01. Stock up at West End Markets   

Any weekend in West End should begin with a stop at Davies Park for the West End Markets, held every Saturday from 6am. Locals come by for breakfast, to buy produce for the week and sip coffee while sitting under trees listening to live music by the river.  

02. Feast on food fit for a Greek god  

The Greek community plays a starring role in West End’s migrant history. For an authentic taste of Greek cuisine, stop by The Greek Club's Nostimo restaurant, Lefkas on Hardgrave Rd, Yamas at West Village, Kafenio on Vulture St and Little Greek Taverna for a feast.   

03. Discover Greek culture too  

Step inside the St George Greek Orthodox Church, next to The Greek Club, to witness the wondrous art adorning this breath-taking space. Established in 1929, it is home to the oldest Greek Orthodox community in south-east Queensland.

04. Drink local brews 

Grab a brew from one of West End’s microbreweries. Catchment Brewing Co and Brisbane Brewing Co, both located on Boundary St, will sort you out with a beer and a feed. Parched Brewery on Montague Rd, also serves craft beer with your choice of bar snacks or big meals. 

05. Brunch your heart out   

West End is renowned for its café scene with hungry hordes descending on the suburb every weekend to sate their appetites. Check out the locals’ favourite spots such as The Gunshop Café, The Burrow, Morning After, Billykart, NYC Bagel Deli and Plenty.  

06. Get about on two wheels   

Bring your own bike or download the Neuron or Beam apps and hire an e-bike or e-scooter to explore the picturesque paths along the river and experience the suburb’s stunning views.  

07. Hit the dancefloor 

Put those two left feet to work at Rio Rhythmics and master Latin dancing including the tango and salsa in no time. Queensland Ballet teaches classical and contemporary moves for all ages and abilities at the Thomas Dixon Centre on Montague Rd. 

08. Find a BYO dinner venue

Restaurants that let you bring a special bottle of wine or a six-pack of your favourite brews are not hard to come by in West End. Try Little Greek Taverna, Trang and Caravanserai. 

09. Explore West End’s street art

The bohemian suburb’s alleyways and venues are filled with vibrant street art. explore the alfresco gallery at your own pace or let a Brisbane Greeter show you around for free. Don’t forget your camera! 

10. Enjoy the water views 

Laze the day away on a picnic blanket at Orleigh Park and soak up the incredible views over West End, across the Brisbane River to St Lucia and Milton and further to Brisbane’s city centre.  

11. Stock up on far-to-table produce

Harris Farm Markets at West Village is all about good food and strong support for local producers. It stocks products from more than 300 Queensland growers, creators and producers including organic milk, local berries, gourmet sauces and free-range chicken. 

12. Embark on a cocktail crawl 

Small bars and big favourites among locals and visitors to West End. Pull up a booth or a bar stool in an intimate venue and enjoy a cocktail… or two. Saunter between The End, Jungle, Bosc, The Bearded Lady and Lychee Lounge.  

13. SWOP ‘til you drop 

Brisbane’s first clothing exchange, SWOP, is located above the main street offering a range of clean, quality vintage and high-end second-hand clothing at a reasonable cost.  

14. Feeling bookish? 

Get lost among the bookshelves and discover your next favourite novel in West End. For new books, Avid Reader is a must-visit store while next door, its younger sibling Where The Wild Things Are sells a colourful array of kids' books. A few paces up the road, Bent Books will sort you out for second-hand novels.  

15. Grin and Barre it 

Drop by SOBA on Montague Road for a new kind of workout that combines yoga and pilates in a ballet studio-style environment.   

16. Aerial exploits in a yoga studio

Level up your downwards-facing dog and flip your fitness at Bend + Fly. The Montague St studio specials in antigravity aerial yoga and also runs classes in power and restorative yoga for those who prefer to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground. 

17. Eat nose to tail 

Try the yakitori skewers at Bird’s Nest for an authentic Japanese experience. Order a cold beer then feast on traditional fare from chicken hearts to arteries and cartilage cooked over a hot white coal grill.  

18. Indulge in a sky-high soak session

Soak Bathhouse is an urban oasis – a day spa and rooftop bathhouse overlooking West Village. Book a 90-minute soak session in open-air hot spas, communal mineral baths, cold plunge, steam room and sauna or add on an infrared sauna, LED facial or massage for the ultimate in self-care. 

19. We all scream for ice-cream 

Don’t be deterred by the line that usually snakes out the door at Anita Gelato at West Village. Its mouth-watering range of gelato, sorbet, frozen yoghurt and sundaes rotate through 150 flavours and is well worth the wait. 

20. Je ne sais pas, West End? 

Improve your French language skills at Alliance Francaise Brisbane. The hub runs French courses for adults plus cultural events throughout the year.  

21. Get a whisky education 

Small bar Cobbler has more than 400 different whisky types behind the bar. Order takeaway food and take a seat at the bar to begin your education.  

22. Sample craft beer in style 

Craft beer has a firm fanbase among West End locals and visitors alike. Sample local and independent brews at Archive Beer Boutique and Bistro, The Bearded Lady, Catchment, Ballistic Beer Co., Parched Brewery and Brisbane Brewing.  

23. Climb to the top 

Experience indoor rock climbing at Urban Climb. The centre offers a range of experiences including boulder routes, training and fitness courses, and kids' classes.  

24. Grab a Blackstar coffee 

Roasted in West End, Blackstar also bottles cold brew coffee and sells it to cafes, retailers and discerning coffee connoisseurs around Brisbane. Head straight to the source and sample each blend at its Thomas St cafe.  

25. Cut laps at the pool

Grab your goggles and head to Musgrave Park Pool. Entry is just $5 for adults and the 50m heated pool is open from 5am Monday to Saturday and 7am on Sunday. 

26. Listen to live music

There is no shortage of live, local and acoustic acts to get you up and dancing at venues throughout West End. The Boundary Hotel has live music from Thursday to Sunday in the beer garden and public bar. Across the road, Archive Beer Boutique and Bistro packs the dancefloor with live bands every Friday and further down Boundary St, The Bearded Lady features musicians and DJs across all musical genres. 

27. Get the scoop on snacks 

Mick’s Nuts is a West End institution. Its tiny shopfront on Hardgrave Rd belies the treasure trove of goodies stocked and stacked inside. The family-run business offers warm hospitality, hard-to-find ingredients and bags of nuts, chocolates, snacks, spices and pantry staples by the scoop. 

28. Spend an evening at the theatre

Contemporary arts company, Metro Arts, operates a theatre, art galleries, bar, café and creative spaces in West Village. It programs independent and thought-provoking work and champions emerging local artists and creatives.  

29. Sample West End’s tastiest street corner

The intersection of Vulture St and Hardgrave Rd is a gourmand’s delight. Start your day with a coffee at milk + honey while you peruse its range of baby and children’s wear. Venture two shopfronts up for lunch at The Twin, a café that specialises in smooth coffees and fresh sandwiches on house-made focaccia. Enjoy aperitivo hour just across the courtyard with a lip-smacking wine list and vegan bar snacks at Bar Francine then roll into dinner two doors down at the cosy Westside Pizza.