Photo: Wikimedia CommonsQueen Street Mall is the beating heart of Brisbane shopping, a pedestrian-only stretch through the CBD lined with department stores, arcades and international flagships. Heritage arcades like the Brisbane Arcade hide jewellers and local designers, while buskers and street performers keep the energy up. It is the easiest one-stop for a rainy afternoon. Duck into the historic Brisbane Arcade for local labels you will not find in the chain stores, and grab a coffee at one of the laneway cafes.