A stylish and sophisticated suburb of Brisbane, Fortitude Valley thrives as a dedicated entertainment district. Buzzing with live music venues, contemporary art galleries, nightlife and designer fashion boutiques, Fortitude Valley is where to “see and be seen” in Brisbane.
Things to do in Fortitude Valley
Offering a mix of vintage, high-fashion and hipster-pop styles, shopping is a constant presence in Fortitude Valley. You can shop along James Street to find the latest trends in more than 100 flagship and upscale shops, or discover local threads at the Valley Market on weekends, hosted by Chinatown Mall and Brunswick Street Mall. The Market is also where to find multicultural street food, handmade crafts and street performers. For hidden boutiques and bookstores, find your way over to Winn and Bakery Lanes.
Feeling brave enough to try some exotic cuisine in Fortitude Valley? Head over to Brunswick Street to experience everything from French to Nepali, Japanese, Indonesian and Thai dishes. As the night wears on, clubs and rooftop bars across town come alive with music and DJs, salsa dancing, brewpubs and craft cocktails. You can also stop by Judith Wright Centre, affectionately known as “The Judy” for cabaret and performance art.
Street art paints Fortitude Valley with colourful murals and art installations, while official galleries and indie-art pop-up shows are a regular occurrence. From the Institute of Modern Art to Red Sea and TW Fine Art, you’ll get a deep-dive into Australian creative culture.
Getting around Fortitude Valley
Though Fortitude Valley is considered a suburb, it’s only 1 kilometre from the centre of Brisbane, with access to interurban trains, buses and taxis. A single Translink card works with buses, trains, ferries and CityCats catamarans servicing the riverside areas.