I probably go to the Queen Street Mall too often. At some level, I feel lame for not exploring…read moreother options or areas. However, it's just too easy. It's well located and has just about everything one could want. There's food, drinks, movies, food, drinks, clothes, mobile phones, banks, etc, etc, etc. The current construction is a bit annoying, but it's hard to knock improvements being made. The result is a bit of a bottleneck with the huge crowds walking around on weekends. This is a problem when you walk faster than basically any other human in existence and are incredibly impatient. So, it's probably more of a problem just for people like me, which thankfully, I don't believe can be found in abundance. I like that there is often music and the people watching is tremendous.

'Ello chaps! Queen…read moreStreet Mall is a marquee tourist and shopping area of downtown Brisbane. It extends from George Street to Edward Street with more than 700 retailers. Many of them include the kitschy tourist shops. NOTE: Don't assume all of the stores are the same. Some may have the very same products, but even at different prices. It's worth the while to browse around first and then actually make your purchases. Other stores include shoe stores, clothing, jewelry, and odds and ends. It does seem as though Queen Street Mall may have seen better days, although it is buzzing. It's better than a typical American shopping mall, although it is not a five star high end shopping plaza, making it very affordable for most shoppers. Reportedly there were 26 million visitors to Queen Street Mall last year. Overall I give Queen Street Mall four stars out of five.

Anyone who says that Brisbane lacks culture need to get their tooshes to James Street in the…read moreValley. This beautiful leafy precinct is home to countless boutiques, salons, galleries, interior design studios, cafes and restaurants. Despite being known as a more ritzy and expensive area, there are plenty of things to do on James Street on a budget such as getting a fantastic cup of coffee from Merlo, seeing an art-house film at Palace Centro cinema, or even just browsing the one off shops in the area. Even as a person who lives close by, I'm never bored on James Street. There are constantly new businesses opening in and around the precinct making it a fantastic place to meet friends or spend your day off. In the middle of 2011, James Street launched Thursday night Up Late, allowing for longer trading hours and a night time option for patrons. James Street is the perfect place to waste a beautiful, sunny Brisbane day. And if you have an interstate or international friend to impress with food, wine, shopping or culture, James Street should be a priority on the itinerary.

This is quite a really nice street. Boutique retailers, bars, and restaurants. When you do come…read morehere, you can window shop, and if you spend, prepare to spend $$$. During the day , this place has a certain humm about it. Have a really nice coffee in one of the many " nook " Cafes scattered up and down the street sitting on the foot path , people spotting, and car spotting as well. By night the place transforms , into a hustling, bustling, night spot. Quite during the week, but Friday and Saturday nights, this place goes off. From the fairy lights in the trees,gleaming Lamborghinis , Porsches, Ferraris, to the beautiful babes. The restaurants and bars, definitely worth the look. When here try , The Cru bar,6's & 7's, Gerad's bistro & bar. Bucci, The QA, Ribs and Burgers, The Yiros shop, and much, much more.

Quick and easy to buy food…read more Connected above Brunswick Train station in the Valley. 280 seat food court, Terry White Chemist, fitness first, Foodworks ( grocery store) 10-12 fast food places, 7-11, nail bar and medical centre. Parking building is also connected to the small centre on Alfred street. Major brand names like Subway, Hungry Jacks, Muffin Break, Fitness First, KFC, Hungry Jacks, pollen Florist, BWS liquor, sushi, Indian, etc. It's fine for a quick shop or a bite to eat. If you spend a certain amount at Foodworks you can get you car parking validated.

Valley Metro is more commonly known for housing the Brunswick Street Train Station in the Valley. I…read morepass through here more often than I probably should but it is quite a nice station and the Valley Metro Shopping Centre surrounding it definitely makes it feel a little safer and cleaner than most train stops. Surrounding this train station is a bunch of shops and a little food court. When I was here just before Christmas there was also a lovely group of guys playing Christmas Carols on their brass instruments. While mainly just the train stop, the shops do offer things to look at while you wait. There is a foodworks, newsagent and florist if you need to pick up some last minute things. The food court has plenty of seating but only a few food outlets to choose from. There is a great juice place, and a funky Japanese Crepe shop you should try if you get the chance. Overall, Valley Metro is a small shopping centre, if you can really call it that. Still, it makes the Brunswick Street stop a whole lot easier to bear.

I helped with the launch of Portside Wharf back in the days I worked for a radio station, but might…read moreI say, this little gem of a mall has come from strength to strength since. The shops on this little mall are very posh. Back in the day, if you wore a top hat and a puffy hoop skirt, this would be the place you would shop. Even the news agency seems a little better than your suburban one. What I love about this place, that not very many people know about is the Dendy Cinemas. You can watch a movie and have something to eat. Whether it's the fancy Sono Japanese Restaurant upstairs to your Fisherman Seafood place downstairs... and ice cream at the Movenpick. It's a pretty great day out.... especially when there's a ship ported. Those ships are massive and it's one of the few places you can go to see how big these cruise ships truly are. They also have many little markets and expo's during the year if you go at select times. Great little place with a great atmosphere... very romantic too at night time. Wink wink nudge nudge.

I used to work on Hercules st last year in a horrible cubicle desk job for 3 months. I couldn't…read morewait until lunchtime when I could walk down to Portside Wharf and sit outside near the water. It makes such a difference to the day! I would stroll down the road, buy a snack from the IGA and make myself a space on one of the seats right on the water. The view of the water and the city are a great combination and it makes you feel lucky to be in Brisbane. Trendy shops, up market restaurants, relaxing cafes, a cinema and markets on the occasional weekend, Portside has everything I like best for a relaxing weekend day. There is plenty of undercover parking or street parking on weekends. The only time you will run into trouble is when a cruise ship is docked. You might have a bit of a trek by the time you park down the road.

I love Broadway On The Mall (BOTM). It may not be as popular these days compared to the Myer Centre…read moreor even Queen St Mall, but it still has some lovely boutiques, cafes, takeaways and services located inside. The food court is located on the ground level and contains Italian, mixed-Asian, Japanese, American, Indian and even a big Coffee Club. All other stores are scattered across the 4 levels, which it is made up of. There are entrances from Queen St (where you will find Hype DC), as well as on the 1st level near the recently opened Scotch & Soda retail store. It's not very busy during the weekdays compared to the weekends. And unfortunately, there are still a number of vacant shops, which makes it look a little dreary. But overall, I still think it's a great place to shop. Just needs a little more support from Brisbanites as well as a bit of TLC from the BOTM managers.

If I were a tourist, this would be disappointing. MC makes me think of the functional over the…read morestylish. The foodcourt hosts solid businesses but none of them essentially exciting. Big W sticks to the essentials (although it does have an optometrist and always brings in the Peter Morrissey range). Woolworths is pretty good for a city centre grocery store. So you get a barber, florist, optometrist, jeweler, internet booths, grog store, newsagent, chemist and large toilets. A few luxury stores are on the Edward Street frontage. This includes the Apple Store. The Shingle Inn here has bad chairs (uncomfortable and dirty) in what would otherwise be quite an ace spot to have a nice lunch. They really, really need to address that and hopefully MC will do something about it. Beware with the parking. The gates to this mall close 9pm on night shopping. There probably is a way to get to the carpark afterwards but we haven't found out how yet. Parking entrance is via Elizabeth Street. There used to be a doorway into Big W from Elizabeth Street, but these days the only entry points are from Edward and Queen Streets. The foodcourt has recently undergone a glossy revamp. The thing that gets me most, however, is despite the lovely space inside (it can't be helped if most of the shops are not very interesting) the outside is and always will be a horror to me. A large steely wedge with sturdy poles clinging onto decorative lacy patterned glass panels. Who what why where? It's so disappointing they whacked that onto the heritage building.

If you're a city worker wanting to escape the crowds, head to Macarthur Central for your weekly…read moresupplies and errands. What Macarthur Central lacks in specialty shops and boutiques, it makes up for by providing a stress free shopping experience in a central location and housing a full line Woolworths and Big W. There are a few specialty shops such as Honey Birdette and Oroton but this shopping centre focuses on covering the essentials. There's a decent newsagency, a book shop, chemist, medical centre and a JB Hi Fi where you actually have elbow room. This seems to be the place where all the ATMs like to hang out as well. ANZ, Bank of Queensland, Commonwealth, NAB, Redi ATM and Suncorp can all be found in this complex. Best of all, their food court hosts a wide variety of eating options and you can actually get a table around lunch time. Try the Hainachi here sometime for a fuss free, easy meal. NB: The opening hours refer to the shopping centre but Woolworths and Big W have extended trading hours.