Fortitude Valley
For many years, The Valley was an after-dark Brisbane destination renowned for its edgy live music, arts scene and a frenetic energy that continued into the wee hours. But it has evolved into a hip and high-end precinct with new restaurants, bars, boutiqu
Eat
KING ARTHUR This charming little café (kingarthurcafe.com) is housed in a quirky two-storey space just off James Street. The carefully curated all-day breakfast menu is focused on local organic produce and offers dishes such as grilled NICKEL KITCHEN & BAR Retreat from the bustle of Ann Street to this plush Art Decostyle restaurant (nickelkitchenbar.com.au), replete with a crystal chandelier, mahogany-lined bar and luxurious leather banquettes. The dishes are a contemporary opean classics like ck breast with parsnip allaby tartare with urt.
Drink
THE APO Hip younger brother of Gerard’s Bistro, The Apo (theapo.com.au) is set in a beautiful 150-year-old terrace and former apothecary. Pop in for a bespoke cocktail and snacks like the Lebanese taco with spiced goat and garlic yoghurt. BAEDEKER With its champagne garden, rustic underground cellar with leather chesterfields and antique curios aplenty, Baedeker bar and wine room (baedeker.com.au) is proof that The Valley has come a long way.
Stay
SPICERS BALFOUR HOTEL While there’s no shortage of hotels in Fortitude Valley proper, none encapsulates the character of the area like Spicers Balfour Hotel (hotel.qantas.com.au/balfour), down the road in New Farm. Its king and queen rooms are nestled within a grand old Queenslander in a quiet residential street just a short walk from the action. The hotel’s restaurant (open for breakfast, lunch and dinner) has a wraparound verandah surrounded by frangipani trees and the rooftop bar offers views of the city and Story Bridge.
Do
Go gallery hopping Start at the Institute of Modern Art (ima.org. au) on Brunswick Street and work your way east for an inspiring spread of small galleries: Artisan (artisan.org.au), Jan Murphy Gallery (janmurphygallery.com.au), Philip Bacon Galleries (philipbacongalleries.com.au) and Heiser Gallery (heisergallery.com.au).
Shop for local fashion James Street (jamesst.com.au) is full of little Australian stores that are big on style. There’s the relaxed aesthetic of Lee Mathews, exotic prints at Camilla, voluminous dresses by Brisbane designer Gail Sorronda and whimsical creations by Gorman. Other favourites include Sass & Bide, Zimmermann and Scanlan Theodore, with high-end international shoes at Maryon’s completing the outfit.
Take in some live music It’s actually in nearby Newstead but The Triffid (thetriffid.com.au) – brainchild of Powderfinger’s former bassist, John Collins – is the darling of the live-music scene. Set in an atmospheric old commercial aircraft hangar, it has an impressive events calendar, a laid-back beer garden and state-of-the-art sound. But first, caffeine... It’s hard to decide what’s loveliest at Reverends (372 Brunswick Street): the raw honesty of the red-brick interior, the artwork on the walls or the excellent coffee. Gerard’s Bistro is hidden down a James Street laneway (left); the bistro’s spanner crab with smoked basmati rice, shaved tuna heart and sorrel