Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a musician/artist based in Paddington, Brisbane, and I live with my partner and our house plants. I’m releasing my debut album Bunny Mode on June 3.

What do you love about Brisbane?
Brisbane is modest, and its humility is what makes it my favourite place to live. It’s peaceful and relaxed, yet it has everything you need to feel like you’re still living in a metropolitan city.

Where do you go for brunch or breakfast?
I love a walk to Naim for brunch – they do such amazing Middle Eastern-inspired dishes (my favourite is the shakshuka), and, as a bonus, all of my Spectator Jonze artworks are hung on the walls, so if you like a bit of pop art you could sit around the art. Otherwise, they have great windows down the back looking out at Paddington.

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What’s your favourite restaurant?
Uncle Don’s in Rosalie. I usually sit inside to watch their TV, which usually has some amazing Japanese food and talent, like sushi chefs with their knife skills. I always order the pork katsu sando and the Wagyu beef don. If I’m feeling naughty, I’ll pair it with a melon ramune soda.

It’s your birthday – how do you spend it?
I’d probably want a meal at Bird’s Nest in West End for yakitori. I’d down a couple glasses of green tea umeshu (plum wine) then crawl on over to Music City on Adelaide Street for karaoke.

Do you have any favourite shops?
Empire Revival is a feast for the eyes. It has art, books, vintage, clothing – everything. It’s like a museum with the option to spend and bring it all home. I love the boutique shops nearby for some unique Japanese vases and ceramics.

When you want to impress someone, where do you take them?
Market Square in Sunnybank. We have a huge selection of Asian restaurants, shops, food, markets, clothing, cosmetics, entertainment and drinks. And if you don’t know what they’ll feel like, there’s definitely something here.

What’s one of the city’s most underrated spots?
Mount Gravatt Lookout. People always choose Mount Coot-tha, but if you want a view where you can actually see the city, this is the best. Both lookouts are great, and if you enjoy a hike you can do that too.

Do you have a favourite weekend getaway?
Bribie Island is only 1.5 hours away and it’s my favourite place. It’s a sleepy beach village with great walks, op shops and the best fish’n’chips. The locals are also so friendly.

Who makes Brisbane a better place?
Ben Bjarnesen and his foundation LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness. I met him when we both did a Tedx speech, and his work in bringing awareness to helping end domestic, family and intimate partner violence and abuse is so important and inspiring.

Is there an essential Brisbane song?
I’m going to go with Streets of Your Town by the Go-Betweens – a classic by a Brisbane band. We have a bridge named after them. It’s a bridge I often walk across to go from Milton to West End, so I can visit the Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) – which is always worth checking out.

jaguarjonze.com
@jaguarjonze

This is the first “My Brisbane” – a regular column discovering the places and spaces that captivate and entice Brisbane’s well-known residents.