Brisbane's Best Hidden Gems

If there is one thing I love to do in my spare time, it's SHOP. And Eat. And listen to music. And read. Well, I like a lot of things, but that's beside the point.

For me, one of the most exciting things about shopping is finding new and awesome places that may have been hiding right under your nose. I love those weekends and holidays discovering new cafes and browsing shops and fashion with my friends and family. So, I've made a list of some of my favourite hidden gems for you to discover too. There's something for everyone, so enjoy!

For the ice-cream lover: Lick! Ice cream, Graceville

If you can ever find a more creamy ice-cream, I would be very surprised. This little ice-creamery on Graceville road makes everything in store, fresh every day. My personal favourite flavours are the ginger-bread ice-cream and the (dairy-free!) cocoa sorbet. If you're not in the ice-cream mood, try their weird but very very good donut and waffle hybrid, doffles.

For the fashion lover: SWOP clothing exchange, West End

This is the absolute BEST vintage shop around, and the coolest. SWOP clothing exchange works by people bringing in their second-hand clothes, of which a very select few get put in the shop. The result? The coolest collection of strictly vintage-style pieces that can make any wardrobe 100000x better. Simply head in and browse around, or, if you want some extra cash, clear out your wardrobe and see if any of your old clothes take their interest. You can make some money, or earn store credit to spend in-store!

For the book lover: Archive books, Brisbane CBD

Stepping into Archive books is like stepping into another world. You can instantly smell that amazing old-book-smell and it's easy to get lost in the high wooden shelves full of millions of books. Archive is a great oasis from the city around it. I love curling up with a book written decades, sometimes centuries, ago in a corner of the store. Pure heaven.

For the café lover: The Three Monkeys, West End

The Three Monkeys takes homely food to a whole new level. Walk through the door to the front counter, and then look through the many rooms of the café to find your perfect table. My favourite way to do it is to walk all the way through to the gorgeous garden space full of hanging plants. Pair that with their hand-made apple pie and bowl-sized chai latte, and it's comfort food at its finest.

For the chocolate lover: Noosa Chocolatier, Brisbane CBD

Chocolate. Need I say more? This café and chocolatier only has the finest chocolate in every flavour imaginable. Grab a paper bag and fill it with as much of as many flavours as you want, and pay by the weight. Or, if you're feeling extra indulgent, get one of their signature hot chocolates. So go in, smell the amazing aroma, and pig out. Be prepared to wait in line though.

Honourable mentions:

- OneGirlStudio, Graceville: All my interior design dreams, fulfilled.

- Avid Reader, West End: This book shop has every book you could ever need or want. And it's also an awesome café.

- The Single Guys, Kenmore: Great music, aesthetically pleasing interior and the BEST food, this is a hipster café at their absolute finest.

- Bakery Lane, The Valley: A literally hidden lane with an amazing café, a vintage music shop, fashion boutiques, and brownies to die for.

- Aesop, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre and Brisbane CBD: This skin and haircare brand has stunningly styled shops and pamper-worthy products. Head in and dream about silky soft hair and smooth skin.

- Any thrift shop, anywhere: Thrift shops are the best place ever to find a bargain, and you're supporting a charity while you're at it. Prepare for some hard-core rummaging fun.

I hope I've inspired you to discover new places of your own! Happy shopping, and happy discovering!

Written by Piper Frederickson.