Fortitude Valley: Malls, Chinatown, Dining and Getting There

Fortitude Valley, known as “the Valley”, is Brisbane’s inner-city dining and night-out suburb, just north-east of the CBD. Two pedestrian malls sit at its centre: Brunswick Street Mall and Chinatown Mall, with restaurants, bars, shops and live music around them.

It works for a Saturday lunch, a long dinner or a night out, and you can get there by train without a car. This guide covers what to see, where to eat, a heritage pool, and how to park or arrive by train.

Brunswick Street Mall

Brunswick Street Mall opened as a pedestrian shopping mall in 1991. It runs through the heart of the Valley, and Brisbane City Council describes the precinct as Brisbane’s premier night-time entertainment destination.

The mall hosts more than 150 activations a year, from music to cultural festivals. Current listings are on council’s Valley Malls page.

A braille trail runs along both sides of the mall. Bicycles, e-scooters and skateboards cannot be ridden in the malls: you must dismount and walk, or face a $345 fine.

Chinatown Mall

Chinatown Mall is all of Duncan Street, running parallel to Brunswick Street Mall and linking Wickham and Ann Streets. It opened in 1987 as the first step in revitalising the Valley’s entertainment district.

Look for the traditional gate at the entrance, and the heritage-listed TC Beirne department store building at 28 Duncan Street, which dates from the Valley’s days as a shopping hub. Chinatown is a dining and shopping precinct, and the Valley’s Lunar New Year celebrations include free live entertainment.

Where to eat and drink in Fortitude Valley

The Valley’s businesses describe a “Dining Quarter” of restaurants, rooftop bars and wine venues, plus cafes and pubs. Most places around the malls trade from about 9 am to 2 am, though each sets its own hours, so check the venue before you go. The business directory at MyValley lists venues by type.

James Street

James Street is a shopping and dining precinct on the Valley’s edge. The precinct lists 113 retailers, 32 of them in food and drink, along with the James Street Palace Cinemas and the Calile Hotel. Its own site is jamesst.com.au.

Live music

The Valley’s live music ranges from small dive bars to well-appointed theatres. Events through the year include Christmas in the Valley (December), Lunar New Year and the Valley Crawl Festival, a day of live performances across the suburb. The full list is in the MyValley events guide.

Valley Pool

Valley Pool at 432 Wickham Street is a 50 metre heated outdoor pool with a kiosk, a fitness centre and a grandstand for water polo. The three-storey brick front facade was built in 1925 and is a local heritage place.

Adult entry (15 years and over) is $7.25. Hours are 5 am to 7.30 pm Monday to Thursday, 5 am to 7 pm Friday, 5 am to 6 pm Saturday and 7 am to 6 pm Sunday, with shorter public holiday hours and a Christmas Day closure. The entrance and facilities are accessible. Check council’s Valley Pool page before you go.

Planning your visit

• How long: an hour or two for a walk through both malls and lunch; an evening for dinner and live music.
• Best time: the malls and Chinatown suit daytime browsing; the Valley is busiest at night, when most bars and venues are open until late.
• Cost: free to walk around. Food, drinks, shows and the pool are extra.
• Toilets: public toilets at 281 Brunswick Street Mall next to Oporto (Wickham Street end); accessible toilets in the middle of the mall near McDonald’s.
• Accessibility: a braille trail runs along both malls, and Valley Pool has an accessible entrance.
• Markets: for Brisbane market days and times, see Markets in Brisbane.

Parking in Fortitude Valley

The malls are in the Brisbane Central Traffic Area. Street parking nearby is limited and metered. Paid car parks serve the precinct at 31 Duncan Street, McWhirters, Warner Street and Valley Metro, and private car parks are scattered across the suburb. Prices differ by car park, so check each operator’s sign or website.

For a quick drop-off or pick-up, use the on-street passenger loading zones. Australian Disability Parking Scheme permit holders can park free in council metered or regulated areas, for the time signed.

Getting there

By car, the Valley is about 2.4 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, about 5 minutes without traffic. It is much slower on Friday and Saturday nights.

By train, Fortitude Valley station is inside the Valley Metro shopping centre on Brunswick Street. It is in Zone 1 and serves all suburban and interurban lines, including the Airport line. Bus stops are a short walk away. Plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.

The name comes from the ship Fortitude, which brought Scottish immigrants to Moreton Bay in 1849.

Nearby

• New Farm Park – jacarandas, a playground and picnic space, a short drive east.
• Brisbane Powerhouse – theatres, a Saturday market and riverside eating in New Farm.
• Queen Street Mall – Brisbane’s CBD shopping mall, for a comparison or a second stop.
• Howard Smith Wharves – restaurants and bars under the Story Bridge.
• Bowen Hills – the next suburb along, home of the Brisbane Showgrounds.
• Suncorp Stadium – Brisbane’s big match and concert venue, a short drive away.

Browse more restaurants, live music venues and days out in Brisbane.

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• Riverbar and Kitchen (Brisbane City)
• Story Bridge Hotel (Kangaroo Point)
• Bulimba (Brisbane)

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