Brisbane - Australia 2004 - page 240

1 Thornbury St., Spring Hill, Brisbane, QLD 4000. & 07/3832 5985. Fax [phone]. www.babs.com.au/
thornbury. 6 units, all with bathroom (5 with shower only). A$110-A$120 (US$72-US$78) double; A$420
(US$273) apt weekly. Rates include breakfast. AE, MC, V. Limited free off-street parking and on-street meter
parking A$5 (US$3.25) per day. Airport bus stop at front door. Train: Central. Amenities: Dinner on request;
access to nearby swimming pools, golf club, and health club; children's play area and toys; room service
(8am-8pm); dry cleaning; free access to washing machine, dryer, iron, fridge and microwave; fax, computer
and dataport available; pay phone; nonsmoking rooms. In room:A/C, TV, hair dryer.
IN PADDINGTON
Waverley On the main shopping and restaurant strip in Padding-
ton, this lovely three-story 1888 residence retains most of its original features
such as bay windows, tongue-and-groove walls, soaring ceilings, and polished
timber floors. The two air-conditioned front rooms are freshly painted, spacious,
and individually furnished with supportive mattresses, comfy sofas, and attrac-
tive bathrooms. You can also stay in two self-contained apartments (with fans)
downstairs. Your hostess, Annette Henry, cooks a hearty breakfast in the homey
yellow kitchen. (Her fresh muffins are popular.) A rear deck on both levels over-
looks two old mango trees, busy with possums at night and visited regularly by
day by a pair of native butcher-birds. There's also a lounge. No smoking indoors.
5 Latrobe Terrace at Cochrane St., Paddington, Brisbane, QLD 4064. & 07/3369 8973, or 0419/741 282
mobile phone. Fax [phone]. www.babs.com.au/paddington. 4 units (all with en-suite shower only).
A$110 (US$72) double; A$440 (US$286) self-contained apts per week. Additional person A$25 (US$16) extra.
Rates include full breakfast for B&B guests. AE, DC, MC, V. Free off-street parking for 4 cars. Bus stop 20m (65
ft.). Pickup available on request from Roma St. Transit Centre. Amenities: Coin-op laundry; safe; nonsmok-
ing rooms. In room:A/C, TV, kitchenette (apts only), refrigerator, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.

Finds

4 Where to Dine
Visitors are often surprised to find Brisbane has a sophisticated dining scene.
Stylish bistros and cafes line Merthyr Street in New Farm; cute cafes are plenti-
ful in Paddington; Asian eateries are a good choice around the intersection of
Vulture Street and Boundary Street in West End; and in Fortitude Valley (“the
Valley” for short), you'll find Chinatown. There's a street full of upscale but laid-
back restaurants under the kitsch replica Eiffel Tower on Park Road in Milton,
many with a Mediterranean flavor, and in the city center you can find slick river-
front restaurants at Eagle Street Pier and Riverside. The intersection of Albert
and Charlotte streets buzzes with inexpensive, good-quality cafes.
IN THE CITY CENTER
EXPENSIVE
e'cco bistro MODERN AUSTRALIAN “Here it is” is one of the Ital-
ian translations for e'cco, and that's the philosophy behind the food at this multi-
award-winning bistro. Simple food, done exceptionally well. E'cco counts the
title of Australia's top restaurant award (the Remy Martin Cognac/Gourmet
Traveller Restaurant of the Year) among its claims to fame and deservedly so. Set
in a former tea warehouse on the city fringe, it is enormously popular, and book-
ings are essential. Large windows, bold colors, and modern furniture make it a
pleasant setting in a small but popular restaurant enclave. There's a nice, simple
price structure (each course's offerings are all the same price), and there's an
extensive wine list—many by the glass. You can BYO wine for a corkage fee of
A$5.50 (US$3.60) per bottle.
100 Boundary St. (at Adelaide St.). & 07/3831 8344. Fax [phone]. www.eccobistro.com. Reservations
required. Main courses A$30 (US$19). AE, DC, MC, V. Tues-Fri noon-2:30pm; Tues-Sat 6-10pm. Also open
Mon mid-Nov to Christmas. Closed for 10 days from Christmas. On-street meter parking.