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Do you judge a coffee shop by the area?
The beans it uses? The length of the barista’s beard? Or the variety of coffee styles it has to offer?
Whatever the reason, when it comes to good coffee, Brisbane’s coffee shops have something for all types of coffee lovers.
So if you hate to be disappointed, here is a list of the 10 best Brisbane suburbs that coffee lovers need to visit for their next long black, flat white, or even a piccolo.
1. Milton
Milton is a friendly riverside inner-city suburb around 2km from the CBD which is packed with vibrant coffee shops and bars.
The suburb has a “classy” and professional vibe and is well known for Park Road, a strip of trendy bars and restaurants that is particularly popular with Italians.
The area is home to one of the city’s best coffee shops – Bunker.
As the name suggests, this coffee shop is tucked into a concrete vine-covered bunker-like space and serves some of the best brews around.
Coffee shops to try: Bunker on Railway Terrace
2. Brisbane CBD
Brisbane’s CBD took a beating during the pandemic as work-from-home orders saw the city all-but deserted.
But now as restrictions have eased, travel has resumed and workers have returned to the office, Brisbane’s centre, its nightlife, and its coffee scene have risen once again.
Whether you’re looking for a water view, taking a well-earned break from shopping, or just need takeaway caffeine hit, Brisbane’s coffee shops have something for everyone.
Coffee shops to try: John Mills Himself on Charlotte Street, Scout on Petrie Terrace, BREW on Lower Burnett Lane, and The Noosa Chocolate Factory on Adelaide Street.
3. Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley is dubbed as the suburb where elegance meets grungy and offbeat with heritage-listed and contemporary buildings sitting side-by-side.
Also known as “The Valley”, the suburb is famed for its thriving entertainment district where the nation’s best acts come to play at the concert halls and bars.
While the area is best known for its nightlife, there is plenty else to do from dawn to dusk, such as shopping the hip laneways and most importantly, sipping lattes at the best cafes and coffee shops.
Coffee shops to try: Ltd Espresso + Brew Bar on Brunswick street
4. Albion
Albion is an inner north-eastern suburb of Brisbane packed with a huge variety of things to do.
A warehouse bar, distillery, a cake boutique, funky cafes, farmers market, a mammoth rum bar, Chinese temple and restaurant with secret butcher shop entrance, and an abundance of excellent coffee shops – the northside suburb of Albion is well worth a visit for coffee lovers.
Collingwood Black is a standout coffee shop that has vintage barn-style vibes, good food alongside its own brand of coffee.
Meanwhile, Fonzie Abbott also has a signature roaster’s blend which even has its own roast house.
Coffee shops to try: Collingwood Black on Collingwood Street and Fonzie Abbott on Crosby Road
5. New Farm
New Farm is a leafy residential neighbourhood with riverside BBQ spots, grassy fields and jungle gyms, and a newfound cafe and restaurant scene.
The family-friendly suburb has lots of relaxed eateries and kid-friendly eateries and cafes serving some of Brisbane’s finest brews making it one of the city’s best coffee cultures.
There are lots of great coffee shop options but Death Before Decaf stands out among the crowd.
Not only is the coffee shops never close (it’s open 24/7) meaning you can get your caffeine hit whenever you like, it also makes some of the best coffee in the area.
Coffee shops to try: Death Before Decaf on Brunswick Street and Chouquette on Barker Street
6. North Lakes
Ok so this one isn’t strictly in Brisbane, but the coffee in North Lakes is too good to miss off the list.
North Lakes darling Told You So is a hip local joint that serves espresso, cold drip, and nitro coffee using Single O beans, and nearby, Fort Specialty Coffee dishes out the house blend or single origin espresso, plus batch filter, aeropress, pourover, and even coldpress coffee in bottles.
Coffee shops to try: Told You So on Discovery Drive and Fort Coffee on Endeavour Boulevard
7. Toowong
Toowong is a popular, well-known Brisbane suburb located five minutes drive west of the Brisbane city centre between Mount Coot-tha and the north bank of the Brisbane River.
The suburb is known for being home to two of Brisbane’s most famous, heritage-listed hotels – the Regatta Hotel and the Royal Exchange Hotel but also a vibrant brunch and cafe culture.
Coffee shops to try: Corner Store Cafe on Sylvan Road
8. Broadbeach
Whatever style of coffee you’re after, Broadbeach on the Gold Coast serves it all.
The suburb is home to lots of top-notch baristas in coffee shops scattered all along the 4km stretch of sand between Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach area meaning there is always a great cup of brew at your fingertips.
Coffee shops to try: No Name Lane on Charles Avenue
9. Hendra
Hendra is a residential suburb 7km north-east of central Brisbane which is popular for families because of its proximity to some of the best private schools in Brisbane.
The suburb is also popular for its eateries, relaxed weekend vibe, and vibrant coffee shops.
Passionate coffee lovers would be impressed with Dandelion and Driftwood owned by master roaster Peter Wolff (who has mentored some of Brisbane’s best coffee roasters) and his partner Penny, the exquisite coffee is some of the best the city has to offer.
Coffee shops to try: Dandelion and Driftwood on Doncaster Street and Big Bad Wolf Espresso Bar on Gerler Road
10. Wilston
Wilston, which is around 3.4km from Brisbane’s CBD, is famed for its blend of new and old architecture and buildings.
The inner-city location has excellent views of the city from some of the more elevated streets meaning properties in some areas of the suburb are in high demand.
Just as popular is Wilston’s hub of restaurants and cafes on the main street which buzzes both day and night with visitors and locals.
Coffee shops to try: Willow and Spoon on Newmarket road
