Seriously cool: This Australian city is having a moment right now

It might not get the attention it deserves, but Brisbane's no pining wallflower - it's always been happy to dance (solo) to its own beat. The city has been spotlit on the global stage, however, with its inclusion as one of only two Australian destinations on The New York Times "52 Places to Go This Year" list, receiving accolades for its "food, art and vertiginous views". If you've never been, or it's been a long time between visits, this is why you should follow the NYT lead and factor it into your travel plans in 2024.

As serial long brunchers, Brisbanites keep the city's cafes on their game. Try the much-loved breakfast carbonara at Morning After, the nduja scramble with smoked yoghurt and biang biang sauce at newcomer A Café Called Kevin, or the strawberry milk cloud hotcakes at Peach Cafe. Join locals for a leisurely lunch at Nonna's, or a contemporary iteration of her living room at least, at the stylish Pilloni (try the Sardinian-style suckling pig), or nab a coveted table in the primordial, smoke-scented cave that is Agnes, where absolutely everything is cooked over flame. Brisbane's laid-back lifestyle has lured many notable chefs from other parts, too; visit Short Grain (Martin Boetz's love letter to South-East Asia) and Settimo (Guy Grossi's summery ode to the Amalfi Coast), and keep your eye peeled for Andrew McConnell's Supernormal, slated to open in the second half of the year.

ALSO: Enjoy Brisbane's distinct brand of unstuffy fine dining at places such as Restaurant Dan Arnold, the 24-seater Exhibition, or Tillerman, with its lofty riverside terrace.

Aperitif, digestif, whisky-lover or martini aficionado, the Brisbane bar scene is as diverse as its patrons' preferences. Down a dingy city alley is underground bar Before + After specialising in amaro, while Fish Lane newbie, the New York-inspired Midtown, focuses on the martini in both its classic and modern forms. A music-loving crowd heads to Brisbane's first "listening bar" Ruby My Dear, where there are vinyl-spinning DJs and a Japanese-inspired drinks list, while fans of the 1980s will appreciate the bourbon and rock at Alice Bar. Just off James Street down the wild-fig-covered Valley laneway is a brass door - portal to the secret bar The Nixon Room. From the team behind neighbouring restaurant Essa, you can expect high-level snacks with your cocktails.

ALSO: Ask a local about other secret bars that can be found behind unmarked doors, mirrors and cupboards, a la Narnia.

Yes, there is the ever-innovating QAGOMA, arguably one of Australia's best modern galleries and always a must-do on a Brisbane visit, but the edgy Museum of Brisbane does quirky culture perfectly; including eccentric and often interactive themed exhibitions. The MOB shop is a great place to pick up a unique artisan-made gift, too. By the river, the gritty, graffitied Powerhouse is a cultural hub inhabiting the exoskeleton of a decommissioned powerhouse, where its many rooms host edgy art, and breakout musical and theatre performances.

ALSO: Newcomer Pink Flamingo Spiegeland is housed in a space that will eventually be repurposed as Olympic athlete accommodation. Described as "a glitter-bomb of shows, kaleidoscopes of colour on stage and limit-pushing performances", it headlines artists from acrobats to cabaret performers.

Brisbane has so much love for street art, it hosts Australia's largest street art festival BSAF (May 4-19) with a program of interactive workshops and events, live mural sites, and the chance to celebrate national and international street artists. September sees performers and artists from all over the world descend on the city for the Brisbane Festival, an entire hedonistic program of art, music and theatre; from mainstream to the obscure, performed in tents and temporary riverside builds, as well as at venues all over the city. The three-week-long ode to human creativity culminates in the colourful, Riverfire fireworks extravaganza.

ALSO: New festival of queer art and culture, Melt OPEN, is set to make its mark on the city in October and November, promising "an unforgettable celebration of diversity, inclusivity and creative expression".

Given Brisbane's undulating geography, there are a lot of places to see the city from on high. Take a bush walk to the Summit Lookout at Mt Coot-tha, just 15 minutes from the CBD, for views all the way to the Gold Coast. A Story Bridge climb offers a head-swivelling panorama, from the Glass House Mountains in the north to Moreton Bay in the east. Another popular activity is to scale the tufa cliffs of Kangaroo Point, with a variety of climbs to suit all levels of experience. Or take the lift to Brisbane City Hall's clock tower, recently featured in the Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe, based on local writer Trent Dalton's bestselling book.

ALSO: If heights excite, how about heights at night? A new dining adventure, Vertigo straps you at table hanging over a 17-metre drop with views of the lush New Farm Park.

Pack a picnic and climb the staircase to the top of Kangaroo Point Cliffs for a view of the city, Story Bridge and the Botanic Gardens. Or choose to see day's end from one of the city's many rooftop bars - the summer beach-club vibe of Maya, the uber-luxe Terrace Bar at the Emporium Hotel, the glamourous riverside terrace at Blackbird or perhaps with a homegrown beer at Felons Brewing at Howard Smith Wharves.

ALSO: Later in the year, there will be the opportunity to toast sunset from the hotly anticipated, Queens Wharf, with a 360-degree panoramic view from a rooftop runway packed with restaurants and bars, 100 metres above the Brisbane River.

Fashionistas should book into the Miami-meets-Milan The Calile, in shopping mecca James Street. It was rated No 12 in the World's 50 Best Hotels last year. The upmarket Emporium Hotel in South Bank is perfectly positioned for a cultural break. Can't bear to leave your fur baby at home? The Ovolo in Fortitude Valley enthusiastically welcomes your pampered pooch.

ALSO: For a stay imbued with Brisbane history, the peachy Miss Midgley's is an old schoolhouse turned B&B in New Farm.

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