Best Things to Do in Paddington, Brisbane
An affluent inner Brisbane suburb, Paddington is known for its shopping, restaurants, and its hills! Though they can be tough to climb, the hills in Paddington provide great views of Brisbane City.
The neighborhoods of Rosalie and Petrie Terrace are part of the suburb of Paddington, which lies between Bardon, Auchenflower, Milton, and Red Hill.
The suburb is filled with Queenslanders, and it is the spot where the Bluey house was painted and decorated to look like the house in the cartoon, though on the show, Bluey lives in Brisbane City.
There are plenty of fun things to do in Paddington, including many different types of restaurants to visit and lots of unique shops.
I love to wander around the shops in Paddington, though the hills make it tough to walk around too much.
Keep reading to find the best things to do in the Paddington neighborhood of Brisbane.
Things to do in Paddington, Brisbane
Go Shopping
Paddington is a shopper’s dream. Filled with unique shops and op-shops, Paddington is a fun place to spend time browsing the stores.
For those who love to browse, Empire Reveal includes 50 different merchants inside one building. Whether you are looking for furniture, fashion, antiques, or jewelry, it can be found at Empire Reveal.
Vintage clothes can be found at Metro Retro and Ra Ra Superstar.
Head to Presents of Mind for toys, puzzles, and unique gifts. This is our favorite place to buy birthday gifts for kids’ parties.
A store as unique as its name, Thousand Island Dressing sells jewelry, art, and home goods.
Get your own stylist to help you pick out the best items in the Paddington boutiques with a Private Group Shopping and Styling Tour in Paddington with a Personal Stylist.
Laugh at a Comedy Club
Sit Down Comedy Club hosts comedy shows almost daily throughout Brisbane, with many of the shows held at The Paddo Tavern in Paddington.
The comedy club began in Paddington, close to Suncorp Stadium. The venue is 18+, and they host local, national, and international comedians.
Dance Honkey Tonk
With weekly events, live music, and dancing, Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall is always a good time.
Food is also served at Lefty’s, and the menu is American-themed, featuring burgers and fries.
Go on a Mystery Picnic
Whether you are going on a date, out with friends, or spending the day with your family, there is an option for a Mystery Picnic through AmazingCo.
Solve clues and puzzles, play games, and pick up picnic items on your journey through Paddington before ending with a delicious picnic. My family went on a mystery picnic in Paddington, which you can read more about here.
Plan Your Own Picnic
Rosalie’s Gourmet Market has everything you need for a delicious picnic. Rosalie’s also has plenty of pantry items, prepared food, and refrigerated options to bring home. They cater events, and we have picked up sandwiches, high tea to go, and my daughter’s birthday cake from Rosalie’s.
After tasting Rosalie’s lemon raspberry cake at a friend’s party, my daughter had to have her own, and it was delicious. She insisted on having that cake for 2 birthdays in a row.
Enjoy Dinner and a Movie
You can enjoy dinner and a movie simultaneously at Cinebar Rosalie Village.
The seats have tables, and the menu includes appetizers, mains, desserts, and drinks. There is even a kids’ menu at Cinebar in Paddington.
Check their website for movie and meal deals.
Admire the Art
Check out the Aboriginal art at Red Sand Art Gallery. The gallery has paintings, didgeridoos, boomerangs, and sculptures.
Lethbridge Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery in Paddington. You can find their exhibition schedule here.
Take an Art Workshop
Thousand Island Dressing offers art workshops, including sip and paint. Check out their website to see what events and workshops are on.
Visit Government House
Located in Paddington, Government House has Picnic Sundays, open house events, and free tours.
Picnic Sundays don’t take place weekly, so be sure to check the schedule. The grounds around Government House open up on Picnic Sundays for a few hours, and visitors can bring their picnic supplies and enjoy the Government House grounds. Tickets are mandatory.
Public tours run from March to December and allow visitors to see behind the scenes at Government House. All of the tours are free but require a ticket. The tours at Government House are 90 minutes long. Tours are also available of the Government House garden from May to September.
I took my kids to an event at Government House. We were able to tour the building and relax on the grounds.
Find more Free Guided Tours in Brisbane.
Taste Your Way Through Paddington
Once a year, Taste of the Terraces takes place over a few days in Paddington.
During Taste of the Terraces, many of the bars and restaurants in Paddington offer special deals and discounts, and they each have a featured dish or drink.
Relax in Trammies Corner
Trammies Corner is a small park in Paddington named for tram drivers. While the park is small, there are seats and beautiful views.
Head to the Skate Park
Located across the street from Suncorp Stadium is Paddington Skate Park, along with Niel Macrossan Playground and Ithica Swimming Pool.
Enjoy Delicious Vanilla Slices
When researching the best vanilla slice in Brisbane, Francie’s Patisserie in Paddington popped up as a great option, and we added it as a stop on our vanilla slice-tasting tour. While it didn’t win as my favorite vanilla slice in Brisbane, it was my husband’s favorite out of the 7 vanilla slices we tried.
See a Show
Brisbane Arts Theatre is located in the Petrie Terrace area of Paddington, and it is a nice place to see a local show.
Shows run at Brisbane Arts Theatre throughout the year, and they often have kid-friendly options.
Brisbane Arts Theatre also runs performing arts workshops for kids and teens throughout the school year.
Where to Eat in Paddington
Sassafras of Paddinton
For a delicious breakfast, lunch, or brunch, head to Sassafras of Paddington. Seating is available both inside and outside in the garden.
NAIM
NAIM offers a large Mediterranean menu, and they have a separate menu filled with plant-based options that is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Long lunches and banquet dinners are available with options for kids, plant-based, and gluten-free.
Darling and Co
Open for lunch and dinner daily and breakfast on the weekends, Darling and Co. focuses on local, fresh, and sustainable food.
They also have a bottomless brunch on the weekends.
Ham on Rye
Eat a delicious sandwich at Ham on Rye, open for lunch daily. Hot and cold options are available, as are side salads and sweets.
Chapter IV
Chapter IV serves breakfast all day in addition to Asian main dishes. They also have coffees, smoothies, juices, and milkshakes.
Accommodations in Paddington
Those who want to spend the night in Paddington will need to book a holiday house or unit, as there are no hotels in this Brisbane suburb. The following options are nearby and within walking distance of Paddington.
Gambara Hotel Brisbane, 5 Stars
The Gambaro Hotel Brisbane is located near Suncorp Stadium and is within walking distance of Paddington. Gambara Hotel Brisbane offers studio rooms and suites that include balconies. Family rooms are available, there is an option for an airport shuttle, and guests can use a local pool and gym complimentary.
The Milton Brisbane, 4 Stars
The Milton Brisbane offers 1 and 2-bedroom apartments. Guests can enjoy the outdoor pool and hot tub as well as the fitness center and sauna at The Milton Brisbane. The hotel is within walking distance of Paddington and just .1 kilometers from the train station.
Brisbane City YHA, 3 Stars
Brisbane City YHA is within walking distance of Paddington, Suncorp Stadium, and Roma Street Station. Room options include private and shared as well as family rooms. There is a swimming pool at Brisbane City YHA and a shared kitchen, games room, TV room, and restaurant.
Paddington, Brisbane FAQ
Paddington can be visited in a few hours or a day, but it is near Brisbane City and other inner suburbs.
While some of the shops and cafes are near each other, Paddington is spread out. There are lots of hills in Paddington, making it more difficult to walk.
My suggestion is to start at the top of the hill, near Trammie’s Corner, and walk down towards Suncorp Stadium.
Brisbane Neighborhood Guides
Brisbane is filled with unique neighborhoods. Spend a few hours of a day exploring a new neighborhood to you in Brisbane, or head back and explore more of one of your favorite neighborhoods.
