brisbane, 2026
In Brisbane, what strikes me first is how early the city awakens. There’s a cute coffee cart right opposite my hotel called Meet Me In The Morning that catches my eye because of the sign outside that proudly proclaims the use of St. Ali beans. It opens at 6am. It’s far from the only coffee joint in town open at such an hour. In fact, towards the end of my trip, I discover a little bakery stall in a foodcourt with super yummy pies and sausage rolls that opens at 6:30. (Eat at Lena's Bakehouse, folks, it's so good.) I’m generally a pretty early riser, but when I step out of my hotel before 7 to look for coffee and breakfast, I’m astonished how many people are out and about and dressed for work already.
Perhaps it’s a summer thing. When the sun rises early and the days are long, sweet and sunny, it’s nice to be up and out, even for a hermit like me.
One week in a city isn’t all that long. Just enough to start to get to know it, to glimpse the cadences of everyday life that beat at its heart, before you have to leave; just enough to miss it when you have to leave. This feels especially true, I think, in a city like Brisbane, which I describe to friends and family when I get home as a little bit less everything than the other Australian cities I’ve known: less cosmopolitan than Sydney, less culturally vibrant than Melbourne, less happening altogether, with everything winding down by 5pm. But because of that, I feel like Brisbane is the most balanced and liveable Australian city I’ve spent time in. It has enough of everything without being overwhelming. The pace of living feels comfortable. You can walk everywhere in the city centre and up and down the river and it’s just really pleasant. The weather is always warm. All public transport rides are 50 cents regardless of distance. I can’t get over that last thing, especially knowing the price of public transport elsewhere in the country.
I’m not the kind of traveller who likes to pack her days full, especially when I’m on my own and it’s supposed to be an easygoing trip. One thing before lunch is enough for me. After that I’m heading back to the hotel to nap, read and game. So in Brisbane, I visit museums and galleries and a koala sanctuary, I spend time wandering the forest trails at Mt Coot-Tha, I stroll down the river, I explore indie bookstores (and spend way more money than I planned). I eat my way through gelato and surprisingly fresh onigiri and, at a Sunday market, the biggest bowl of acai I’ve ever been served. I barely speak to anyone the whole week, aside from pleasantries with friendly service staff. And I relax a great deal. It’s bliss.
Brisbane, I hope I’ll be back someday. And I hope you’ll be just as laid back, just as easy to get along with as you are right now. Stay less. Sometimes, the world doesn’t need to keep hurtling towards more of everything.