This timber-and-tin clad Brissie ‘burb is one of our faves. Paddington is sprawling with quirky antiques, hidden masterpieces and, frankly, some of the best hummus bowls on the Brissie dining scene – all just waiting to be appreciated.
We’ve taken the work out of it for you and rounded up all the must-visit spots in this trendy suburb – here’s to a weekend of rummaging, clinking and maybe a bit of plate-licking!
PADDINGTON SOCIAL
Paddington Social, the new place-to-be, is a gorgeous eatery born from three fab chefs putting their heads together. If you rise early enough, pick up one of their famed golden pastries and a seriously good cup of ‘spresso or have a brunch catch-up with their crispy corn & herb fritters with whipped feta, honey, chilli oil, poached egg, smoked paprika and avo. But don’t be fooled by the cafe exterior, this converted Queenslander lives a double life as a Thai restaurant from 5pm Tuesday to Saturday, and they do it well. Hot tip, their padt see ew is a must!
REMY’S
Welcome to Remy’s, Brisbanites – where your childhood dreams of the perfect shake, burger and fries are realised. Although their beer and burger combo goes pretty hard too, it’s their thick shakes that we dream about at night. With flavour offerings from vanilla and caramel to snickers or chai, pick your poison!
FLOWERS OF THE WORLD
Located on Latrobe Terrace, the main strip of Paddington, you’ll find a haven of blooming buds and ‘grammable colour palettes. If you’ve got a loved one’s birthday coming up, a bunch from Flowers of the World will beat a candle or a mug any day of the week. But who said flowers have to be a present? Pick up a bunch for yourself and brighten up your kitchen table, because who said you can’t buy yourself flowers! I think Miley agrees with us actually.
HAM ON RYE
Every now and then, you just get a craving for a classic sanga and, luckily, this deli sandwich shop can always scratch that itch. Ham on Rye, located in Paddington Shopping Centre, serves up whoppa toasties. Their Chickano is a particularly good hangover cure with chicken, cheese, mojo, honey-mustard mayo, pickles and jalapeño.
ART GALLERIES
After a nice brunch at one of the top spots, why not hit up an art gallery for a relaxing stroll through. Try Lethbridge Gallery or Robyn Bauer Studio Gallery, both nestled in quaint little Queenslander-esque cottages. You might pick up something for that empty wall in your house…
NAÏM
The home of mouth-watering Middle Eastern eats, Naïm provides breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings so you can fuel up in between window browsing or settle in for a night of eats. While you can’t go wrong with any of the menu items, you NEED to start your initiation to the Naïm club by tackling a hummus bowl. This bad boy is loaded with house-made hummus, marinated olives, tomato salad and crispy chickpeas with toasted za’atar flatbread for dipping, and maybe a chicken shawarma perched on top, if you fancy it!
OP SHOPS
Paddington is a must-visit on the Brissie thrifting scene so if you’re a vintage stan, you’re headed to the right place. All the gems are located in the centre of the action which means you can split your trail up with a healthy dose of pastries, coffees and fuel-ups along Latrobe Terrace. Highlights on the must-hit list though are Retro Metro and Yesterday’s Thrift Shop.
HOPE & ANCHOR
Set sail for Hope & Anchor if you’re after a little booze cruise. This cottage-turned-pub gets real English, real fast with Guinness braised wagyu beef cheek, colcannon, green beans and pastry. Have yourself a merry little barrel aged negroni to top things off (and maybe a few other tipples from their tempting cocktail list).
ANTIQUE STORES
If you’re after that perfect lampshade, a new hotpot or a quirky new poster – Paddington is abundant with quirky knick-knacks for you to get your hands on. Try The Gentleman’s Apartment, Yande Meanjin Antiques or Empire Revival for a true rummage sesh, just to name a few.
One thing to remember before you set off on your Paddington adventure though – remember to wear flats. The rolling hills of Paddington were not made for heels – sorry Carrie Bradshaw!
