Categories > Guides and Tips
We spent the morning at West End Markets in Brisbane and left with full bags
The mall can get too crowded and overpriced at times, so a weekly pop-up market like the West End Markets in Brisbane is our go-to place over the weekend.
At this weekly community event, not only do we get to source the freshest produce, but there’s tons of entertainment on site, from live band music to unique performances.
There’s also an array of products from skincare essentials to customizable accessories that you can find exclusively at these pop-up stalls.
If you’re planning to drop by, here’s a list of the things you should do in the market.
Overview of the West End Markets
Media from: westendmarkets
Website: https://goodwillprojects.com.au/markets/west-end/
Address: Davies Park, Montague Rd & Jane St, West End, QLD 4101, Australia
Contact Details: 0435 840 810
Operating Hours: Saturday- 6:00 AM- 2:00 PM
Admission: Free
The West End Markets is previously known as the Davies Park Market. It is a weekly market that opens every Saturday from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Davies Park in the West End.
This community market features a diverse range of vendors. It includes farmers, crafters, and food vendors across Brisbane, with over 100 stalls. From healthy snacks to your weekly grocery essentials, the West End Market has everything you need.
Also scattered throughout the markets are stunning, one-of-a-kind handmade clothing, tote bags, and jewellery with choices for all occasions.
How to Get to West End Markets
By Car: From Brisbane CBD, West End Markets is a 10-minute ride away. There’s limited street parking available nearby, so we recommend coming early to secure a spot.
By Bus: Several bus routes service the West End area, including Routes 199, 192, and 60, which stop close to the market precinct. It’s a convenient option if you’re traveling from the city or the surrounding suburbs.
By Train: The nearest train station to the West End Markets is the South Brisbane Station. From the station, the market is a 15-minute walk away or a short bus ride to the market grounds.
What to See and Do in the West End Markets
Catch the Solstice Twilight Market
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West End Market’s Solstice Market is something that locals are always looking forward to. During this period, visitors can indulge in delicious food from over 120 artisan vendors and witness live entertainment at night.
The first time we went here, we were greeted with a vibrant atmosphere, and the energy of the performances lit up the place. The food was spectacular, offering us a taste of cuisines all around the world.
Source the freshest produce
Media from: westendmarkets
The West End Markets are flocked with awesome local vendors, selling the freshest produce in town. Every time we’re near the area, we always swing by for vegetables and berries to restock our fridge.
The strawberries from Fresh Berries Direct were the sweetest and most floral ones I had in a while. The quality is just superb, and each berry was handpicked and grown organically.
The vegetables that we always source from Groovy Greens are always of high quality, from the lively greens to perfectly ripe tomatoes.
Aside from the quality, the price here is cheaper compared to supermarkets.
Get customizable souvenirs
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As someone who likes accessories, the customizable charms from Arts and Crafts by Em are a must-buy. The cute accessories add character to my bags, reflecting my personality.
They also offer various keychains and pouch bags that you can customize using adorable patches from cute bunnies, colorful flowers, and even letters to represent your initials.
Other than this, we also found some beautiful handmade polymer clay earrings at Cakes ‘n’ Clays. Occasionally, they also offer a clay earring workshop for $50 per person, with a minimum of 5 people per workshop.
Shop for the perfect gifts
Media from: westendmarkets
With hundreds of stalls, the West End Market is the perfect place to find gifts for any occasion. From unique pottery pieces and scented candles to tote bags, you have a wide range of choices.
We were going to my nephew’s graduation the next day, so the gorgeously crafted crocheted flowers couldn’t be more perfect. We also picked up a few scented candles and a diffuser for our home from Devana Candles.
Essentials like organic body products are also displayed in the market from Mantra Bee Organics. These include lip balms, face and body oils, aromatherapy rollers, eye pillows, and natural soaps.
Where to Eat and Drink near West End Markets
Emerald Whisk
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Website: https://emeraldwhisk.co/
Operating Hours: Saturday: 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Pricing: $
From classic matcha latte to fruity blends, there’s a sip for every mood at Emerald Whisk. Every time we visit the West End Markets on Saturdays, securing a cup of their classic iced matcha latte is always on my agenda.
The matcha tastes pure and refined, indicating that the matcha powder used is of high quality.
Emerald Whisk also offers unique flavors of matcha drinks, such as White Chocolate S’mores Matcha, Strawberry Matcha, and Coconut Matcha Cloud.
Juta Mango Biche
Media from: redcliffemarkets
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juta.mango.biche/
Operating Hours: Saturday: 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Pricing: $
The sour mango biche from Juta is our ultimate summer snack, and we will definitely eat it at any time of the day. It’s a crunchy, delicious snack that combines mango, salt, pepper, Tajin, and a squeeze of lime.
If you prefer something sweeter, we recommend their strawberries and cream or the fruit salad. It’s loaded with strawberries, kiwi, papaya, mango, and ice cream.
Moreover, they also offer fresh mango juice, creamy coconut lemonade, crunchy sour guava, a refreshing frozen mango, and Salpicón mix fruits.
Mameek on Charcoal
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Address: 1/286 Hawthorne Rd, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4171
Contact: 07 3161 7880
Operating Hours: Saturday: 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Pricing: $
If you’re craving Asian street food, then head over to Mameek for their authentic and grilled-to-order Thai BBQ. This food stall offers a line of coal-grilled meat served with vegetables and sticky rice for only $15.
The chicken satay and cashew nut sauce were an instant favorite. The chicken was perfectly moist and tender, which pairs perfectly with the nutty, mildly sweet cashew nut sauce.
NYC Bagel Deli
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Website: https://www.nycbageldeli.com.au/bagel-menu
Address: 1/57 Vulture St, West End, QLD 4101, Australia
Contact: +61 7 3844 9997
Operating Hours: Saturday: 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Pricing: $
There’s only one place to visit in Brisbane if you’re craving an authentic NYC bagel, and that’s NYC Bagel Deli. Their bagels are made from scratch and baked fresh every day, achieving the iconic golden crisp exterior and dense, chewy interior.
NYC Bagel Deli offers a great selection of bagels, but our favorite is the Chicken Avo Bagel, which has grilled chicken, avocado slices, grilled pineapple, aioli, and rocket.
The 12-hour pulled pork bagel is also a must-try with its tender, smoky meat layered with tangy slaw.
Visitor Tips and Reminders
| Pro Tip: The market gets busy, so coming in the morning means fresher produce and easier parking. Most stalls are small businesses, so if you want to support them, every purchase makes a difference. Weekends can get crowded, so keep a close eye on kids and valuables. Beyond shopping, we recommend sticking around for live music, performances, and food stalls—it’s all part of the experience! There are a lot of flower vendors on the market. If you happen to buy flowers, we recommend adding a splash of apple cider vinegar & sugar to the water to keep your blooms fresher for longer. While many stalls take card payments, some are cash-only. Make sure to bring cash on hand. |
Our Itinerary for the Day
- 6:30 AM: We arrived early in the morning to grab a coffee (mine’s the usual iced matcha latte).
- 7:00 AM: After securing our daily dose of caffeine, we went directly to the produce and artisan stalls to pick up vegetables and fruits for our weekly grocery restock.
- 8:00 AM: We tried a hot breakfast and international street food from the food stalls in the market.
- 9:00 AM: We relaxed by the river while listening to live music performances.
- 10:00 AM: After an hour of relaxing by the river, we strolled through the market for other supplies and other handcrafted artworks
- 11:00 AM: Before heading home, we stopped to pick up some fresh flowers.
