A few feet into the City Botanic Gardens and it feels like you’ve stepped into an oasis, a tranquil space teeming with greenery and birdlife. A stroll along the pathways can reward the drifting rambler with fresh air and inspiring sights, but take a few correct turns and you’ll find your feet on the doorstep of The Gardens Club. The quaint heritage-listed cottage was built in 1909 and retains all of its vintage charm, with a few new additions courtesy of profit-for-purpose venture, the Wise Foundation. As a social enterprise, 100% of The Gardens Club’s profits are funnelled straight back into the community to help support vital charities and organisations.

Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and snacks in between, the spring menu will be rolled out next week, dishing up cooked breakfasts until midday and a range of pre-prepared sandwiches and salads from the kiosk. Current offerings include breakfast brioches, toasties, gourmet Turkish rolls, gluten-free pumpkin bread and freshly baked choc-walnut cookies. Slurp on a thickshake, ginger beer or cup of Toby’s Estate coffee and take a seat on the cottage deck or head to the new all-abilities playground nearby. The kitchen can also prepare a picnic basket for you to take into the gardens, offering up a family pack of sandwiches, fruit salads, cookies and poppers for the kids, or an antipasto pack for two. All packaging is recyclable so all you need to return is the basket.

The primary purpose of the cottage is to function as an events space, which will no doubt set the scene for many significant community events and celebrations in the coming years. Brisbane celebrity chef Alastair McLeod and his Al’FreshCo team have prepared the dining menus, while the city-meets-park views take care of the backdrop. The Wise Foundation will be hosting Hands On Brisbane classes in the quaint space, as well community-focused events in the coming months. If you’ve been missing the foundation’s recently closed Bleeding Heart Cafe & Gallery, head along to The Friday Slow Down housewarming event from 4:00–9:00 pm tomorrow, Friday August 29, for after-work drinks and DJs in the new venue.

For contact information and trading hours, check out our Stumble Guide.