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.

The bathrooms are repulsive. And I mean feral. Think blocked sinks for years with revolting build…read moreup and gunk and splashback from that going up on your hands. This is a good example of an establishment that doesn't care for the customers, and profits only from there being no competition. Gasworks is surface level "luxury" only. The centre management has been informed at least five times. They were also advised there would be reviews going up about this. They have been given multiple methods to unblock in case it is beyond their expertise.... I don't frequent the place because of this. If I owned any of the "luxury businesses" I'd be asking for it to be fixed immediately. The bathrooms have gross chemicals sprayed into the air but inadequate air venting making them really disgusting - like a chemical or poop sauna. The only good thing about the place is who you might meet in dog parking.

Love the place! I was only here yesterday. Went for a jog down here for some yoghurt. This place is…read morebeautiful at nighttime, all lit up with amazing colours and light displays but very soothing. You have to see it! I've been to Max Brenner, Yoflo Yoghurt + Fruit Bar, The Standard Market Company, Terry White, Optus and Woolworths. I've been to Gasworks a couple of times and have enjoyed it. I like the variety of shops and convenience of it being near-by. I would like to try the other restaurants and shops. They have a new restaurant there I think. The Defiant Duck. I enjoy the modern look of gasworks and it's green field. You can see children playing and you can relax on grass and eat yoghurt. I especially like lying down on the grass in the late evening with friends, family and/or significant other and staring up at the sky, while the rings of light on the old gas frame change colours. It really is magical! For a great variety of shops and restaurants and to check out the nighttime display you can't go wrong at Gasworks.

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.

A large supermarket where you can buy a wide range of products. However sometimes you find that…read moreit's difficult to find something. Service: And also for the shelves of international food, the product is not always in order.

This Woolworths is intoxicating. I know, I know. You're thinking, "What kool-aid have you been…read moredrinking to think a supermarket is intoxicating?" Well, for starters it's brand new and the lay-out, products on offer and lighting are, I'm convinced, all designed to make you feel comfortable and comfortable to spend up. From the farmer-market inspired fruit and veg section to the brightly-lit health and wellbeing aisle full of demographic-specific products like chia seeds, maca powder and protein concoctions, to the in-store sushi bar and cafe - this supermarket is a rabbit hole. One step through the doors and you're falling down a steep spiral of supermarket wonder. I popped in very quickly for only a few items and came away with half a trolley. Such is the power of shrewd marketing and specials (and lack of my willpower). For now, the novelty is still there and it's actually a decent supermarket to shop without frustration at other shoppers.

Variety of sizes available and very much affordable. Located in the perfect area for shoppingread more

I love Big W. I like how it is conveniently placed above Woolworths. It has escalators and a lift…read moreif you have heavy bags. I wish they would make a security system so you could take their basket trolleys (which can't leave Big W) and supply you with regular trolleys to take down to Woolworths to shop there vice versa . I hate carrying bags. I had to buy a granny's trolley for this purpose. I wish they had a underground carpark or something because how are you gonna take your purchases home? I either have to walk far to my car or catch a cab from the cab rank which is thankfully nearby. There are buses and trains but the who wants to wait at a bus stop with all their things? Also buses can be unreliable. The train station is about a ten minute walk up the hill so no go for me. If they had more parking areas and let you take the basket trolleys into the food court I would buy more and heavier things. Unfortunately most things on the Big W website are unavailable to get delivered? Almost makes me wonder what's the point, except I suppose being able to see what they sell. Big store, lots of variety, good prices but not as dirt cheap as Kmart. I would give 5 stars if they didn't always run out of basket trolleys at Big W and Woolworths! Woolworths have regular metal trolleys but usually run out too with the annoying insert coin security system. I don't know how your expected to use the trolley and then catch a cab. How are you going to return the trolly to bay to get your $1/$2 back? Oh well. There are barely any lines at Big W unlike Woolworths and they have self service checkout there. Oh, and only spread over two levels, not three.

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.

Gold Coast's Trash Monkey have recently opened up a store in Brisbane's China Town Mall. Perfectly…read moresuited to the mish-mash of colour and style of the Valley, Trash Monkey stocks an array of vintage and alternative clothing. The store has been nicely renovated and is a pleasure to browse. There is plenty to look at and the range is worth looking at regardless of your personal style. As a bonus, the store is open until 7pm Monday to Wednesday and Sunday, and open until 9pm Thursday to Saturday.

There is something alluring about vintage clothes and accessories. It seems to me that the 50s and…read moreearly 60s had the perfect blend of classy feminine clothing, that makes me want to go all Mad Men or Grace Kelly around town. Some of the clothing at Trash Monkeys oozes this classy sophistication that I yearn for. They stock a whole range of clothing and accessories from your 50s vintage inspired dresses that I was just talking about to 80s glam rock outfits. They pride themselves in stocking rockabiliy, pin-up, burlesque, punk, steampunk, victorian, lolita and queer gear as well. The store is chocablock full of bits and pieces and you can easily spend your time sifting through it all. Everything here is quite unique and definitely different from your average fashion store. The staff are funky and great for giving real and unbiased advice. They won't let you out of the store in something that looks bad and they are totally happy to have a chat or let you just browse your hours away. The store is also open late so it is easy to go and check it out after work or before a dinner out in the Valley. It is hard to really describe everything on offer here so my best suggestion is just to check it out!

Shopping on Oxford Street is for the most part, for people with modern and somewhat eclectic tastes…read morewho have some serious money to burn. Don't walk into Anne's expecting to find a bargain bin, or fill a bag for $2 type of business. Even though it looks like an clustered and chaotic op shop of yesteryear, don't be fooled- the prices are sky high. They've got two tables of bargain books out the front to get you in the door. When you do go in, be careful walking around in there in case you break something. I'm not giving that warning because Anne's is filled with inherently expensive things, but because Anne's is so disorganised and messy that you might break some common place item that's had $100 price tag put on it. It's not a user friendly place, and although it does have some interesting stuff in there, I feel that it's generally not worth the hassle.

They say fashion fades but style is eternal. And if that's the case it's not hard to see why a…read morestore like Camargue has been in operation for almost as long as I've been alive. I'd say shopping the collections curated at Camargue might be the closest you can get to buying style. Take a scroll through their Instagram feed if you need some instant proof. This long-standing Brisbane boutique has found its home on the equally fashionable James Street and among the precincts fashion-forward crowd, it sits like a jewel in the crown. Camargue doesn't have to fight for trend-based buyers because they know who they are and what walks off the racks. I must admit that I've, to date, only taken advantage of shopping at Camargue during their sales periods (which aren't as regular as other mainstream store but the discounts are often greater), but as I begin to shift to building a capsule wardrobe of investment pieces I know that Camargue will be somewhere in my little black book for key purchases.

From the owner: Established in 1978, camargue have been dressing Brisbane's most stylish for over 30 years. The…read moreboutique is fulled with eclectic and quirky pieces, and each visit is an experience. camargue is as much about people as it is about frocks! Fashion is like beautiful food, great books, wonderful travel & lovely music. It's just about spoiling ourselves, and camargue is just very happy to be a part of that. Fashion fades but style is eternal....X