Have you heard the expression, "match made in heaven"?…read more On my last rendezvous in Fortitude Valley, quickly become Brisbane's Mecca for exceptional coffee. I was taken back by the smooth taste of flat white order that may have come about by accident. I asked for an almond flat white, since I wasn't too excited about the soy milk on-hand. Now, I am putting my reputation as a coffee snob and caffeine addict on the line with this next comment...but! " I believe with all my heart that Black Star (Rev - Espresso) Coffee and almond milk hand crafted by the lovely young lady barista at Foundry Records, is the bomb, hands down the best in Brisbane".

From the owner: Foundry Records and Cafe are Brisbane's local dealers in caffeine and vinyl (records not the old…read morefloors from Auntie Tracey's kitchen). We think there is nothing greater in this world then losing yourself in the immersion of your favourite record. To take this to the next level, do this while you slowly sip on some of the best coffee in the world. We love music and all things music, but there isn't enough time in the day for all of it. So, we have become avid lovers of the magic powers of the little brown bean that delivers the finer things in life.

As you walk up a certain flight of stairs on Adelaide St,…read moreThe sounds of the grumbling city slowly fade off until all you can hear is the beginning riffs of jefferson airplane. You have entered the musty dusty and glorious Record Exchange. I have bought the majority of my records here, as well as finding other odds and ends to lust over (Engelbert Humperdinck discography. ONE DAY YOU WILL BE MINE.) They have everything here. Music Books, Magazines, Figurines , Clothes ,Doc Martins, Record players, VHS, CD's, Cassettes and memorabilia. This place is refreshingly free from music snobbery and feels more like your uncles haphazard attic. Record Exchange will provide hours of entertainment and with actual reasonably priced stock, prepare for a sizable dent in that wallet.

Ah, Record Exchange. My true high school love. How I used to run to you when double maths got too…read morereal and I saw no other option except to flee from school to the city. I'm happy to report that 10 years on, Record Exchange is still the same. The clutter, the chaos, the musky smell, the random oddities- they're all still there, fermenting into some nostalgic musical brine. They've got a second hand clothing collection that is akin to a flea market. You'll find genuine article 80's acid wash jeans, leather vests, doc martens and all of that other old school die hard muso business there. They've still got some VHS lying around along with turntables and arcade machines (all of which may or may not work). The music collection is off tap. The records are priced anywhere from $2 and upward. It depends on how rare, and what condition the vinyl is in. In the collector's section, I did find a $36.99 double record Face Off Soundtrack. Holy bejesus! As a side note, Record Exchange also buy whole collections from people. Looking to get rid of your outdated, dorky music collection? Give it to these guys! I have spent hours on end trawling through the goods at Record Exchange. If you haven't done it, I recommend you do, and even if you were there yesterday, do it again today. Different day, different treasure.

Twice upon a time gives second hand and antique wares a…read moresecond spin of the old hourglass. Located on the main antique drag on Logan road, this is one of my favourite stores to visit. Filled to the brim with english and australian furniture, barometers, silver, porcelains and various other bric-a-brac you can spend a happy afternoon perusing the range on offer. (Be sure to also check out the beautiful grandfather clocks!) With such a good central location and reasonably friendly staff (It depends on what side of the bed they woke up on) this place is well worth a pop-in.

Twice Upon A Time, what a magical sentiment. It makes me think of unrealistic but inspirational…read moreDisney moments where everyone gets a second chance and dreams really can come true for a 16-year-old rebellious mermaid or an aristocratic-turned-servant-turned-princess who has issues with midnight. But that's what Twice Upon A Time is all about; it's about giving antiques and furniture and old wares a second life, which is the very reason I love antique shops so much. Twice Upon A Time has some truly lovely English and Australian furniture pieces. Thinking about adding this type of furniture to my house always gives me such a light in my eyes, because can you really imagine having so much rich history just sitting in your living room? I want to furnish my whole house with antique and pre-loved furniture in the future, and Twice Upon A Time will definitely be one of my first stops. There's chairs, tables, silver, trinkets, jewellery boxes, drawers, coffee tables, and an ornate cabinet that I found out was named a credenza, and a Victorian credenza at that. How can you not gravitate to a shop like this with that much silvery whimsy? I let my imagination run wild in a place like this. The furniture is beautiful, visit!

Upon entry, New Farm Antiques doesn't look quite as impressive as the centres in Paddington and…read moreWoolloongabba. Don't let that put you off though, because this place is absolutely packed with treasures from times gone by. Some of the furniture at New Farm Antiques is absolutely incredible, and the stock appears to include some of the most genuinely antique pieces around. I came across oh so many things that I wanted to take home that it is probably a good thing that a) my credit card was at home and b) none of the bigger items would fit through my tiny apartment's front door. The staff are lovely and are happy for you to browse for as long as you want. You'll want to put plenty of time aside, because the store goes on and on and on and everywhere you look you'll find another little corner to explore.

This May marks the New Farm Antique Centre's 20th year of antique trading, and I actually cannot…read morebelieve I haven't fallen across this place yet. I was amazed and utterly awestruck when I walked up the ramp and found myself in this absolutely spectacular shop. Its plain and unassuming exterior belies the world of wonder you find yourself in as soon as you walk through the door, and that magic only intensifies as you meander through the quiet maze of antiques and collectables. Naturally, that consists of your staple antique items such as china, silverware, candelabras, chandeliers (lots of those), old telephones, clothing, jewellery, and bags. But the real drawcard for me here was the books. Oh my goodness. I bought a work of Sir Walter Scott's poetry with an inscription from 1871. 1871! The book is in incredible condition and the lovely gentlemen who run the centre obviously take great pride in preserving and selling these beautiful works of art. Speaking of works of art, they also have a few of those splattered across the walls. Near the entry you'll find one wall with framed pictures on it (of which, yes, I did buy one) and in the back you'll find a range of prints without having to pay through the nose for them. It's simply divine walking in here and I was utterly spellbound for at least an hour. It's not as big or winding as the Wooloongabba Antique Centre, but it's got a quixotic charm that envelops you the instant you walk in. It's like stepping into another world; opening the cupboard door and finding yourself in Narnia; it's mesmerising. You find yourself singing along to whichever soundtrack features that day (when I went in it was Abba) as you stumble across things like a Japanese pinball machine, a Singer sewing machine, and old charm bracelets. The more unique element about New Farm Antique Centre is that it's more culturally diverse than other antique centres I've visited, and that includes the Paddington Antique Centre. Where in other centres the shop is split into rooms in a home and categories, here things are split according to the culture to which they belong. I'm talking Aboriginal weapons, didgeridoos, and artwork; Oriental dressers, vases, and cupboards; African art pieces; Buddha statues positioned ever so casually. It was all I could do to not get too overwhelmed in its brilliance and breathe it all in. The lovely gentlemen here greet everyone as soon as they walk in the door, and they make you feel comfortable instantly. And then down the far back corner there is even a reading space where you can take a load off and pore over the old books in the bookcase. I'm in love with this place, and it has completely bewitched me.

I have a penchant for the vintage and antique, especially, furniture! If I had all the money in the…read moreworld, I'd most likely fill my house with expensive antiques as opposed to expensive 'new' furniture. Antiques are full of history, value and some extremely rare. I find it so humbling purchasing something that has so far lived a longer life that your own and it makes you wonder, what has this piece of furniture seen? Turn O'The Century is my local antique furniture shop. My favourite antiques are the chairs and this shop have an amazing collection of antique chairs, some still in original condition but most reupholstered and repaired. There are big grandfather chairs, small bedroom chairs, some sold in pairs, some one-offs and some rocking chairs from circa 1930's. Bernie, the owner, has so much passion for the pieces he sells. He is very selective of what he adds to the shop and you can tell, every piece in his shop is magnificent. Whether you're after a huge and confronting 'Deer Head' to mount on your wall or cute antique 'Foot Stools' to decorate your living room, you'd find so many things in this store that would be a great addition to any home. If you find these valuable pieces are too pricey to buy in one go, Turn O'The Century offers Layby options. Bernie is always on the hunt for rare and beautiful pieces and I strongly suggest visiting this shop regularly to find what new 'old' things he adds to the collection.

From the owner: Antiques Brisbane, Brisbane Antiques, Rosenstengel Furniture, Sherwood Antiques, Brisbane Antique…read moreshops, Antique Dealer Brisbane

When you walk into Bayside Antiques, it is a little like you have wandered into your great…read moregrandmother's house, or back in time. It is incredibly charming and much bigger inside than it appears from the street. I really like that the shop is set out rather like a home rather than a shop. They have an assortment of random and well looked after collectables and regularly have new pieces on display. They have a range of furniture, jewelry, paintings, Australiana items, coins, stamps, crystal and much more. I have not yet bought anything but I would recommend a look because they have a lot of really interesting items that you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. The staff are also really helpful and seem quite knowledgeable.