- Duration
- 4.5 km on foot, ~6 h (≈ 4 h 35 min: moving and stop time only)
- Who it suits
- Everyone
- Transport
- walk
- Start
- John Mills Himself: printery coffee
- Finish
- Death Before Decaf: midnight espresso
- Pace
- moderate pace
- Best time
- Friday: coffee by day, the Valley humming by night
- Budget per adult
- A$60–110 on foodPrices as of: July 2026; transport and zoo prices October 2026
Getting there
Train to Central or Fortitude Valley, then on foot. The ride is 50 cents. Pay with a bank card.
Stops in order
The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.
1. John Mills Himself: printery coffee~25 min at the stop
The hidden laneway café in a heritage printery: coffee by day, a candle-lit bar by night.
Tip: Find the entry off Elizabeth St: easy to walk straight past.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 4 min · 0.3 km
2. Strauss FD: laneway breakfast~25 min at the stop
Brisbane's long-running Parisian laneway corner: espresso, single-origin filter and seasonal toasts.
Tip: The laneway café at 189 Elizabeth St opens weekdays only, 6:30am to 2pm. Come early: by noon the queue reaches the stairs.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 18 min · 1.4 km
3. Howard Smith Wharves~1 h 15 min at the stop
The revived 1930s wharves under Story Bridge: Felons brewery at the waterline and the best bridge view in town.
Tip: Take the cliff lift down: the riverside walk is an attraction in itself.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 12 min · 0.9 km
4. Happy Boy: Cantonese dinner~1 h 15 min at the stop
Woks under the East St fairy lights: the cult Fungus Fried Rice and a short, sharp wine list.
Tip: Friday and Saturday it runs all day, 11:30am to 9:30pm; closed Mondays. Without a booking, come by 5:30pm before the tables near the kitchen fill.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 16 min · 1.3 km
5. Death Before Decaf: midnight espresso~25 min at the stop
An espresso bar on Brunswick St, New Farm, open 24/7 for more than 11 years. The right last stop: coffee instead of a digestif.
Tip: Address: 760-766 Brunswick St, New Farm, just past the Valley. One cup and you're done.
Open on the map ↗
Before you go
- Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
- Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
- On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.