Normally I'm pretty good at keeping secrets, but in this case, I refuse. I wish this gorgeous…read morelittle place wasn't so isolated but I guess some of the best shops are. It's easy enough to find and very easy to identify with clothing out the front. There are also some old bicycles out the front with so much vintage quality that the first image that came to my mind was Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck haphazardly riding one of them. This place is littered with all things Vintage: on the walls, on racks, hanging, draping, sitting, resting, everywhere. There's even a lovely little record player you can marvel at. It's obviously a house that's been transformed into a shop and every room you move through is a new adventure with new things to play with. There's a sweet little selection of clothing and I didn't see one item of it exceed $40. And the tag not only features the price of the piece, it also identifies what era it belongs to. Lovely. Boys, be happy too; in other shops you're usually assigned one rail if you're lucky. Here, you get a whole room complete with cowboy boots to try on. Grab a coffee while you sing along to "Under the Boardwalk" and then take some time to pop downstairs and browse the furniture. The back stairs give way to a den-like basement that holds this part of the store with things including an old keyboard, television, suitcase, and a bundle of chairs that look like they were lifted straight from your grandma's living room. This place is the collective creation of two lovely ladies who obviously live and breathe all things vintage, and I'm definitely a fan of their work. It's a novelty little place with so much charm and potential. Massive snaps to whoever did their design and logo as well, because that was a really enticing factor for me.

Hey, I'm not a big vintage clothes buyer so posting a review here is probably a little cheeky. I…read morejust wanted to add my 2cents though and say that I'm very VERY pleased that the girls here stock clothes that are size 12 and 14. There is a very cool vintage clothes store in West End that also posts pics of their wares on Instagram and Facebook but I've notice it only seems to have size 8 and 10. Huh? Marilyn Monroe would be disgusted! So, thank you CYKAS - keep stocking 12s and 14s. Us 'real' curvy women will love you forever. And keep posting your clothes on IG and FB. You have the best stuff. For the record, I ended up buying a beautiful wool cape which I wore to a wedding recently. Now a firm favourite in my wardrobe.

Upstairs we waited in a typical pre-Summer Brisbane, sweltering in 35+ degree weather. Led down a…read moreshort stair-well and entering into the dark, we appeared to leave Brisbane and be transported to a prohibition 1920s Speakeasy of exposed brick, corridors and a long wall adorned with men with moustaches. This is important to note for reasons unknown. Once underground your modern-day dress almost felt out of place and more akin to an Evelyn Waugh novel. Perhaps you'd be sitting across from a Mitford sister, or some other Bright Young Thing. It all felt a little bit Midnight In Paris when Woody Allen's script sends Owen Wilson's character back to the roaring days of Hemingway. The Walrus Bar (you'll have to visit to answer the question, "Why Walrus?"), headed by Krystal Hart (recently crowned Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender for 2013) and with support behind the bar from some of this town's finest (including a few familiar faces from Canvas), is home to some 300 spirits; rum; cheese and charcuterie and 30 Cuban cigars. As well as my usual cocktail friend (Southsides), I happily sipped on an Indian punch (Panch Phora Punch) which was a rich and seductively easy to drink. This is a rum bar primarily and the majority of lighting within the bar is from the glass cabinets containing every rum you could imagine. Of course, it is never wise to enjoy such decadent drink on an empty stomach and The Walrus have you sorted with a menu of small plates. The Walrus Bar has to be seen to be believed so rather than me waffle on any further - just visit this underground lair which you'll forget resides underneath The Regatta.

What could be better than an underground, intimate bar that has one of the most ridiculous rum…read morecollections going as well as the ability to make just about any cocktail known to man ? An underground bar that feeds you massive bowls of free popcorn and cashews laced with what can only be a combination of sugar, Tabasco sauce and unicorn tears - that's what! Wear your snazzy gear because you won't bet let in otherwise. Bring your friends, devour the cheese and charcuterie selections. Drink things. Test the bar staff. Be impressed with their skills and cocktail nerding. Do it. Do it all.

I could not resist stopping by when I saw through the window one of the owners shaping pasta in the…read morekitchen. I ordered the classic carbonara, which they make without cream. Divine. Quite possibly the best pasta I've ever had. And I've had some killer pasta. The friendly couple who runs the café is from Italy. This place should be tried by all locals looking for authentic Italian. The "bar" was disappointing, only bottles no tap! Other than that, meals and desserts are mouth watering and real.

This is a little hidden gem waiting for discovery! Walking…read moreby, it may not seem like much- but once you order and taste the pasta- you will understand. The food here is *amazing*. Every dish is freshly handmade. The cakes and desserts are made in house. The cheese, flour and other ingredients are authentically Italian. Local beer is served, a very decent corkage is applied for BYO wine, and there is a variety of little rooms for your choosing. Only downsides- and this only really applies in summer and can easily be overlooked, as there is no air-conditioning. However, this is very much compensated by the authentic flavours and honesty of true Italian pasta and dishes.

Lovely French style bistro. The entrance to this new restaurant is a simple open door wedged…read morebetween the topless girls bar and a chemist. A steep set of stairs takes you to three funky and understated dining spaces above the shops. Two are all black, the third one with the bar in it is all white and stark. Amazing high ceilings, we imagined ourselves in Melbourne!! Talking food, we shared starters and desserts, the appetisers are not big but full of flavour. The desserts are huge! For mains our party had the steak )medium rare) and the chicken, the food tasted as good as it smelled. Forget your cholesterol count for a day! Service was friendly and fast. I can highly recommend this new addition to the Brisbane dining scene for lunch or dinner!

The duck confit with pumpkin risotto was delicious, the risotto was so cheesy, and the reduction so…read moretasty. Yum!

Saint Lucy caffè e cucina represents the maturation not only of the University and St Lucia, but…read moresomewhat of Brisbane itself. With the closure of the a number of venues on campus due to refurbishment or financial problems, the easy way out would have been to plug the holes with yet another chain, Subway or Coffee Club. Instead, what has opened up in the place of the old 30/40 is a largely unique café that straddles the boundary between authentic Italian and experimental contemporary Australian (whatever that means). It is clear that the proprietors of Saint Lucy have high hopes for the establishment. The atmosphere is modern, yet tropical, and very well suited to the location. It is very easy to forget that the café is flanked by a road and a series of tennis courts, particularly at night. The wait staff are courteous, competent, and most importantly attentive. But all of that aside, the most important aspects hit the right notes as well. The food is authentic and adventurous without being overpriced. The breakfast menu offers an Italian classic, bomboloni, which are Italian pastries that resemble a Berliner or doughnut. They are not to be passed by, and possibly the only to be had in Brisbane. The rest of the breakfast menu could do with a reworking, offering the usual café fare of eggs, poached or otherwise, and a big breakfast. The continental breakfast of a black coffee with fruit and pastry is nowhere to be seen. The tame breakfast menu is a good encouragement to keep it Italian: small breakfast with a strong espresso to give the day a shot in the arm. The lunch and dinner menus are where Saint Lucy truly shows her Italian colours. The pizza selection is not large, commencing with a beautifully authentic margarita, only to veer off course with a lamb pizza featuring snow pea shoots and labna, ingredients that could not be more authentic.... The rest of the menu is similarly torn between authenticity and experimentation. Whilst this means that Saint Lucy will not pass for authentically Italian, it does make the café much more unique and worthwhile. The cost of the meals is more than justified by what is on offer. One of the specials that I had, jamón croquettes, best illustrates Saint Lucy's approach. Whilst croquettes and jamón are in no way Italian, they were both masterfully done, and presented with a cooked tomato sauce that is clearly the product of someone who understands the Italian approach to cooking with fresh, ripe and flavourful ingredients. The jamón, which on other menus can be overbearing in a dish so that the customer does not feel cheated (or, in the alternative, is completely absent to the palate because the customer is being cheated) was masterfully used in the croquettes. The jamón could be clearly tasted without overpowering, and it is immediately obvious why jamón is used instead of prosciutto. One minor issue with the meals is that the distinction between the piccolo (small) and grande (large) being blurry, with the risotto and croquettes not differing much in size. The dessert menu, whilst somewhat short, is similarly expertly executed. It offers one of the best tiramisu in Brisbane. The coffee, whilst well done, does have some room to improve. The espresso is pulled well without being extracted for too long or pressed too hard to produce a bitter or watery taste, but it lacks distinction from any other espresso. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the time where it was sufficient for an espresso to not be bitter is over. The drinks menu offers a nice assortment of red, white and sparkling wines, with a number of local and imported beers and, of course, cider. A cocktail menu is on offer, with not a single Italian cocktail to be seen anywhere. An Americano, Negroni or Bellini would be much better features on the menu than "call me peachy", "the kiwi", and "equal balance". Pimms cocktail and sangria are also offered, at a somewhat lower price, and seem to fit the venue and its decor better. They call to mind long summer afternoons and friendly games of tennis more than a tequila cocktail. Overall, the cocktail menu continues the sad trend wherein cocktails attempt everything in their power to mask the alcohol being used, rather than relying on a quality spirit to be enhanced by the addition of a few small and subtle ingredients.

Really nice semi-outdoor Italian place overlooking the UQ tennis courts…read more The menu is not lengthy, but is varied, with large and small dishes and pizzas. (I've only had a pizza, but it was good.) The wine list is respectable, including a few from Italy, and from where I'm sitting they appear to have quite a good beer fridge too (as befits any restaurant situated in a university). A good place for a sunset dinner, while other people do the work on the courts.

I made a deal with myself that I was allowed gluten today to try Mr & Mrs G's grand sandwich…read moreselection. Your not the boss of me so no judgement! It was pretty much worth it. Opting for the garlic scented lamb shoulder with panzanella salad, labna quenelle and balsamic dressing, I'm confident I won best sandwich choice amongst our table considering it was also the cheapest at $14.50. This pitta was bursting with tender, fresh roast lamb that was gently hugged by the supporting flavours. Sure it left me feeling totally satisfied but I didn't feel heavy. Just content. Service still lacks here a little for me when the side of sauce my dining companions ordered didn't come until after they'd finished and when looking at their choice of a rare roast beef sandwich, I did struggle to see the $16 value. Still, it's a decent and perfectly casual lunch for under $25 if you pair with a bottle of sparkling mineral water and the river views? They're free.

I do enjoy the atmosphere of this bar overlooking the Brisbane River. They have an extensive list…read moreof cocktails and a relaxed but polished vibe. It's warm with a slightly Moroccan vibe that balances well with the wide open views of the water. The service is always great, but be warned, this can be a hot spot and you may have to wait for a drink on busy nights. I have enjoyed every cocktail I've sampled here and will return again when in the area.

Quaint. The coffee shop and bar are well out of sight from…read morethe streets on either side of the passage that connects them. Disability access is from the Elizabeth St side. Look for the sign boards to guide. You go here as the coffee is good and it has a pleasant vibe in a secluded spot. They have been here for a long while so doing something right. Worth exploring.

What a fabulous find down the alleyway! Big kudos to my friend who suggested this location…read more It was the first night they were a bar so we decided to check it out! They were super friendly and let you enjoy the space and your company. They serve you water as soon as you are seated and then ask you what you'd like. I had the Lucy while my friend had the Coffee Ale. The sizes come in Pony, Mare, or Stallion! My friend loved the coffee ale. I'm not the biggest beer fan but the Lucy was light. We started to chit-chat with the bartenders and they showed us this chili vodka! He had me at "Chili..." My friend had the Bloody Mary and she kept raving how it was tomato soup for adults. She loved it! The bartender was great and nervous about creating a drink for me. We went with a pineapple chili vodka with a touch of mint. Yum! It needs some fine tuning but the foundation is set. We were having a great time and as if beer to vodka wasn't enough, we moved right along to tequila! Yes, some quality tequila and verdita. I'm a huge fan and they explained to us how quality tequila is for sipping. We didn't want to leave but the time had come. Thankfully, I know I'll be coming back very soon. Thanks for a great Introduction.

Good halloumi! Get it on the eggs benny or on its own. They know how to grill it up good…read more I usually come for brunch it's a nice underground cafe in the heart of Brisbane. Counter service and find your own seats most of the time. Relax grunge vibes. Very unique. Come with friends and just have a great gab.

Stopped by here for an early dinner because they have gluten free options…read more Entrance is through an alley off the Queen Street Mall. After you enter you walk past the open kitchen, find a table in the dimly lit establishment, there are menu books at the tables, and then place your order at the counter. Online menu appeared to be accurate. Happy Hour daily from 5p - 6p but nothing to indicate what's discounted. Is it drinks? Food? Guy taking orders seemed nice enough. I didn't see any empty tables and needing gluten free food i didn't want to chance getting take away and it being wrong. Will have to try again the next time I'm in Brisbane.

How could we go to French Martini and not even order its namesake drink? Easily really when their…read morecocktail list is that tempting you forget that there are classic cocktails equally delicious worth your time and attention. I went with the Tiramisu Martini and from the biscuit crumbs around the glass to the delicately decadent combination of cream, vanilla infused alcohol and chocolate this was one dessert in a glass I don't mind sipping. I also had a sip of a friends raspberry and chilli cocktail - interesting but not for this spice-adversed sook! And cheese lovers be warned there is baked camembert on the menu. Yes we went there. Yes, we cleaned that all-too-small ramekin until there was no gooey cheesey goodness left. Yes, we'll be back.

Confit duck!…read more Stopped in here on the Brisbane southbank area to quell our growing hunger. The waitress who served our food was very attentive and very "french". We both decided on the two course deal. You can do either a starter and a main or a main and desert. We ended up taking the starter and main options. The starter came out being Salade de chevre chaud and was presented very professionally and tasted just delicious. For the mains we decided on Confit Duck and the "Fish of the Day" being coral trout. Both dishes we presented nicely and the flavours all worked very well together. Great food with great service and wifi access. Magnifique!