Meet Ruby Bakewell-Doran, Brisbane local and professional athlete. The Origin Australian Diamonds netballer has been in the game since she was seven. “I fell in love with the game for a few reasons,” Ruby shares. “I absolutely love how competitive it is, and that I get to strive for something more every day — I can always be better. I love playing for my team — I’ve met my closest friends through netball, so it really is the sport that just keeps giving. It’s unreal.”

During preparations for the upcoming Diamonds test series against the English Vitality Roses, Ruby found time to flex her editor muscles and take us through her favourite off-season haunts around Brisbane.

So, if you’re in town for the test match or you simply want to hang out in spots approved by one of our country’s athletic stars, Ruby has you covered. (And for those unable to make the game, you can catch the entire series on Kayo Freebies and Foxtel.)

Now, over to Ruby.

Gramps Cafe

They do the best toast and poach — super yum and not fussy! It slowly became the staple because it’s close to home and it’s dog-friendly, which means I get to bring my little fur baby Lola along. She is my kelpie-collie and factors into quite a lot of my weekend activities.

Gramps Cafe, 110 Windsor Road, Red Hill

Howard Smith Wharves

I like to keep it pretty clean and easy during the week, so I eat at home pretty often. But if I was to go out for lunch for a special occasion during the week, I’d have to say somewhere down at Howard Smith Wharves — it’s a great spot on the river with heaps to choose from. Greca is probably my fave.

Greca, Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane

Greca, Nikki To

Zero Fox

At the moment, I’m loving a Friday night dinner at Zero Fox. It’s this cute little hole-in-the-wall type of restaurant in Teneriffe, down on the river. They do great Japanese and Korean dishes and have heaps of specialty gins, which is a nice sneaky bonus every once in a while. You can’t book either so you have to just pop down spontaneously.

Zero Fox, 36 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe

Kangaroo Point Loop

I love doing the Kangaroo Point loop with Lola and a friend, or my partner Jake. We start at the point and walk all the way along the bottom of the river, then loop back. It’s great because you can choose how long you make the walk, and there are heaps of different sets of stairs dotted along that lead you up the top and back to the point.

There’s always a pit stop at Christian Jacques Bakery for a pastry after and a coffee at Moonshine Coffee Roasters.

Kangaroo Point, Unsplash

BodySmart Health+

The biggest misconception of netball is that it’s a ‘non-contact sport’. There’s plenty of contact, it’s just not as overt as a sport like rugby. A lot of the contact we take is in the air or away from the umpire’s vision — and there’s the occasional big hit, too. So, I absolutely love pilates. It’s great to give the joints a bit of reprieve at the same time as getting in a really solid workout.

I go to BodySmart Health+ in Paddington. They’re the absolute best and always fit me in around my training schedule. Whenever I think I’m getting pretty good, I get humbled very quickly. There are so many different levels and ways of doing pilates — my muscles are always burning. There’s also a great little cafe attached, so I’m sorted for my morning coffee, too.

On a Friday night, I’d say we’re either starting at Felons Brewing Co or Mr Percival’s down at the Wharves. (If you can’t tell, Howard Smith Wharves is a bit of a crowd favourite).

The vibe down on the water is great. There’s always good music, and because there are so many different restaurants and bars, it’s always bustling. It’s a great place to start and see where the night takes you.

Felons Brewing Co image: Josh Withers (Unsplash)

Anywhere on the coast! Straddie (pictured above), Currimundi or Peregian up on the Sunny Coast, or down near Snapper Rocks in Coolangatta. Those would have to be our go-tos.

It’d usually be Jake, me and Lola if it was a last-minute escape, but we’re lucky enough to have friends on both coastlines, which always makes a beach long weekend a great excuse to see them.

Stradbroke Island image: Keith Davey (Unsplash)

Keen to get out and about in Brisbane? Plan your trip around the upcoming Diamonds international series, including the Constellation Cup on Sunday, October 23, and the England series on Thursday, November 3. Head to the website to nab your tickets.

Images of Ruby and Gramps Cafe: Erick Lucero