Published on January 11, with the state of Tasmania also included, the prestigious publication elevated Brisbane to its annual travel list for its “food, art and vertiginous views”, declaring it “a city gearing up for its Olympic moment”.

The global honour comes hot on the heels of TIME Magazine including Brisbane among its World’s Greatest Places of 2023, Fortitude Valley restaurant Agnes Restaurant crowned Gourmet Traveller's 2023 Restaurant of the Year and The Calile Hotel ranking 12th in The World's 50 Best Hotels awards.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said making The New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2024 was the latest in a string of accolades for Brisbane.

“Our time has come. The world is recognising that Brisbane keeps getting better and this latest accolade from The New York Times is further proof,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Last year, both TIME Magazine and travel bible Frommer’s recognised Brisbane as a must-do destination in addition to the awards we won for having Australia’s best restaurant and hotel.

“Between our sub-tropical climate, world-class lifestyle precincts like Howard Smith Wharves and enviable access to natural assets, including Moreton Island, visitors from across the globe are discovering that Brisbane is an incredibly attractive place to be.

“Our relaxed outdoor lifestyle, clean and green suburbs and vibrant economy have also made us the fastest growing capital city in Australia with huge numbers of people from southern states eager to call Brisbane home.

“All this success is no accident and I’m confident our emergence as a must-do destination and great place to live will boost local business, create jobs and help make Brisbane even better.”

The New York Times reported a groundswell of excitement and revitalisation as Brisbane prepares to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, drawing attention to the world-class $3.6B Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct and its 250m-long Sky Deck with bars and restaurants overlooking the Brisbane River.

In further admiration of Brisbane’s sky-high aspirations, the article enthusiastically reviewed Brisbane Powerhouse’s Vertigo restaurant – a vertical dining experience four stories high – as well as the cultural hub’s annual celebration of queer arts and artists, Melt Open.

Brisbane’s booming dining and leisure scene again drew deserved focus, praising the skilled chefs at Agnes Restaurant, spotlighting The Calile Hotel as “an oasis in the middle of the city” and previewing Queen’s Wharf Brisbane’s four new hotels including The Star Grand which is due to open from August 2024.