InterContinental Brisbane Things to Do in Brisbane

At Brisbane’s most coveted luxury address, InterContinental Brisbane brings iconic design, understated elegance and a deep sense of place to the heart of the CBD. Located on Elizabeth Street within the Queen Street Mall precinct, the hotel offers unrivalled access to luxury retail, signature dining and cultural experiences. It is also Australia’s only hotel designed by Harry Seidler.

For those exploring what to do in Brisbane CBD, the city reveals itself effortlessly from here. South Bank’s riverfront, QPAC’s performance calendar, GOMA’s exhibitions and a growing collection of rooftop bars and dining destinations all sit within close reach, bringing together the best things to do in Brisbane in one connected, central experience.

Story Bridge Adventure Climb remains one of Brisbane’s signature experiences. The guided climb reaches 80 metres above sea level and delivers sweeping 360-degree views across the river, skyline, Moreton Bay and the Glass House Mountains.

Across the river from the city centre, South Bank’s parklands are home to one of Australia’s most unexpected urban pleasures, a man-made beach complete with white sand and swimming lagoon. The surrounding parklands include the lush Rainforest Green and the Epicurious Garden, where edible plants are cultivated alongside native species.

The CityCat ferry offers a quieter way to experience the city. Moving along the Brisbane River, it connects key precincts while offering a continuous perspective of the skyline, bridges and waterfront architecture.

Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) is Brisbane’s leading contemporary art institution, known for its large-scale international exhibitions and expansive riverside setting. Its program consistently attracts global artists and major touring works.

Queensland Performing Arts Centre is the city’s primary venue for theatre, ballet, opera and live performance. Its multi-stage complex hosts both international productions and Australian premieres throughout the year.

Queensland Museum offers a broader cultural perspective, with exhibitions spanning natural history, science and Queensland’s heritage. Its location within the cultural precinct makes it an easy addition to a curated day.

A short walk from the hotel, the City Botanic Gardens offer a peaceful retreat in the heart of the city. Wander beneath weeping fig trees along the river’s edge or simply find a quiet bench and watch the river pass.

A 15-minute drive from the city centre, Mount Coot-tha rewards the journey with commanding views across Brisbane, Moreton Bay and the World Heritage-listed Scenic Rim beyond. Linger over lunch at the Summit Restaurant & Bar before visiting Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Australia’s largest subtropical botanical park.

Kangaroo Point Cliffs delivers one of the city’s most recognisable vantage points. From here, the skyline is framed by the river, particularly striking in the late afternoon and early evening.

The world’s oldest and largest koala sanctuary sits amid bushland in the riverside suburb of Fig Tree Pocket. Guests can encounter koalas, hand-feed kangaroos and observe some of Australia’s most distinctive native species in a natural setting. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opened in 1927 and is home to more than 100 koalas and over 70 native Australian species, making it a rewarding half-day outing from the CBD.

Queen Street Mall is Brisbane’s premier open-air shopping destination and the city’s flagship retail precinct. It has more than 500 stores spread across streetfront boutiques, major shopping centres and heritage-listed arcades, with a mix that runs from fashion and beauty to dining and lifestyle. If you are deciding what to do in Brisbane CBD, this is where the city’s retail energy is most concentrated.

QueensPlaza is a three-level city-centre destination on Queen Street Mall, anchored by the Queensland flagship David Jones. Its luxury mix is unusually concentrated for a city this walkable, with Balenciaga, Burberry, Bvlgari, Chanel, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Ferragamo and Tiffany & Co. all represented, alongside premium services that make shopping feel considered rather than transactional.

Edward Street is Brisbane’s luxury boulevard: quieter, more tailored and more overtly fashion-led than the main mall. Here, international houses sit beside watch, jewellery and menswear specialists, with Hermès at 171 Edward Street and Cartier at 172 Edward Street among the standout names, reinforcing the precinct’s emphasis on craftsmanship, service and polished one-on-one retail.

For a different tempo, Brisbane Arcade brings heritage and craftsmanship into focus. Since opening in 1924, the arcade has been associated with fashion, bespoke jewellery and specialist makers, and its official material highlights artisan retailers and repair services rarely found in conventional retail settings. This is where luxury feels most personal, from custom rings to made-to-order pieces.

Set within the heart of Queen Street Mall directly below the hotel, Wintergarden is home to a curated mix of Australian fashion labels and specialty retailers, just steps from InterContinental Brisbane.

The hotel’s signature all-day dining destination, Latitude 27 Kitchen serves seasonal, locally inspired fare beneath the soaring atrium. The menu celebrates the distinctive flavours of Australia’s diverse landscapes, connecting you to the freshest ingredients from land and sea. Later in the day, Latitude 27 Bar offers a sophisticated setting for expertly crafted cocktails.

Brisbane’s dining scene is at its best when it is tied to place. Howard Smith Wharves, beneath the Story Bridge, has grown into a riverfront dining and entertainment destination with 13 restaurants, cafés and bars, making it one of the city’s strongest day-to-night precincts. It works just as well for a long lunch as it does for sunset drinks with the bridge lit overhead.

Housed in a gracious 19th-century bank building one block from Queen Street Mall, The Gresham Bar is among Brisbane’s most distinguished bars. It’s known for its extensive range of whiskies as well as its hand-crafted cocktails, with a drinks menu that runs to almost 70 pages.

A fresh, modern interpretation of Cantonese and Sichuan cuisines, Donna Chang occupies the airy interior of a former 1910s bank building on George Street. Elevated dim sum, whole fish and sharing dishes are served beneath pressed-metal ceilings in one of the city’s most atmospheric dining rooms.

Located in Fortitude Valley’s James Street luxury retail precinct, Fatcow is Brisbane’s destination for premium wagyu and the finest cuts sourced from Japan and Australia. Classic accompaniments such as fries with truffle aioli are executed with the same care as the steaks themselves.

Drawing inspiration from the dining scenes of Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul and Hong Kong, Supernormal brings pan-Asian cooking to the edge of the Brisbane River. Fresh local produce, including Moreton Bay bugs, the prized local crustacean, is prepared with lightness and technical rigour.

An intimate 24-seat basement restaurant on Edward Street, Exhibition offers an umami-driven tasting menu in the Japanese kaiseki tradition. Impeccable seafood and wagyu beef are complemented by biodynamic and sustainably sourced local produce.

One hundred metres above the city in the Queen’s Wharf riverside precinct, Sky Deck houses three distinct concepts sharing one of Brisbane’s most spectacular vantage points. Cicada Blu offers sophisticated open-air cocktails; Babblers serves casual all-day dining; and Aloria brings a more refined dining experience to the upper level, all framed by panoramic views of the city and the surrounding region.

For those looking to experience the best things to do in Brisbane, where you stay can shape how the city unfolds. From InterContinental Brisbane, Brisbane city attractions, cultural landmarks and riverfront dining sit within easy reach, creating a more considered way to explore what to do in Brisbane CBD.