Buying into Brisbane’s Café Culture – a Guide for Property Investors
The so-called ‘Café culture’ has become ingrained into the psyche of many Australians. Cafes are popular social hubs for family and friends, and meeting places for many businesses. It is unsurprising therefore, that people choose to live and rent close to these centres increasing the demand (and capital growth!) of these properties.
In southern capitals there are many examples of café-focused communities including Bondi and Lane Cove in Sydney, St Kilda and South Yarra in Melbourne. These suburbs have enjoyed some the highest long-term growth in the country.
In Brisbane there are a number of well-established café precincts that property investors should be aware of. Many of these areas share other desirable investment characteristics such as being close to transport, employment centres and other amenities.
Brisbane – Northside
The Northside of Brisbane offers an array of café precincts. The most popular café and restaurant areas are in the inner-city suburbs of New Farm, Paddington, and Rosalie. These suburbs are highly desirable to tenants and homebuyers alike, and are considered to be ‘Blue Chip’ suburbs for many property investors.
Northside Café precincts include:
- Given and Latrobe Terraces, Paddington
- Racecourse Rd, Hamilton
- Nash St, Rosalie
- Blackwood St, Mitchelton
- Kedron Brooke Rd, Wilston
- Hawken Drive, St Lucia
- James St, Fortitude Valley
- Merthyr Rd, New Farm
- Park Rd, Milton
- Urban Village, Kelvin Grove
- Nundah Village, Nundah
Brisbane Southside
Popular café precincts on Brisbane’s Southside are located close to the Brisbane River and Southbank and also include a number of middle ring suburbs.
Southside Café precincts include:
- Oxford St, Bulimba
- Little Stanley St, South Brisbane
- Boundary Rd, West End
- Logan Rd, Woolloongabba
- Riding Rd, Morningside
More information about Brisbane’s café precincts can be found at the Visit Brisbane website
Final words for Brisbane Property Investors
Highly caffeinated buyers tend to become overexcited, and can make poor investment decisions! After all being close to a café doesn’t guarantee investment success. Choose your investment property carefully and remember that some of these precincts are located in flood prone areas; and some suburbs are at risk of oversupply. The convenience of being located close to cafés needs to be weighed against concerns about noise and crime in some areas.
Best of luck with your property search and I hope you enjoy some great coffee along the way!
Matt Reeves is the founding director of Your Property Hound – a local, independent buyers agency helping investors and homebuyers to purchase property in Brisbane and the surrounding suburbs. Additional information about services and fees can be online.
