Things to Do in New Farm, Brisbane: The Local Guide

New Farm at a glance

New Farm is best understood through the variety packed into a relatively compact inner-city neighbourhood. The suburb has a long-established food culture, with Italian deli traditions, European bistro cooking, French dining and modern café menus sitting alongside pubs, cocktail bars and live entertainment. Its other defining feature is the amount of space given to parks and public life, particularly around the river.

The clearest starting point is New Farm Park, a heritage-listed riverfront park covering more than 15 hectares between Brunswick Street, Sydney Street and the river. First built in 1914, it was designed by Henry Moore and later Harry Oakman, and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2005. It gives the neighbourhood a spacious, unhurried centre, with room to spread out before or after a meal.

Beside it, Brisbane Powerhouse gives New Farm a serious cultural anchor. Its programme covers movement, music, theatre, comedy, visual arts, family events and ideas, as well as events such as the Brisbane Powerhouse Farmers Markets and Night Feast. That changing calendar is one of the best reasons to check what is on rather than treating the venue as a one-off visit.

Where to eat

New Farm’s restaurant scene is strongest when you want food with a clear point of view rather than a generic meal. On Brunswick Street, À la Bonne Franquette serves traditional French cuisine. Its perfect five-star average from more than 400 reviews is an unusually strong result, making it a natural choice for a considered French meal in the neighbourhood.

For a broader European approach, Continental Cafe on Barker Street is a long-running bistro drawing on France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland. It says it has been serving Brisbane for more than 29 years, and its menu combines Continental classics with changing monthly specials. That makes it suitable both for diners looking for familiar European dishes and regulars who want something different from the specials list.

New Farm Deli offers another way into the area’s European food culture. With roots stretching back to 1975, it began as a neighbourhood continental delicatessen and now combines café-style food with Italian influence, European delicacies and specialist ingredients to take home. It is a practical stop when the visit involves both eating in and browsing for pantry goods.

For plant-based café dining, Dicki’s New Farm is on Brunswick Street, serving specialty coffee, smoothies and an all-day breakfast and lunch menu. The café has indoor and alfresco seating, a small front balcony and a takeaway bench inside. Cakes for occasions, catering and a selection of alternative milks make it useful for more than a quick coffee, whether you are settling in or taking something away.

The range is fairly broad for the suburb: French cuisine, a multi-country European bistro, Italian deli cooking and a plant-based all-day menu all sit within the same neighbourhood. The supplied venue information does not provide prices, so it is worth checking current menus when planning a special meal or a larger group booking.

Coffee and cafes

Blue Bear Coffeehouse on James Street is a breakfast-focused café with coffee, cold drinks, juices and milkshakes. Its menu includes dairy-free choices such as lactose-free, almond, soy and oat milks, as well as cold-pressed juices combining fruit and vegetables. It is a good fit for a straightforward breakfast or a drink-led stop when the group has different milk and beverage preferences.

Dicki’s New Farm is the stronger option when you want a plant-based all-day meal rather than coffee alone. Its smoothies, breakfast and lunch menu, alfresco seating and takeaway setup cover both slow mornings and quick visits.

For a more ingredient-focused café experience, New Farm Deli combines its café offering with a specialist grocery selection. The long-running history matters here: this is not simply a café with a few imported products, but a neighbourhood deli whose identity has developed from its continental beginnings.

Drinks and nightlife

New Farm has several distinct ways to spend an evening. Brunswick Hotel, on the corner of Kent and Brunswick Streets, is the practical neighbourhood-pub choice. Its renovated Bistro, Beer Garden and Sports Bar provide different settings for a meal, a drink after work or a casual catch-up. It is close to the river and suits groups who do not all want the same kind of pub experience.

For cocktails and a slower pace, Dr Gimlette Brisbane focuses on table service and considered drinks. Its Martini Cart is the standout experience: bartenders prepare the drink at the table, explain different styles and help customise the gin, method and garnishes. That makes it better suited to an occasion where the drink itself is part of the evening, rather than a quick stop between venues.

The Junk Bar is smaller and more music-focused. Upstairs, the Cocktail Lounge pairs drinks with vinyl selected by the bar staff; downstairs, the Skukum Lounge hosts live music in an intimate setting. Its low-key approach includes clear sound at a comfortable volume, with an emphasis on discovering artists guests may not already know. It is a useful option when you want live music without a large-room feel.

The area’s nightlife therefore ranges from a multi-room local pub to table-served martinis and intimate live sets. Brisbane Powerhouse adds a different kind of evening, with programmed performances, comedy, theatre, music and ideas that can be paired with food or drinks elsewhere in the suburb.

Things to do

New Farm Park Playground is the obvious family destination within the larger park. It has a 4.8-star average from more than 360 reviews and gives children space to run and climb, with shade, lawns and picnic spots around it. The playground is free, and the setting makes it possible to build a simple day around outdoor time rather than treating it as a short standalone stop.

For a quieter outdoor plan, Powerhouse Park provides green space for meeting, relaxing and spending time outside. Brisbane City Council’s park network supports recreation, community activities and private events, and the park booking service allows people to apply for exclusive use of a selected site. The supplied information does not specify individual facilities or the layout, so check the current booking details before planning a private occasion.

A visit to Brisbane Powerhouse is worth planning around the calendar. Its programme changes between family events, festivals, visual arts, performances and ideas, while the Farmers Markets and Night Feast offer different reasons to return. Its position beside New Farm Park also makes it easy to combine culture with time outdoors.

If your visit is more health-focused, Strength Sanctuary Brisbane is a strength-focused gym with a 4.9-star average from more than 230 reviews. That makes it relevant to both newcomers and experienced lifters looking for coaching, community and a serious training environment, rather than a general sightseeing activity.

For cosmetic and skin treatments, Ascension Cosmetic Medicine is a doctor-led clinic on Merthyr Road offering cosmetic medicine, body sculpting, skin treatments and laser procedures. Consultations cover individual concerns, suitability, expected outcomes and potential risks. The clinic specifically notes that non-surgical procedures carry risks, so a consultation is an important part of deciding whether a treatment is appropriate.

Staying and planning your visit

The Calile Hotel is included among New Farm’s accommodation options and offers rooms and suites ranging from Essential and Urban rooms to the Calile Suite. Depending on the room, features include balconies, pool views, terraces, separate living areas and rooftop outdoor space. The hotel is positioned as a base built around more than an overnight stay, with a calm, considered approach to accommodation.

For a simple day out, start at New Farm Park, allow time for the playground if travelling with children, then continue to a café or deli. If Brisbane Powerhouse has a suitable event on, build the rest of the visit around its programme. Dinner options include À la Bonne Franquette, Continental Cafe or Dicki’s New Farm, while Brunswick Hotel offers a more casual pub setting. Finish with Dr Gimlette, The Junk Bar or a later programme at the Powerhouse.

The suburb is easy to combine with a visit from the city: the New Farm Park information notes that the park can be reached by walking, riding or ferry from the city. Within New Farm, pay attention to the venue addresses when planning a route, as the dining and drinking options are spread across Brunswick Street, Barker Street, James Street, Merthyr Road and the Kent Street corner of Brunswick Street. For current menus, event times, treatment suitability and accommodation details, check each venue directly before setting out.

Local favourites in New Farm

• New Farm Park
• À la Bonne Franquette
• Brunswick Hotel
• Ascension Cosmetic Medicine
• Dicki's New Farm
• Brisbane Powerhouse
• Happy Valley Brewing Company
• Blue Bear Coffeehouse

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Frequently asked questions

What is New Farm best known for?

New Farm is known for the heritage-listed New Farm Park, Brisbane Powerhouse’s broad arts programme, established European food venues, cafés, pubs, cocktail bars and intimate live music.

Is New Farm suitable for families?

Yes. New Farm Park Playground is free and has space to run and climb, with shade, lawns and picnic spots around it. New Farm Park can also be combined with family events at Brisbane Powerhouse.

Where can I find French or European food in New Farm?

À la Bonne Franquette serves traditional French cuisine on Brunswick Street. Continental Cafe on Barker Street draws on French, Spanish, Italian and Swiss food traditions, while New Farm Deli combines Italian-influenced café food with European delicacies and specialist ingredients.

What are the main nightlife options in New Farm?

Brunswick Hotel offers a Bistro, Beer Garden and Sports Bar. Dr Gimlette focuses on table-served cocktails and its Martini Cart, while The Junk Bar combines a vinyl-led Cocktail Lounge upstairs with intimate live music downstairs. Brisbane Powerhouse also presents evening performances and events.