Thirteen Markets in Brisbane to Shop, Eat and Drink Your Way Through During Winter 2022
Get feasting at a Taiwanese night market, celebrate Christmas in July, shop for plants and flowers, or go bohemian.
Thirteen Markets in Brisbane to Shop, Eat and Drink Your Way Through During Winter 2022
Get feasting at a Taiwanese night market, celebrate Christmas in July, shop for plants and flowers, or go bohemian.
Markets come in all shapes and sizes, just like the wares they sell. They're particular enticing in winter, though. There's something about browsing through stalls on a frosty weekend morning, a warm coffee in hand — and about hitting up a twilight market while the evenings are short, complete with a mulled wine or a cocktail, too.
Whether you like shopping or eating — taking home handmade goods to fill your shelves, or coming home with a full and satisfied stomach — you've got options around Brisbane in July and August. Some markets sell creative and vintage wares. Others specialise in food and drinks. Many do a combination of both. Whatever you're looking for, here's 13 to check out.
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Winter is all about staying indoors — and you want those interiors to look as great as possible. Art and design lovers, that’s where the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art’s annual Winter Design Market Weekend comes in. Browse, buy and then prepare to get cosy.
Find jewellery, ceramics, textiles, homewares and clothing and more at this popular market, which will feature almost 50 stalls when it takes over the GOMA forecourt from 9am–4pm on Saturday, July 2–Sunday, July 3. Don’t go giving the venue’s official store a miss either. Take the time to peruse the GOMA collection of books and art, and thank us for the tip later.
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If one person’s trash is another man’s treasure, then a trunk full of junk may as well be a treasure chest. Suitcase Rummage gets that when it comes to shopping, secondhand reaps the best bang for your buck. For years, it has been hosting regular events around town — and, although the past few years have been a bit chaotic, it’s still going strong in 2022.
Next unpacking its bags from 12pm on Sunday, July 2 and Sunday, July 17 at Brisbane Square, Suitcase Rummage will feature a crowd of open suitcases filled with the type of clothes, knick-knacks and craft you probably don’t need but definitely deserve. And, if you’ve got a pile of unwanted bits and pieces that someone else could love, you can always organise in advance to take your own suitcase along.
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Two nights. Twenty-five food stalls. One bustling place — and one big celebration of Taiwanese culture. That’s the formula behind Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown’s Taiwan Night Market, which is finally back for the first time since 2019, serving up a feast of bites to eat on Friday, July 8–Saturday, July 9.
If you’ve been along before, you’ll know that this excuse to tuck into noodles, bao, dumplings, bubble tea and more is always busy. With roti, sweet potato taro fries and desserts on offer as well, that’ll still be the case this year. Around 15,000 people usually make a visit, so prepare to have company — from 4.30–9.30pm on the Friday and 1–9pm on the Saturday.
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At Boho Luxe Market (the event’s term, not ours), Byron Bay comes to Brisbane. Well, the beachy New South Wales spot’s general vibe does at least. Forgoing the trappings of the city for bohemian fashion, jewellery, homewares and the like is on the market’s agenda, and has been since it made the jump from Melbourne to Brisbane in 2019. Clearly we responded well to three days of dreamcatchers and flower crowns, because it keeps coming back again and again.
If that sounds like your kind of thing, then block out Friday, July 8–Sunday, July 10 in your diary for the market’s winter dates. The Boho Luxe Market will head to The Old Museum for a weekend of browsing and buying, food trucks, live music and more. Usually there’s also be a dedicated vegan section, plus a kombi display and glamping providers tempting you into booking your next holiday — so fingers crossed they’ll return.
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Fashion, art, jewellery, homewares — if someone’s been using their nimble fingers to make it, then you can probably trade your hard-earned cash for their hard work. In fact, there’ll be more than 60 artisans selling their wares at The Handmade Markets. And, while you’re shopping, you’ll also be able to grab a bite at the onsite cafe and listen to live tunes from local musos.
These markets always take place on Saturdays — so mark July 9 and August 13 in your calendar now. Head along from 9am–3pm, with it all taking place in the Queensland Museum’s whale mall.
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When The Market Folk first brought a heap of stalls to Newstead’s old gasometer a couple of years back, it was clearly a smart move. Browsing and buying beneath one of inner-city Brisbane’s most striking sights — what’s not to love?
Because some ideas are too great to stop, this winning combination has made a comeback for 2022. And, it’s happening on a regular basis, including on Saturday mornings when it’s cooler — from 9am–1pm on Saturday, July 9 and Saturday, August 13, to be exact. You’ll be shopping for fashion, art, homewares, plants, pots and ceramics. And, there’ll be live music on the lawn, soundtracking your shopping. Plus, bringing your pooch is 100-percent encouraged.
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You might have thought King George Square looked pretty fine during the day and maybe a tad finer at night, but it’s at twilight City Hall really shows off its colours. And what better backdrop when you’re shopping the evening away — especially when the King George is filled with some of Brisbane’s best designers and makers.
The regular Brisbane Twilight Market shows off a sizeable array of stalls — more than 60, in fact — all staffed by some pretty nifty and talented local artists. Next taking place from 4–9pm on Friday, July 15, the event will host an eclectic selection of items, so prepare to browse and buy. You’ll be perusing everything from handmade clothing, accessories and leather goods to paper goods, homewares, art and ceramics (and more).
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Portside is no stranger to hosting markets, but its latest excuse to browse and buy will be positively blooming. After holding Mother’s Day markets and welcoming in a dedicated vegan market, the Hamilton spot is devoting a blossoming day to plants and flowers.
Head along from 10am–2pm on Saturday, July 16 to find all things floral taking over the riverside precinct, including 30-plus stalls to shop and a supremely photogenic flower wall. Portside Wharf Plant and Flower Market is also handing out freebies, too — with 100 free baby succulents, 50 free coffees and 50 free ice creams up for grabs for folks who get there early.
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Add another date into your doggo’s diary — the NewBARKet Markets are upon us. On Saturday, July 16, Newmarket Village is going to the dogs again, but in a good way, with the adorable event taking over the inner north shopping centre.
Take your pupper along from 11am–3pm, with plenty of treats and pats on offer. One place your cute canine will want to head to: the bone bar, where free bones will be given out to all good woofers (while stocks last). But the main attraction, as the name makes plain, is stalls selling all kinds of goodies for your four-legged friend. Expect dog food, accessories, threads and grooming, and usually dog desserts as well — dog ice cream and pupcakes have been on offer in past years.
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This July, it’s time to deck your halls with boughs of whichever greenery you’d like. Yes, we know it’s not Christmas yet. Winter in Australia means pretending ’tis the season — but early — and VEND Marketplace is doing just that with a huge Christmas in July Twilight Market.
There’ll be more than just succulents, cacti and indoor-friendly plants on offer; however, given that the northside spot is home to its own indoor greenhouse — aptly called the Greenhouse, naturally — that’s definitely a big drawcard. Between 4–9pm on Saturday, July 16, you’ll also be able to get festive at VEND’s 100-plus shops, and at the array of pop-up stalls that it’s setting up outside. Food trucks will keep your stomach satisfied, and there’ll be a pop-up cocktail bar serving boozy beverages, included mulled wine. Hot chocolates and Christmas dinner will be on the menu as well.
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Etsy is hitting Brisbane IRL this winter to lend a hand with your shopping — and give you an excuse to treat yo’self. Whichever fits, including if you’re keen to get a jump on Christmas, you’ll have plenty to browse and buy.
The market will take place in the Exhibition Building at the Brisbane Showgrounds from 4.30–9pm on Friday, July 22 and 9am–4pm on Saturday, July 23, spreading across two days. Because it focuses on the best local talent, every market is filled with different stallholders and unique creations, but there’ll be more than 100 makers, designers, artists and creators at this one. Supporting creative small businesses and scoring a killer gift for your loved ones is a win for everyone involved, so head along and get your shopping sorted.
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This winter, Carseldine’s markets aren’t celebrating Christmas in July — but they are still celebrating. And, they’re popping up later in the day, too. There mightn’t be an overt emphasis on festive cheer at this stint of browsing, buying and eating, but you’ll still be feeling merry when the weekly northside market makes a one-off move to twilight from 4–9pm on Saturday, July 23.
Dubbed CarselDINE Twilight Markets, this event is putting food firmly in the spotlight, with more than 40 culinary stalls and trucks serving up their best. Shopping is still on the agenda, of course, with 200-plus places to browse in total — and, if you want to go home with all your present-buying taken care of well in advance of Christmas, that’s an option.
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Nothing says classic pre-pandemic Brisbane like eating and drinking your way up and down James Street. This July, nothing will say post-lockdown Brissie quite like that, either. Yes, the James Street Food and Wine Trail is finally back in-person, and will take over New Farm once again — including for its popular Market Day on Sunday, July 31.
More than 32 businesses will unleash their wares on Market Day, which’ll take over the entire street. There’ll be at least 19 food stalls and 13 bars, spanning everywhere from Gemelli, sAme sAme and Biánca to SK Steak & Oyster, Hellenika and Mosconi. Because Gelato Messina is in the vicinity, the dessert fiends will be doing two special dishes, too, while Essa will join the fun with caviar and frozen vodka, plus fried chicken and truffle rolls.
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