24 Hours in Brisbane

A sleepy riverside city no more, Brisbane has woken up. An influx of cool cafes, new hotels and a commitment to cutting edge art are to thank for the new vibe. Expedia’s Aussie travellers usually spend 1-2 nights in Brisbane. It’s not long but it’s long enough with our top five things to do on a short visit to Queensland’s capital city.

1. Try a new cafe

From fine dining to healthy and wholesome, Brisbane’s food scene has been booming. Over the last few years some of Sydney and Melbourne’s big names have opened secondary restaurants in the city – Aria and Sake are two very popular special occasion hot spots. If you’re after something more relaxed, the brand new Nest Restaurant and Bar opened in January and is serving relaxed Asian fusion fare from inside the recently refurbished Hotel Jen. Hops Scotch and Beans is a café, bar and roastery in Petrie Terrace that serves healthy café fare for breakfast and lunch before turning into whiskey and craft beer venue at night.

2. Have a tiki cocktail

When Alfred and Constance came on the scene a few years ago, it brought life back to a traditional Queenslander in Fortitude Valley. Spread out across the building is everything from Alfred’s Café (known for decadent shakes and soft serve ice cream) to the White Lightening Tiki Bar (for those who want to party the night away with a classic tiki cocktail or two).

3. Head to a gallery

Goma. An oldie but a goodie, the Gallery of Modern Art world renowned for bringing quirky, cutting edge, avant guarde and fun exhibitions to life. From aviary installations to giant slides and rooms filled with thousands of coloured dots, the exhibitions are suitable for all ages.

4. Shop at the markets

South Bank’s famous markets have catered to the tourists for years but there’s plenty of other markets that are worth exploring. The Boundary Street markets are located in the back of an industrial lot’s laneway of the West End. Most of the stalls are located inside shipping containers. From vegan treats to emerging designer labels, there’s a mixed bag of cool and quirky goods for sale. Keep an eye out for the Airstream caravan café selling fresh juices and organic waffles.

5. Stay savvy

Technology and travel go hand in hand these days and there’s no better example than NEXT Hotel Brisbane. Following a $100 million renovation, the hotel (previously the Lennons Hotel) re-opened in October 2014 and there’s plenty of opportunities to try out the latest whizz bang technology before you even reach your room. The hotel is home to the DOCOMO interTouch check in system so you can check in with your smart phone and use that as a room key. Then there’s the city’s very first sleep pods inside the Executive Lounge – perfect if you arrive off an early flight and need a kip before that big business meeting and check in. Every room also has a complimentary Samsung Galaxy S4 phone, with free local calls and free wifi.