ALRIGHT, I need your help.
I’ve spent a fair bit of time getting around this city — chatting with locals, checking out new spots, and revisiting old favourites — and one thing’s clear: everyone’s got a strong opinion on what Ipswich does best.
So, we’re putting it to the people.
Welcome to Local Ipswich News’ “Best of Ipswich” — a rolling, community-powered quest to uncover the absolute best our city has to offer.
Not what a critic thinks. Not what a guidebook says. What locals love.
Each week, we’ll throw a new category into the ring which you’ll find in a weekly post on our Facebook page — all you need to do is jump in the comments and drop your top picks.
Simple.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
I won’t just be taking your word for it — I’ll be road testing your top picks.
In a brand-new series, Roamin Rowan, I’ll be tracking down your winners — showing up hungry, curious, and ready to see if they really live up to the hype.
No fluff, no sugar-coating — just honest reviews, good yarns, and a proper look at what makes these places tick.
Because let’s be honest — Ipswich is packed with cracking spots. The old-school institutions. The new kids having a red-hot go. The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it takeaways that somehow serve up magic every time.
Over the next 15 weeks, we’ll cover 15 categories: Best Fish and Chips, Best Event, Best Coffee, Best Natural Attraction, Best Banh Mi, Best Beer or Bevvy, Best Pub, Best Burger, Best Landmark, Best Parmi, Best Cheap Eat, Best Pizza, Best Family Activity, Best Dessert, and Best Breakfast.
This is more than just a popularity contest — it’s a community-powered guide to Ipswich’s best, shining a spotlight on the businesses, venues and experiences that locals truly love.
This isn’t just about naming a winner. It’s about backing local, telling their stories, and building a go-to guide made by the people who actually live here.
If you’ve got a go-to coffee order, a fish and chip shop you swear by, or a burger worth crossing town for — now’s your time.
You do the voting — I’ll do the roaming.
Keepin it Local
Roamin Rowan
