34 things to do in West End

West End is an unapologetic inner-city suburb rich with history and culture. Its eclectic mix of cafes and restaurants, bars and nightlife meets aspiring designers, live music and underground movements along the main street.

This is where ideas begin and grow, and community matters. Join West End in celebrating its alternative inner-city village.

From the CBD it is a 30-minute or 2km walk. Alternatively catch the blue CityGlider bus (number 66) or consult TransLink for more options.

1. Stock up at Davies Park

Any weekend in West End should begin with a shop around the Davies Park Markets. 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.

2. Get your Greek feast on

A strong part of West End’s migrant history falls to the Greeks. Greek food is delicious, so stop by The Greek Club, Lefkas, Little Greek Taverna, Kafe Meze or Ouzuri for a feast.

3. Discover Greek culture too

Also pop by the St George Greek Orthodox Church (next to The Greek Club) to see inside the amazing space. In 1958 the foundation stone was laid for the building.

4. Drink local brews

Grab a brew from one of West End’s two microbreweries, both located on Boundary St. Catchment Brewing Co or Brisbane Brewing Co will sort you out with a beer and a feed.

5. Make your mysterious escape

For something a little different, try Escape Hunt Experience off Boundary St. There are three puzzle rooms where you and friends must solve the crime within an hour.

6. Brunch your heart out

West End’s cafe scene is rich with old favourites The Gunshop Café and The Burrow, and newcomers Morning After, Billykart and Miss Bliss Wholefoods Kitchen.

7. Get about on two wheels

Bring your own bike or hire a CityCycle and cycle around town or along the river to experience more of the suburb.

8. Hit the D-floor

Put those two left feet to work at Rio Rhythmics and learn the tango, salsa and more.

9. Find a BYO

Restaurants that let you BYO are not hard to come by in West End. Try Little Greek Taverna, Trang, Caravansarai.

10. Dive into its street art

The bohemian suburb’s alleyways and venues are filled with street art. Hunt it out yourself or let a Brisbane Greeter (free tour) show you around. Bring your camera!

11. Dive into food markets

Every Friday and Saturday night the Boundary Street Markets take up residence behind the Rumpus Room and in the rooftop car park of the Boundary Hotel. Pop by for a smorgasbord of cuisines.

12. Go for the views

Pop by nearby Orleigh Park for incredible views over West End and the whole CBD.

13. Ditch the tights

Leave your lycra in New Farm and join good and bad dancers at No Lights No Lycra, a global movements of alcohol-free, dark dancefloors where you truly can dance like no one is watching.

14. Join a cooking class

Mondo Organics runs cooking classes that teach you to cook, source and prepare organic produce.

15. Go on a cocktail crawl

West End has a top small bar scene. Jump between The End, Jungle, BOSC, The Bearded Lady and Lychee Lounge.

16. Opa! Mark the Greek festival in your diary

Every May, Paniyiri takes over Musgrave Park for a weekend of Greek food, dancing, culture and more. Don’t miss it.

17. Drink a chai bowl

Three Monkeys is a classic cafe that is open until 11.30pm on weekends serving late-night cake, coffee and its famous bowls of chai.

18. SWOP ‘til you drop

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

19. Feeling bookish?

If books are better than cocktails, do a bookshop crawl through West End. For new books, Avid Reader is a must-stop and next door its younger sibling Where The Wild Things Are sells only kids' books. Up the road, Bent Books will sort you out for second-hand novels.

20. Get comical

Also on the printed side of things, drop by Junky Comics for new and old comic books.

21. 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.

22. Eat nose to tail

Try the yakitori skewers at Bird’s Nest where you can eat everything from chicken hearts to arteries to cartilage cooked over a hot white coal grill.

23. Experience West End by the full moon

Every full moon the West End Fire Festival congregates in Orleigh Park for an evening of fire spinning and twirling. Head down to learn, make friends and join a drum circle.

24. Pick up local goods

The Stores is a grocer and small goods store stocking only local goods and produce from the surrounding region. Pick up salami, cheese, vegetables and wine.

25. Join the Brazilian street parade

Each summer, Rio Rhythmics coordinates a Brazilian Carnaval with all the colour and costumes one could ask for.

26. Satisfy a sweet tooth

Well-known baker Jocelyn Hancock’s Cake & Bake is the place to go for whole cakes, sweet treats, homemade pies and more

27. Je ne sais pas?

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

28. Get a whisky education

Small bar Cobbler has more than 400 different whisky types behind the bar. BYO food and sit down to learn more.

29. Contain your rev head

Jump in the seat of the MXJ F1 Simulator for a unique racing experience with virtual races on the most famous racing circuits in the world.

30. Hunt craft beer bars

Craft beer is here to stay. Hop your way down Boundary St between Archive, The Bearded Lady, Lock ‘n’ Load and the two breweries, Catchment and Brisbane Brewing.

31. 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.

32. Grab a Blackstar coffee

Roasted in West End, Blackstar also bottles cold brew coffee and sells it around Brisbane. Head straight to the source.

33. Cut laps

Grab your goggles and head to Musgrave Park Pool. Entry is just $5 for adults.

34. Get deli goods

Mega Continental is the go-to for all Greeks. The warehouse is hidden away on Duncan St and stocks European goods of every variety. On Boundary St, Swiss Gourmet Delicatessen has been open since 1980 selling coffee, light snacks, baked goods, cheese and other deli items.

source: https://www.visitbrisbane.com.au/information/articles/activities/things-to-do-west-end?sc_lang=en-au

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