 1945, although further research suggests it operated until 1965. It’s well preserved, and re-enactors still fire the guns to blow out some eardrums. It was originally built over fears that the French, whose colonies were only three days away, might make a play for the then tiny Brisbane. The fort also served as a training base for soldiers who would go on to fight in the Boer War and both world wars.
It’s only a half-hour drive from the city centre and a neat little piece of military history, open to the public on Sundays.
High Dining
You won’t find much in the way of Michelin stars in Brisbane, but not for lack of great food. In Australia, most people use the hats awarded by the Australian Good Food Guide as a barometer. The most hats you can get is three. Michelin approached Tourism Australia about it, but its asking price for swanning around eating food and rating it was $4 million, ratcheting up to $7.5 million a year for the rest of the decade. You could just start more restaurants and give the entire joint away to the homeless with that kind of money. So hats it is!
Exhibition
Exhibition is a high-water mark and a bit pricier than Rogue Bistro, currently sitting at three hats. Exhibition’s menu focuses on their access to live seafood, benchmark meat and fresh produce from Queensland’s best biodynamic and sustainable farms. I presume biodynamics are like, Russian contortionists or something. There’s no menu; Exhibition simply aims to showcase a variety of beautiful produce in a series of thoughtful dishes. So if you’re someone who has trouble deciding, let head chef Tim Scott take the wheel. He and his team use traditional and modern techniques to create a menu that constantly evolves with the seasons.
Rogue Bistro
Word on the street is that Rogue Bistro is among the best in town for food and service. It’s got two hats and invites you to enjoy five courses celebrating the best of local and seasonal produce, with about a third of the menu changing each month to keep things fresh. Go in expecting a fusion of Modern Australian x international flavours all crafted to create a wholesome, well-rounded dining experience.
Rogue Bistro’s quite welcoming with its menu, offering seven thoughtfully considered dietary menus so that (almost!) everyone can have a great night and enjoy a degustation tailored to their needs. Each guest can choose their preferred menu, offering an inclusive dining affair for all. So if you have some curveball eating requirements this might be your best bet.
Bacchus South Bank
Good ambience and a great degustation, Bacchus comes highly recommended with two hats. It caters to every kind of occasion as a luxury venue offering private dining, daily buffet breakfast and Brisbane’s favourite Saturday High Tea. With premium local ingredients, barista-made coffee, and relaxed sophistication, breakfast at Bacchus is a much-loved ritual to start the day with. Every Saturday, Bacchus becomes the city’s elegant High Tea destination. Guests can enjoy a decadent spread of handcrafted savouries, exquisite sweets, premium teas, and sparkling wine. Take a look at the events they have on while you’re there and maybe catch a private dining experience or a four-course degustation with matching wines.
Agnes Restaurant
Hankering for the comfort of woodfire? Head to Agnes, which is built entirely around the concept of cooking on an open fire. Even the interior, kept minimal to highlight the heritage building it is housed in, is hearth-like. The space is spread over three levels, in three distinct areas – the main dining room, a wine bar and a terrace.
Executive Chef and co-owner Ben Williamson and his talented team strip cooking to its primordial elements. A defining feature of whisky is what sort of wood barrel it’s been kept in, so it stands to reason wood-fired food should be given the same due diligence. Ironbark, apple wood, cherry wood and olive wood are all used to bring out different flavours in each dish. The team works with regional suppliers and farmers to provide the freshest and best quality meat, seafood, poultry and vegetables. The menu moves with the seasons. They don’t like to consider themselves “fine dining” per se, but definitely not low dining either, and maybe that’s just perfect.
Low Dining
You don’t want to spend a couple of hundred dollars on every meal. Sometimes you just need a good, hearty burger.
Jee’s Burgers
It took me way too long to see what they were doing with the name. Very clever guys, for a burger joint. Nothing gets more low-key buzz than Jee’s. Portion sizes are generous, the price is right, and you can’t go wrong whether you go chicken or beef. Although I see a lot of locals leaning towards the chicken. They seem to have a thing for it over there. But if you’re stuck with choice paralysis at the counter, just go the regular cheeseburger. Grab a thickshake while you’re there.
KCS
If you’re after a chicken burger head toKCS and get yourself a Korean Fried Chicken Burger that’s full of gochujang aioli, Korean sweet chilli sauce, red cheddar, slaw and onion. The beer-battered chips are crispy and always a welcome accomplice to a meal you’ll regret when you step on the scales back home.