Coffee shops and Indian restaurant and take-aways in Brisbane

Brisbane coffee shops: Brisbaners love their coffee. There are plenty coffee shops and cafes spread all over Brisbane serving fantastic varieties of coffee in perfect ambience. Here are some of the some I frequent,

• Genies @ Queensland Biosciences Precinct (UQ) -- This is the one closest to QBP (just below our building!). I like Genies for its proximity, relatively cheaper prices (compared to the ones in the city) and a very friendly staff. Set beside palm trees, Genies is perfect to catch up with friends for an afternoon cuppa.


• Cafe Merlo @ Forgan Smith Building -- Merlo is right below the Forgan Smith building and adjacent to the Social Sciences Library. It has a lovely sit-out with umbrella-covered tables and chairs beneath the shade of a huge tree. Merlo again is a perfect get-away on a sunny afternoon for a cuppa.


• The Coffee Club @ Mater Hill -- The Coffee Club is a chain of coffee shops with outlets throughout Australia. I love the outlet at the Mater Hill bus station. It has a spacious sit-out facing Stanley street where you can read a book or browse the Internet in leisure. Its location is also perfect being very close to the bus station, and a walk down to the Gabba and South Bank.


• Cosmos Coffee and Gloria Jeans @ Fortitude Valley -- The Valley has some lovely coffee shops, many of which also serve decent pizzas and pastas. The Valley is at its liveliest during the weekends with the surrounding pubs playing a different kinds of music. As you grab your coffee and take a seat at one of these coffee shops you can see a lot of party-goers and students passing by in lively spirits.


• Flamingo Cafe @ Fortitude Valley -- Located in a narrow hidden Winn street (off Ann street), this place has a brilliant street-side yet cosy and romantic ambience. It has an enthusiastic staff, and the food here is delicious too. It is the perfect place for a relaxed Sunday morning breakfast, enhanced by the availability a small book shop and a clothes shop next by for a mini shopping or to just browse through in leisure.




• Ugees and other cafes @ The West End -- The West End is a lively place to explore coffee shops. Ugees, located at Boundary street (intersection with Melbourne street), serves coffee in a rustic yet comfortable atmosphere with paintings by local artists and posters hanging on the walls. Its just the place to experience some part of true-blue Aussie cuppa culture.


• Gloria Jeans @ Woolloongabba -- This one has an amazing location -- attached to the Gabba Central, facing the Gabba stadium on Stanley Street and very close the Gabba bus station. Its convenient to get there from UQ (direct bus 29 on weekdays) and it is perfect for a stop-over after a long day and routine grocery shopping at Coles (located within the Gabba Central).


• Segafredo Zaneti @ CBD -- This one is located right in front of the Treasury Building and the Bank of New South Wales in the CBD. Its got the perfect views -- of the Brisbane river and the buildings by the CBD.


• Pie Face @ CBD -- Pie Face is probably my most frequented coffee shop. I love their coffees and their pies. The latest addition, the tandoori vegetable pie, is a mouthwatering piece of creating, and goes perfect with a flat white or cappuccino.


• Cafe Eco @ Ecosciences Precinct -- This is located within the Ecosciences building, facing the grassland around Boggo Road Gaol. This one has a cosy sit-out too. Unfortunately this coffee shop is open only until 4pm on weekdays and is closed during the weekends, making it easy to get to only for people who work nearby.


• Fix 8 Coffee @ Central -- This one is conveniently located close to the Central station and has a nice sit-out.


• MYO @ Adelaide street -- This one is good for an immediate grab-n-run. I prefer this one whenever I pass by Adelaide street or King George bus stops.


• The Three Monkeys Cafe @ West End -- The Three Monkeys Cafe is often mentioned in cafe recommendations in Brisbane or when speaks of West End cafes. It has been very popular among the locals, and often their is quite a queue for its coffees, cakes and pastries. It has a cosy "hut-like" ambience inside, and several seats outside, and is often full of people.


• Tea Room @ West End Markets


• East Cafe @ Queens Street -- Slightly expensive, but of course you pay for tasting coffee right in the center of the Queens street mall!


• Goa Doodle Do -- This one is not exactly a coffee shop, but a fusion restaurant serving Indo-Portuguese Goan food. They also serve Indian coffee (the last time I was there, they had coffee beans from Mysore!) and Kingfisher beer.

Indian restaurants and take-aways in Brisbane: Australians love Indian food, especially spicy curries and Brisbane has ample Indian restaurants and take-aways joints to enjoy Indian curries and naans! However, like in most Indian restaurants outside of India, it is difficult to find authentic Indian or home-made Indian food. Anyway, here's a list of some good Indian restaurants in Brisbane city that I have tried:

• Blue Gulabi @ Woolloongabba -- This is located outside the Gabba Central mall, very close to the Gabba bus station and stadium. It serves mainly Punjabi and north Indian food along with some tasty chaats. Occassionally they come up with attractive deals on their food worth trying out.
• Masala Art @ Petri Terrace -- This is walkable from Roma Street station. It servers mainly Punjabi and north Indian food. The masala chai is especially good here.
• A Night in India -- This is probably the best Indian restaurant I have tried in Brisbane. It is located in Toowong, very close to UQ. The food is delicious and the ambience is great. However, the rates are high compared to several other Indian restaurants.
• Hot Medium Mild @ Fortitude Valley -- This is located within the Valley station mall and serves both north and south Indian food.
• Maha lutchhmi @ Fortitude Valley -- This is located within the Valley station mall in front of Geeta Indian grocery store. Its preferred for chaats and South Indian snacks (dosas). The mini thali for $5.50 is a good deal.
• Vege Rama @ Myer Centre -- This serves both north and south Indian food. Its preferred for masala dosas.
• Vege Rama Restaurant @ West End
• Punjabi Palace @ West End
• Riverwalk Tandoor @ Highgate Hill -- Mainly north Indian food. Average food quality. Expensive for the food quality
• Kantas Curry Place @ Annerley Road
• Govindas opposite Myer Centre in the City -- This one is pretty good