The most ridiculous shopping centre layout I've been in , it was slightly better before the…read morerenovations

A part of me was going to suggest that this was a small shopping centre, but that is probably…read moreunrating this particular place somewhat namely because it does happen to be a decent size, it just doesn't happen to be anywhere near as big as some of the suburban megamalls happen to be. Mind you, having a train station underneath sort of helps it out somewhat, namely because you don't have to walk all that far to get there, but it isn't anywhere near as great as others I have visited.

When it comes to art and design markets, Brisbanites are getting pretty spoilt for choice these…read moredays. There's the Suitcase Rummage and Finders Keepers Market but the Young Designer Markets at Southbank remains my favourite. I once applied for a stall here when I was a second year QCA student and got turned down. A few weeks later, I actually walked down to the markets, saw the quality of work on display and nearly died of mortification for thinking I was in the same league. This market will bring out the bowerbird in anyone with their shiny buttons, badges, feathers and beads. There are also other original fashion designers (some fantastic dresses and funny t-shirts), homewares (keep an eye out for the funky lampshades with bird prints) and girlish hair accessories that will tempt even boys. So mark it down on your iphone and androids - first Sunday of the month. See you there.

What I love about the Young Designers Market is that there is always something new and different…read moreevery month. Unlike most other markets (like the Southbank markets just next door) which almost always have the same stallholders with the same products, these markets can vary from month to month. Of course there are the regular stall holders but even some of these have different one-off items each time. It's great for finding gifts with a difference, clothes from up and coming young designers and plenty of art and craft items.

The Barracks has been one of my favourite places to both eat or see a movie recently due to its…read moreconvenient location and variety of speciality stores. There is always enough parking unless of course there is a game on at Suncorp Stadium and more often that not you can get at least the first two hours free which is unique for a place so close to the city. The cinema has become more of a 18+ scene as it serves alcohol which they allow you to take into the cinema and the films are also more catered to that demographic which I find appealing. The shops here are many and varied, from a Sushi train, to Italian and Tapas restaurants to chocolatiers and ice-cream shops. There is also a sizeable coles supermarket, liquor store and a fantastic French Twist bakery and cafe which has a great atmosphere. Some of which I have reviewed in detail if you care to check them out!

I've been avoiding shopping and dining at the Barracks lately because parking here takes too much…read moreeffort. I understand that they want to exclude commuters and Caxton Street goers from their car parks but the two hour free parking does not work well for Palace cinema visitors. Most movies go for a minimum of two hours so even if you get your parking ticket validated, you'll get hit up for a $7 minimum parking fee. The last time I tried to catch Norwegian Woods at the Palace Barracks at 9pm on a Saturday evening, the car park was completely full and we ended up missing the movie trying to find a space. On a positive note, parking is less of an issue in the mornings which is great because The Chelsea and French Twist do a great breakfast. The Barracks is a bustling, modern shopping complex - great for dining and shopping but best to use public transport where possible.

Swop fills a gap sorely needed in Brisbane. Where Sydney is peppered with boutique vintage clothing…read morestores, Brisbane tends to have clothing collections mothballed in the dark corners of antique furniture and collectibles warehouses. While Swop advertises that they will take high end or trendy fashion, when you get up the stairs you will definitely feel you stepped back in time. A sweep of the hand over any track will give you sensations of old: Terry toweling dresses, velour pants and jackets, fur collars, stiff gloweave, lame by the kilometre, rustic polyesters (you know what i mean! Polyesters just don't feel that way now!!!) and linen linen linen. Swop is perfection. There will be no mothballed or mustiness here. Every thing is laid out logically and aesthetically. It's uncluttered but well stocked. The men's section is at least a third of the store (speak to any man who frequents op shops... A 1:2 ratio is extraordinary). Don't expect op shop prices, and good on em too. The better run Swop is the longer we get to shop there. I spotted two fantastic condition retro wool coats at $40 and $60, and a classic symmetrical equestrian theme scarf for $20. So again, realistic prices to run their business, but of course they only stock good quality and interesting items. You will find: clothes, hats, shoes, bags, belts, denim, leather. Probably more but I'll have to find out another day.

Really nice VINTAGE clothing just a bit more pricey than I thought. Plays really good music and…read moregreat overall vibe. I recommend going if you're looking for shirts, dresses or hats :)

The West End Vintage and Designer Markets are on the first Saturday of each month. You'll need to…read moremark into your calendar that you're busy then because trust me, you're not going to want to be anywhere else. This is a place where fashion dreams come true- I should know. I'll never forget the day the caramel brown, knee length, suede, belted jacket of my dreams manifested itself onto a hanger at these markets. Price tag $40. Believe me now? If you like all things vintage, this is THE place to shop- here's why. Some of us get disheartened and feel downtrodden when we walk into an op shop and find that the closest we can get to vintage or retro is a 1990's Target A-line skirt that just might look cute it enough if you pair it with your stripey boat neck tee and cons and put yourself on a bike and ride around the streets (you ride fast enough so people don't notice that you're committing vintage fraud). The good folk who run the stalls at these markets hear your cries for genuine vintage, and travel far and wide to retrieve antique threads for you to peruse and buy. They bring them to one location and create a huge treasure trove that, for those real vintage lovers out there, may bring a tear to the eye. They've got all needs covered. Girls, you'll have a good chance of finding whatever your heart desires. Whether it's a 1960's green, polka dotted wiggle dress, or a 1970's halter sunsuit with heliconia print, or a 1980's metallic black tafetta and satin prom dress- you'd best look here. These markets are quite good for catering for the guys too, which is something other fashion markets sometimes have trouble with. You may be wondering why 'Designer' is included in the market name. Well, it's because outside of selling vintage wares, some people have stalls where they sell their second hand designer threads. They're usually in perfect nick and sold at a reasonable price. By reasonable, I mean cheap. Cheap as chips. The best thing is that the previous owners are selling their goodies direct to you before they're off handed to someone else who'll put the price up to something unbearable. In love yet? Arguably, the best part about these markets is that they're held at the Rumpus Room. It's an irresistible setting. While you're rifling through goods, justifying random purchases (yes, my mum would love that tablecloth with embroidered budgerigars on it) and envisioning yourself in yesteryear's impossibly exquisite clothes, you'll find yourself busting out some of your own vintage dance moves, because the DJs are there all day spinning vinyl- and you can't help but get swept up in it. When you find yourself thinking you could do with a cool beverage, you won't have to go far- you only have to shuffle/ hustle/ do see do/moonwalk a few steps towards a fully stocked bar. Then, when you get tired, you can go toy with your new threads and crockery in the beer garden and watch other market goers and flaneurs enter the chaotic and decadent maze of vintage goods that is the West End Vintage and Designer markets. Go on. Pencil it in. First saturday of every month. Invite your friends, make a day of it.

The Vintage and Designer Markets at Rumpus Room are on the first Saturday of every month. This is a…read moregreat market which I enjoy shopping at. It is not AS vintage as the name makes it out to be. There is only one true authentic vintage stall with another one which sells modern remakes with the occasional authentic piece. But don't get me wrong, these two stalls definitely bring back the vintage! They have great wares at reasonable prices. The designer stalls are fantastic, so many different goodies at great prices. Almost everyone will also have a $2 case where you can pick up a whole new wardrobe if you look hard enough. The drinks from Rumpus Room are a bit pricey and the cocktails can be deadly if they're not prepared by an experienced bartender. But they never object to outside food and drink being brought in. I really love this market, rain or shine it makes for a great day out wether you're alone or with friends.

If you've just been visiting and shopping at Adorne's shopping centre stores then you've been…read moremissing out. The label's West End warehouse is a treasure trove of colour co-ordinated home wares. With on-trend copper as you walk through the doors to tones of navy or coral there's everything you could want to add accents of colour to your home. Prices vary but on the items that took my fancy -- all reasonable. So, chop chop. Grab your go card and jump on the 199 bus to Montague Rd.

Cute boutique in the west end. Perfect for gifts, or if you want to treat yourself to something…read morespecial. Reasonable prices. High-quality candle selection. The women's clothes were a little bohemian for my taste, but pleasant nonetheless.

I can't really give a thrift store less than a 3 star rating, because morally it would just be…read moreplain wrong! But please bear in mind the rating is based on the items found inside the store not the charities they support. That said if you need clothes, come to the YWCA thrift store. Because there are SO MANY CLOTHES in such a small space. The clothes are nothing special, very casual stuff (including swim wear....no comment), no bedding or electrical items, a fair amount of worn books, some toys and games, and a very limited amount of home wares. But the clothes, oh goodness the sheer amount of clothes! More often than not I have walked out of this store empty handed. But every now and them I find a dress or top that is great and practically begging me to buy it, and these are real thrift store prices: $5-$15 an item, and the $15 price tag is pushing on expensive. The YWCA thrift store does have an interesting collection of retro sunglasses and pins near the front counter which I love looking through. And on occasion you can also find some pretty interesting jewellery on display as well, but again this is a 'sometimes' event. If you need some casual clothing for super cheap, this is the place to go. For everything else.....well, you may get lucky.

I love a thrift store that's off the beaten track, that doesn't sell "retro" or "vintage" apparel…read morewith over-inflated price tags, and that still holds the promise of a bargain. Tucked away in a little arcade in Toowong, the YMCA Thrift Store is just this. It has no pretences of being something classier or appealing to a certain market--it is simply a shop full of old clothing, old home ware, old shoes, old books, old everything. I found a few decent puzzles there, but am yet to find a real gem. Unfortunately, in Brisbane, there are probably people from the aforementioned "retro" stores who scour all the old op shops for things of value and appeal to stock their stores, leaving no bargains for the rest of us. But, alas, one can hope.

This is a reasonably new Coles so it benefits from a modern fit-out. Very handy for local office…read moreworkers as well as residents. Has a good selection across all ranges and varieties, including bakery, deli, f&v and meat section.

Coles is handly place to shop at open .7 day and price are good u earn flybuys points there tooread more

Brisbane has come a long way over the years but it can still be frustrating trying to get a decent…read moremeal late at night. Hospitality workers, shift labourers and the inveterately disorganised know this fact only too well - if you end up trying to sort out dinner after the 9pm mark on a weekday you won't be able to get anything from the major supermarkets and your takeaway options will be seriously limited. That's why I appreciate the role of chains like IGA. To me, they represent the happiest compromise possible between a 24-hour convenience store and a full-blown supermarket. IGA Milton has an especially good range and boasts impressive opening hours: 6am - midnight 365 days a year (foreign readers from countries where 24-hour supermarkets are easy to find will have to excuse my excitement)! The deli here is quite gourmet, with a good selection of salamis and prosciutto as well as an array of olives. There are also some wholesome ready to eat salads and other heat-and-eat options like tortilla stacks. The nearby cheese selection showcases a well sourced selection of brie, camembert, blue and many others. I've even bought a very tasty pre-made sand crab lasagne from the refrigerated section. I suppose we have the area's high socio-economic status to thank for these epicurean touches.

Yep, I'm jumping on the bandwagon to rave about Baroona Road IGA. Such a sellout, aren't I? Hardly…read more Have you ever tried getting a park in Baroona Road Centro? It's a nightmare! My roommate laughs at me every time I say I'm popping down there for groceries and sarcastically wishes me luck getting a park, and he's not wrong. It's every man for himself when it comes to parking at this place. Horrible parking experiences aside though, this IGA is a godsend. The amount of times I've panicked when I've had nothing to take to work for lunch the next day or I've run out of milk and this place has saved me, I simply cannot count. One particular occasion I forgot it was a coworker's birthday the next day so I frantically rushed into Milton IGA at around 11pm and quickly swiped up a chocolate mud cake. It's a constant topic of conversation in my house how amazing the Baroona Road IGA's opening hours are. 6am to 12am every night; how does it get any better than that? Plus it's a TINY place, and yet I always seem to be able to find everything my heart desires. How do they manage to pack all that stuff into this tiny little space? Beats me, but they do. I prefer it to even larger supermarkets where they'd have about five hundred different brands of washing powder or mango juice because Baroona Road IGA always has what I need. For a small place, it has a ridiculously amazing selection of gourmet cheeses and healthy cooking options, plus a better range of caesar salads than I see in larger IGAs or Woolworths stores. Rather than go to Toowong's large and probably cheaper Coles, I prefer to go here. It's more convenient, and the selection is excellent. It's far better than any other chain grocery store I've experienced thus far. Everything is super easy to find whether you're in a rush or planning a larger shop. Because of Baroona Road IGA, I never go hungry. If you're a Milton/Auchenflower local, you'll find that you cherish and appreciate this IGA as much as me; if you survive the rat race of the car park out front, that is.

The great thing about having a thrift store in a suburb filled with trendy and rich people is that…read morethey get some of the most awesome stuff. I always find some great clothes at Hey Hey It's Yesterday's Thrift Shop. Everything they sell is always in top-notch condition and at excellent prices. Hey Hey's is situated just a quick walk away from Rosalie village. It is fitted inside an old house which works perfectly in categorising the store. The store uses different "room" for separate things; there is an entire room devoted to men's wear a room devoted to children's wear toys and homewares and a room for ladies' wear. The staff seem to be pretty friendly to others but for some reason, I often get ignored when I enter the store, usually it is because they are busy serving other people so I don't mind that much.

I have to commend the effort and intentions behind Hey Hey It's Yesterday's Thrift Shop more than…read moreanything else. It's a little shop in Nash Street that sells every type of second-hand thing you could ever imagine. They have clothes, shoes, jewellery, handbags, and even sports equipment like bowling balls and hockey sticks, bless them. But the profits from these items don't even benefit the shop owners, they all go to benefit brain-injured children. You can't get more selfless than that. This shop is really a testament to the good people that run it, and they don't even charge much for their items. Books and videos are only $2, DVDs only $3. Everything is cheap as chips but goes to such a great cause. If you've ever visited Cold Rock or Grill'd at Rosalie, all you need to do is drive up a little bit more and you'll run into Hey Hey It's Yesterday's Thrift Shop. It's in an absolutely beautiful old burgundy-sort-of-coloured house. If you like vintage and feel like making a difference during the course of your day, amble on down and have a chat to the lovely ladies there. There is no eftpos, so bring your cash and your good intentions. You can also find them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hey-Hey-Its-Yesterdays-Thrift-Shop/137976260515?sk=info