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Best Things to do in West End

Peter's Ice Cream Factory facade at West End

Updated: May 26, 2025

The historic inner city suburb of West End is one of Brisbane's most multicultural and bohemian neighbourhoods and makes a great place to explore.

Main dining and shopping precincts, Boundary and Vulture Streets, which are home to vintage and bookshops, boutiques, cafes, bars and breweries, are a hive of activity from morning to late at night. The West End fashion scene is a top spot for the latest trends in clothes. And if you head off the beaten track you'll find a bounty of treasures too.

Here are some that are worth checking out:

Interior dining at Layla

Layla is an exquisite Middle Eastern inspired restaurant nestled wihin the heritage-listed brick walls of the Thomas Dixon Centre

Rich & Rare West End

A stunning contemporary steak and seafood restaurant surrounded by lush greenery at West Village

The Fourth Monkey Cocktail Bar

Interior of The Fourth Monkey Bar West End

The Fourth Monkey is a funky, Caribbean-inspired, tiki bar in West End with a fairy-lit, dog-friendly, cocktail garden

Exterior front entrance of August restaurant West End

August is quietly and understatedly one of the best restaurants in Brisbane, located in a heritage-listed church on a corner in West End

Yamas Greek + Drink

Seating at night outside Yamas Greek + Drink West Village

This stunning Greek restaurant and bar is located in the charming West Village precinct

Gum Bistro is a charming and cosy foodie's restaurant occupying an historic West End shop

Come to Daddy West End

The all inclusive kid on the neighbourhood block - a bar, eatery and entertainment venue where everyone's welcome

Seating inside Vela Kinn West End

A stunning 200+-seater upmarket Thai restaurant within Factory 2 of the heritage-listed Peters Ice Cream factory buildings

Neo-Generalist, West End, vintage store

Neo-Generalist is a gorgeous vintage store where the Wild West meets old Hollywood glamour

Plants & chairs inside BY. Artisans

BY.Artisans is a stunning bar, distillery, cafe and creative space occupying a dreamy beautifully repurposed warehouse in West End

Pilloni West End

A stunning Sardinian restaurant and bar perched on a hill and serving exquisite regional food

Brisbane Brewing Co

Laneway leading to Brisbane Brewing Co West End

Brisbane's secret inner city craft brewery and bar is Brisbane Brewing Co. tucked away down a West End laneway

Exterior side view of Cafe Disco

Cafe Disco in West End is a charming little bar and eatery, with a divine Bangladeshi- flavoured menu and a boutique wine list

Flying Colours West End

A super cool ambient warehouse garden bar and restaurant on Vulture Street with casual vibe and outstanding food

Milk and Honey West End

A gorgeous children's boutique and cafe located in a beautifully refurbished old corner shop

Exterior of Kafenio West End

Kafenio offers traditional Greek and Cypriot cuisine from its blue and white West End workers cottage

Morning After West End

Morning After is an oasis of contemporary cool on Vulture St – an uber chic breakfast and brunch café that, as its name suggests, is the ideal place to revive after a night out

The Boundary Hotel

Exterior of The Boundary Hotel West End

The Boundary Hotel, West End’s iconic landmark pub, is a fascinating multi-layered labyrinth of ambient nooks and crannies

Facade and terrace seating of Banette Bistro West End

Banette Bistro is a charming little French bistro that brings an authentic taste of France to West End at great value prices

Kor Dak Korean Street Food, West End

This vibrant West End eatery specialises in traditional Korean street food, from jumbo chicken skewers to tteokbokki and

Street view of Meeple & Mug West End

Meeple & Mug is Brisbane's only games cafe - a fun, convivial place for dates, family and friends to gather in West End

Kurtosh Bakery, West End

The European-inspired bakery Kürtősh at West Village is famous for its Hungarian chimney cakes

Bar Francine West End

A rustic neighbourhood wine bar and eatery located in an historic West End cottage

Serendipity Op Shop

Serendipity Op Shop

Found in a laneway off Russell Street, this West End thrift shop is filled with pre-loved fashion, shoes, books, homewares, and

Tables and chairs inside and outside Mama Taco West End

Mama Taco is a cool, contemporary Mexican Taqueria & Mezcaleria nestled in the historic Rialto Theatre

Ippin Japanese Dining

Ippin Japanese Dining West End interior

Ippin Japanese Dining is a stunning fine diner taking Japanese cuisine to the next level

Lilong West End

A lively Shanghai-style street food dining hall located in the refurbished heritage-listed Soda Factory

Swop Clothing Exchange

Racks of secondhand garments for sale inside SWOP, West End

SWOP is a secret source of vintage and pre-loved clothes that keen hunters will find in the main street of West End

Barman mixing drinks at bar insideThe End Bar in Brisbane's West End

This cosy industrial chic bar in West End is a local favourite

Anita Gelato, Brisbane

A world-famous gelateria has arrived in Brisbane, scooping a delectable range of creamy gelato and refreshing sorbet

BK Pizzeria & Cafe

BK Pizzeria & Cafe, West End

This Ukrainian cafe and pizzeria in West End dishes up a tantalising array of Eastern European eats

Veneziano Coffee

Veneziano Coffee, West End

West End's popular coffee haunt has reopened with a fresh new look and a tantalising new brunch menu

Cordeaux Social Club

Cordeaux Social Club, West End

Cordeaux Social Club is a cafe by day, wine bar & bistro by night, nestled in a peaceful pocket of West End near the river

Swiss Gourmet Deli

People sitting on Boundary Road under umbrellas outside Swiss Gourmet Deli

The Swiss Gourmet is also a nifty little cafe specializing in good value brunches and light meals

Frydays Bar & Kitchen

Frydays Bar & Kitchen West End

Frydays is a casual late night Korean diner and bar in the middle of the action on Boundary St

People standing outside Mick’s Nuts in West End.

Not much has changed inside since this shop opened in 1975, but the produce is fresh and bountiful and staff are helpful and informed.

You Came Again Vegan Tapas Bar

You Came Again Vegan Tapas Bar

You Came Again is Brisbane’s first vegan tapas bar, perched in a line-up of historic West End shops

Lokal + Co West End

Lokal + Co is an inviting oasis of Nordic cool and was the first place in Brisbane to offer Norwegian-inspired cuisine

People dining at tables outside Lefkas Taverna West End

The quintessential Greek taverna, perched high on a hill in the original heartland of Brisbane's Greek community

Facade of Hai Hai Ramen West End

Hai Hai Ramen, a sibling for the popular longtime ramen bar in Paddington, brings a delicious taste of traditional ramen to West End

Marcia's On Montague

Colourful jugs and crockery inside Marcia's on Montague West End

Walk through the door at this secret West End emporium and be overwhelmed - in the nicest possible way

Female staff member in traditional dress roasting Ethiopian coffee beans over a little stove outside Mu'ooz African Eritrean Restaurant

Mu’ooz, the long-time fave Eritrean restaurant of Moorooka, has upped roots and moved into a quaint Queenslander in West End.

Courtyard seating outside Covent Garden, West End

Covent Garden is a splendid botanical-themed bar and eatery with tropical rear garden in a colonial West End store

Superthing West End

Superthing is a gorgeous, pastel-hued bakery cafe found on Montague Road in West End

Bar tenders standing behind bar in +81 Aziome Bar

+81 Aizome Bar is a glamorous 10-seater Japanese bar unlike anything else to be found in Brisbane, hidden behind blue curtains

Zazu Dining & Bar

A stylish contemporary Euro-Asian restaurant and bar at the Mollison Street entrance to West Village in West End.

Okami Japanese Restaurant

Okami Japanese Restaurant West End

A budget-friendly Japanese restaurant with an all-you-can eat a la carte menu and table service

Lifeline Vintage Revival

Lifeline Vintage Revival, West End

This West End op shop is a beacon for bargain hunters and afficionados of vintage fashion, retro furniture and

The Twin, West End

The Twin is a funky West End cafe with garden courtyard, slinging delish deli-style sandwiches on house-baked bread

West End Markets

People sitting under a tree in the Davies Park Market with stalls in the background.

A chilled laidback vibe permeates this boho market by the river

Little Greek Taverna

People dining on tales outside Little Greek Taverna West End

Little Greek Taverna serves some of the best budget food in West End

Cobbler is the type of bar that you frequently look for but never find – a cool New York loft style whisky and cocktail lounge

Exterior of Bent Books, West End

Housed within a coloured colonial cottage at the intersection of Boundary & Vulture Streets is a secondhand book collector’s dream

People dining at El Torito, West End

This lively West End restaurant dishes up some of the best Mexican food in Brisbane

West End Coffee House

People sitting inside West End Coffee House with Aboriginal paintings on white brick walls

The cafe equivalent of the trusty old pair of comfy slippers, West End Coffee House is a favourite chilled hang-out for locals

Orleigh park seen from opposite bank of the Brisbane River

A peaceful fringe of Moreton Bay fig shaded parkland on the river at West End

Catchment Brewing Co

Exterior facade at night at Catchment Brewing Co West End

Catchment Brewing Co inhabits a stunning character-filled art deco building, with its own beers brewed onsite

Lychee Lounge bar interior including chandelier and seating

Lychee Lounge is a stunningly opulent east meets west cocktail bar on West End's main drag

Gunshop Cafe's shop front on street

The Gun Shop is a West End institution, renowned its fabulous breakfast fare.

Nostimo Greek Restaurant

Seating at Nostimo Greek Restaurant Greek Club South Brisbane

A visit to Nostimo Greek Restaurant at the Greek Club, South Brisbane, is the next best thing to visiting Greece

Entrance to Biryani Place West End

The hidden gem of an Indian eatery occupies one half of an old cottage and serves the best biryani in Brisbane

Bosc

Inside BOSC Bar in West End

BOSC is a rustic little beer and gin bar that oozes warmth and hominess from its corner outpost on West End's Vulture St

Avid Reader Bookshop

People sitting around cafe area inside Avid Reader Bookshop reading books.

A bookshop that hits all the right pages with locals and visitors alike, Avid is a gem of a place.

The Love Bubble Collective

The Love Bubble Collective West End

A sustainable vintage fashion shop giving life to landfill by a curated recycled collection of clothes, accessories and shoes

Exterior of Caravanserai West End

This hilltop cottage lit by colourful Turkish lights and candles is an enduring Brisbane favourite

Bar Hugo, West End

A former West End Thai restaurant has been transformed into a warm and welcoming wine & vermouth bar with vintage vibes

Blanc de Blanc Encore

Performer on sate at Blanc de Blanc Encore West End

Brisbane-bred Strut & Fret have brought their smash-hit ‘champagne cabaret’ home to new theatre The West End Electric

Brisbane's Secret Tiny Doors

See if you can find West End's two tiny doors that are an easy walk apart

Looking to discover more hidden gems of Brisbane, check out our Guide to Brisbane Suburbs HERE! Happy exploring!

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