10 best things to do in Paddington, as recommended by a personal stylist

Do you hate getting stuck in the tourist traps when you travel? I do too.

When I travel, I want to meet locals, and experience their food and daily life. I love exploring the cities’ hidden gems – the unique boutiques, popular local fashion designers and vibrant cafes where like-minded locals mingle.

As a personal stylist and Brisbane local, I’m overjoyed to be able to introduce travellers to my favourite places in this city, and to ensure that exploring the modern lifestyle and shopping culture is a fun and stress-free experience.

I particularly love leading shopping and styling tours in Paddington. I think Paddington is one of Brisbane's most interesting and vibrant neighbourhoods, rich in its history, culture and charm. The trendy neighbourhood is full of hidden gems; an eclectic range of current boutiques and designers, fine and artisan jewellery, preloved clothing, art and antiques, making it a treasure trove for fashionistas on the hunt for something special.

If you’re only in town for a few days and you’re keen to experience life like a Brisbane local, it’s a great place to explore.

I am constantly amazed by how much Paddington has to offer shoppers - you’re guaranteed to find one-of-a-kind items that are unique to Paddington, and comes with a story behind it. Whether you’re a visitor or a Brisbane local, you’re sure to discover something new.

Here are some of the best things to do in Paddington, as recommended by a personal stylist:

And all of these you can explore with me on a Spree with Me Paddington Style Trail

1.     Shop fashion designers and eclectic fashion boutiques

I could write a whole blog on just all of these fab stores…

My favourite Paddington fashion designers and boutiques include Dogstar (edgy Japanese/Brisbane inspired), Hummingbird The Shop (colourful clothing highlighting some fabulous local designers), and Roselle The Label (playful elevated dresses in cotton, with accessories).

If you like rockabilly clothing, you’ll adore ‘That Shop’. Beautiful luxury boutiques in Paddington include Miss Henry Boutique (high end luxury fashion by Australian & international designers), Living Silk (an ideal choice for a mother of the bride/groom), Olive Paddington (designer fashion and giftware), and Act3 Lingerie (lingerie in inclusive sizing). You’ll also find a great range of bridal boutiques for wedding gowns.

2. Shop local artisan boutiques - jewellery, accessories & accessories

Thousand Island Dressing is also a favourite place for creative and unique jewellery and more. It’s Brisbane’s (and likely Queensland’s) best collaboration of Australian jewellery makers in one store. The store’s displays are arranged by colour. This is a stylist’s dream, so I can easily direct you to your best colours. Warning – prepare to spend more time here than you’d originally planned.

Green Tangerine and the recently opened Slowly Made Locals are both a must-visit if you’re seeking gifts or handmade items made by local artisans. From all of these stores you’ll find pieces that each have a wonderful story of its maker.

3.   Shop preloved - designer clothing

Paddington is arguably the best suburb in Queensland for its range of pre loved designer consignment stores. These are always a highlight on Spree Style Trails. You’re sure to find something at a fraction of what the original price was. I highly recommend Encore La Chance and ‘Gorgeous Rebellion x ReStyld Co’.

4.  Shop preloved - op shops and thrift stores

Bargain hunters are sure to find something in Paddington with its fantastic array of op shops. You will find Vinny’s, Red Cross and RSPCA Op-shops.

You'll also find curated preloved retro and vintage fashion in Retro Metro, RARA Superstar and Barbarella’s Vintage (this one’s tucked away down the side of a residential cottage). These stores have already done the hunting for you and have curated their stores with preloved treasures.

5.  Empire Revival

Empire Revival is Paddington’s Antique Centre – it’s so big that it gets a category of its own. It has fantastic preloved, retro and vintage fashion as well as antiques, antique jewellery, homewares and more. It houses over 50 dealers, each with their own smaller store collections. It's a great place to find one-of-a-kind pieces for your home or wardrobe.

A personal favourite is the great section of dark and rebellious preloved and up-cycled pieces curated by Leanne Zimmermann in a back corner. You’ll know when you see it.

The heritage listed building has an interesting history of being a popular gathering place, first as a cinema, then as a basketball stadium before its current state. It’s rumoured to be haunted.

6. Other specialty stores and curiosities

If you’re open to a touch of magic, you’ll love the Spirit Space Collective. It’s a gathering place for women’s creativity and healing through events such as women's full moon circles, services such as reiki, and a beautiful store full of items reminiscent of white witch must-haves.

The Guitar Shop – the name says it all, but it’s a deeply engrained part of Brisbane’s music scene.

Weaves and Wonders – Turkish rugs and other beautiful homewares, Chalish always offers a big friendly welcome to enter his store.

7. Discover local art - in a gallery and on the street

The Robyn Bauer Studio Gallery houses artwork by Brisbane artist Robyn Bauer whose paintings and prints focus on Brisbane views of both city and suburbs, street scenes and local trees and flora.

The Jan Murphy Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in Paddington that showcases the work of local and international artists. It's a great place to discover new talent and add a unique piece of art to your collection.

Lethbridge Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery for emerging and leading artists, and it was established by Brett Lethbridge.

There’s also wonderful street art on the trail, including art by Blake & Taylor, and Kookaburras dotted along the streets painted by local artists such as Deborah Hood and many more.

8. Eat and drink

Paddington is home to some of the best cafes in Brisbane. Whether you're looking for a quick coffee or a leisurely brunch, there's something for everyone. Our Style Trails usually start at Chapter IV for a coffee.

I highly recommend Sassafras Cafe for lunch. It’s an award winning cafe with friendly staff, sustainable practices, and a great garden seating area that’s not visible from the street. They always have a fantastic menu, and curate for us a pre-ordered lunch (to your dietary requirements) for our shopping tours to save our valuable shopping time. If you ask me, bubbly’s always a good idea with lunch on a shopping trail. They also have tapas evenings. Locals, you can bring your dog.

Other places we recommend to eat a main meal include: King Tea (Chinese kitchen & bar), Nota (Bistro dining), Naim (middle-eastern restaurant) Yavanna Plant-based Restaurant (it’s vegan), Marinara Trattoria (authentic Italian), Café Bema (casual café with lunch specials).

9. Peeps of Paddington

On the Paddington Style Trail, you will always meet some friendly locals with stories to share. These personalities are affectionately known as ‘Peeps of Paddington’. Meeting passionate locals with stories to tell often become unexpected Style Trail tour highlights; many have run their stores here for over 20 years.

Pictured is Leanne, owner of Thousand Island Dressing.

Look up Peeps of Paddington on Instagram or Facebook to read everyone’s interesting stories. It’s a wonderful community initiative.

10. Learn about the local history and culture of the area

In addition to shopping on the walking tour, you learn some history and culture of the area.

Paddington is a suburb full of rich history.  You'll have the chance to see beautiful Victorian-era cottages, visit local galleries, and discover stories about the early settlers. It's like a history lesson, and a fashion show all rolled into one!

Paddington is a charming and trendy neighbourhood that has something for everyone, from shopping and dining to outdoor activities and cultural experiences. Whether you're a local or just visiting Brisbane, a tour of Paddington is a truly delightful way to spend a day.

There’s no better way to experience Paddington's treasures than with a personalised shopping tour led by a local Brisbane Personal Stylist. Spree with Me’s Paddington Style Trail is the perfect opportunity to uncover the best boutiques and shops that Paddington has to offer.

 So what are you waiting for? Join me on a Brisbane shopping tour of Paddington's best boutiques and shops with the Spree with Me Paddington Style Trail. As your Personal Stylist, I'll show you the best hidden gems that Paddington has to offer. Get ready to discover something truly unique in this trendy neighborhood. Grab your comfy shoes and join me for a full day of exploring Paddington’s fashion, food and fun with friends.

FEATURED SPREE

Tips for the best day out in Paddington:

• These stores all are located on Latrobe Terrace and Given Terrace in Paddington, Brisbane

• Give yourself a whole day to shop - go for your 9am coffee, stop for lunch, and continue into the late afternoon.

• Bring water and be sun smart

• Choose me as your friendly guide and fashion stylist for the day! I’ll curate the day for you.

NB: Paddington also has so many more wonderful stores and boutiques including homewares, furniture, furnishings, beauty services, restaurants and more to explore.

This blog is a summary of my favourite and recommended stops on a Paddington Style Trail – Brisbane’s best shopping tour with a personal stylist.