Concrete Playground

To take a page out of Charles Baudelaire’s book, I’d like to think of myself as a modern day flâneur. That is, “a person who walks the city in order to experience it,” in the Baudelairian sense, anyway. There’s something really satisfying about wandering off the beaten track and into the depths of your town, whether it’s in search of a shady place to read a book, a cosy winter night spot or even just a new place to grab a coffee before work. And I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking there‘s something truly satisfying about stumbling upon one of these urban treats by chance. That’s exactly what happened when I found Five Sisters Art House Café hidden down a laneway in South Brisbane.

Tucked away between Melbourne Street and Fish Lane, Five Sisters is a café with a traditional breakfast and lunch menu infused with a touch of Greece. If you’re partial to moussaka or souvlaki every once in a while then you’re probably already aware that the south bank of the river is home to some of the best Greek cuisine to be found in Brisbane. From the Greek Club to the various blue-and-white tableclothed restaurants on Boundary Street and, of course, the annual Paniyiri Festival, the area is a known hotspot to sample the delights of the Mediterranean.

According to the five sisters who run this neat little café, nothing beats a home cooked meal "just like Mama used to make" and thus generations of recipes were passed down to grant the success of the ever-inviting Five Sisters Art House Café. Whether you fancy a hot bevvy, a sweet treat or a generous meal, take a wander down the laneway and check out what my new favourite ‘quiet place’ has to offer!