The Best Suburbs in Brisbane to Call Home Sweet Home

Making the move to Queensland’s sunny capital? Brisbane has a suburb to suit every lifestyle. With close access to education, community amenities, café culture and easy public transport, it's the quiet achiever of Australian cities. While Sydney and Melbourne have been busy arguing about which city is better, Brisbane has been slowly but surely coming into its own, especially since the announcement of the upcoming Brisbane Summer Olympics in 2032.

This sun-soaked city is making a serious splash in art, culture, tech and transport, and while the prices aren’t immune to the cost of living crisis, they're still not quite as high as the other major cities. Many Aussies have been flocking to the Sunshine State's capital to seek more affordable options.

Like the weather, the people are warm and welcoming, new restaurants, cafes and bars are opening on the regular and every weekend is packed with a swathe of events. As for nature, for a city, there's plenty of it! You'll find stacks of walking and bike tracks crisscrossing the city, which also has a picturesque river running right through the middle. Here are the best neighbourhoods in Brisbane currently topping livability charts.

Kangaroo Point

Bound by water on three sides, the peninsula suburb of Kangaroo Point couples idyllic scenery with a lively cosmopolitan lifestyle. Framing spectacular skyline views, its riverfront is preserved with parks, bike trails and scenic picnic spots. Modern new apartments attract young professionals with the inner-city hub offering foodie hotspots, rooftop bars and quick access to South Bank.

New Farm

The well-heeled neighbourhood of New Farm entices those looking for culture and convenience right on their doorstep. Trendy young professionals have pushed up prices, lured by the suburb’s dynamic lifestyle.

It’s home to the Brisbane Powerhouse, riverside New Farm Park and a hefty line-up of restaurants, boutiques and bars. People cross town for the weekly farmers’ market held each Saturday.

Paddington

The hilly streets of Paddington are threaded with traditional Queenslanders and workers’ cottages that give this historic neighbourhood its enduring charm. One of Brisbane’s most sought-after suburbs, it’s within walking distance of the city centre and has become a hotspot for shopping and dining.

Find notable brunch spots, institutional restaurants and beautiful antique stores all thrown into the mix. Families will benefit from being close to some of Brisbane’s most prestigious private schools.

West End

For those looking to immerse themselves in arts, nightlife and entertainment, West End remains a firm favourite. The suburb sees a melting pot of cultures coupled with a strong student population that creates an eclectic and ever-changing atmosphere.

A mix of classic cottages, new apartments and share houses, it’s the sort of neighbourhood where everyone feels at home. Get your fill of delicious eateries along Vulture and Boundary streets.

Newmarket

Well-positioned in a cluster of highly sought-after northside suburbs, Newmarket is a busy commercial precinct at first glance. Step away from the main hub and the area switches gears. Newmarket's neighbourly back streets have a genuine community feel, with wide expanses of multi-use green space and beloved family homes.

This transitional pocket of Brisbane is brimming with generous expanses of green public spaces and community sporting facilities, perfect for an active lifestyle within easy reach of the inner-city action of Brisbane.

Ashgrove

The north-western suburb of Ashgrove combines close proximity to the city with a vibrant community feel. Its peaceful streets are lined with traditional 1920s Queenslander homes that offer plenty of space for growing families.

It’s also a popular pocket for young professionals with abundant wine bars, bakeries and cafes as well as quick bus connections into the CBD. For those commuting by bicycle, two picturesque trails transport you straight to the city centre.

Keperra

A leafy oasis less than half an hour from the city centre, Keperra is a little-known gem for families or young couples looking to settle down somewhere quiet, yet not too far removed from the hustle and bustle of the inner-city suburbs.

Homes in Keperra offer a little more breathing room, making it one of the best suburbs to live in Brisbane if you want a lush little yard to wind down in over the weekends. With plentiful green spaces, picnic grounds, dog parks and bushland, this suburb definitely suits any outdoorsy or sporty types.

Everton Park

One of the best suburbs to live in in Brisbane has to be Everton Park, a northern ‘burb that’s seen a bit of a glow up over the last few years. With a handful of new restaurants, bars, workout and wellness spaces popping up, you won’t need to stray far from home to live your best life here.

It’s definitely one of the trendiest places to live around the city, with young professionals and couples flocking to snap up their new homes. For shopping, you’re covered with nearby Brookside Shopping Centre and a Homemaker Centre, and public transport is easy with plenty of buses, bike ways and train stations in the nearby vicinity.

Ascot

Affluent Ascot has a reputation for its large heritage homes and leafy parklands. With a long culture of horse racing, today this North-East suburb is coveted for its close-knit community and village-like feel. It’s just 7km northeast of the city and well connected via train and bus.

With Racecourse Road at its heart, residents are spoilt for choice when it comes to cafes, restaurants and shopping. Next door, Hamilton hosts a popular street food market, Eat Street Northshore along the riverfront.

Wilston

Tucked away from the bustling lifestyle of its inner-city neighbours, Wilston is a well-kept secret that has come a long way from its rural past. With its convenient location, generous parklands and relaxed lifestyle, locals might not be able to keep this gem under wraps for much longer.

Claimed to be one of the most beautiful suburbs in Brisbane, Wilston boasts open green surroundings and a friendly, family-centric attitude. Conveniently located on the outskirts of the vibrant city – once in, postcode proud locals stay for the long haul.

Alderley

With its elevated tree-lined streets and character houses, Alderley is as pretty as a picture. It offers relaxed, suburban living while remaining close to the CBD and has a strong community feel with many young families moving in.

On weekends, residents can be spotted bushwalking through Banks Street Reserve or grabbing a coffee from much-loved local cafes. The suburb also has a strong reputation for its access to private schools and easy public transport links.

Sandgate

A 25-minute drive from the CBD, sunny Sandgate caters to those seeking a laidback, coastal lifestyle. Despite being so close to the city, it feels as if it’s a world away with its historic buildings and seaside village atmosphere.

Sandgate locals can enjoy abundant open spaces as well as great education options and community amenities. Walks along the esplanade are met with a flourishing café scene and some of Brisbane’s best seafood.

East Brisbane

With a mix of historic homes and modern apartment buildings, East Brisbane has become known as one of the best suburbs in Brisbane to live in. Close to the river and CBD, this little suburb is the perfect place to call home if you’re craving proximity to the city centre, but want to avoid the hustle and bustle of inner-city life.

Bulimba

A popular inner-city suburb on the east side of Brisbane, Bulimba makes the most of its riverfront location with long riverwalks, parks and restaurants lining the communal areas of this thriving Brisbane suburb. With cinemas, bookshops and cafes aplenty, Bulimba makes for an incredible place to live for young professionals and families alike. It’s best known for the dining scene on Oxford Street, and the boutique fashion shops throughout the area.

Indooroopilly

Indooroopilly is a popular pick with everyone from students and young professionals to families vying for a spot at some of Queensland’s best secondary schools.

The riverside suburb is dotted with pretty parks, café precincts and excellent community amenities while being just 7km from the CBD. Everyday conveniences are taken care of by way of a Westfield Shopping Centre and public transport

Graceville

Charming Graceville is known as one of the best suburbs to live in Brisbane thanks to its quiet, leafy streets and bountiful amenities. With schools, large homes, restaurants and cafes all close to home, living in Graceville also means you can easily access the city with a short drive. You’re also close to major shopping centres and hospitals, making it the perfect place to live for people at any life stage.

Camp Hill

Camp Hill is beloved by Brisbane Southsiders for a myriad of reasons. It’s a short six kilometres from the city centre, yet you feel miles away from the bustle of inner-city living. There’s plenty of green space to enjoy, including the White Hill Reserve which offers plenty of room for picnics, a game of finska or a day at the playground.

There’s a beautiful mix of homes in the area, from classic Queenslanders to modern apartments designed to suit a range of lifestyles. And the cherry on top of the cake that truly qualifies Camp Hill as one of the best suburbs to live in Brisbane, is the range of cafes and restaurants at your doorstep.

Morningside

Similar to Camp Hill, Morningside has a cosy community feel and has a wide range of homes to suit families of all sizes. Only five kilometres from the city centre, Morningside also has plenty of public transport options to make commuting a breeze.

Local amenities span gyms, shopping centres, medical centres and superamarkets, so you can easily find everything you need in your own little pocket of Brisbane. With options for schools in the area, Morningside is easily one of the best suburbs to live in Brisbane for families and young professionals alike.

Tarragindi

If you’re searching for homes south of Brisbane, why not take a look at Tarragindi? It’s close to the city centre, yet has plenty of green areas and a family-friendly feel that’s hard to beat. There are plenty of coffee shops and foodie hotspots around, and the public transport is at your doorstop to make the morning commute oh-so-easy.

Are you still doing your research on living in Brisbane? Check out our guide on where to eat, stay and play in the city. Then have a squiz at our deep dive into Brisbane's best-kept secrets just waiting for you to explore.