Asterope

I have rented in Paddington twice - a hilly, eclectic suburb with excellent eateries and shopping options. Close to the city but also a short drive from bushland parks such as Mt Coot-tha and D'aguilar NP. Parking is usually a mission but the bus services are decent. Paddington is hands-down the best place to get a weekend breakfast and has some lovely boutique bars (Dowse bar and The Lark). Its great for students as it is a short walk to QUT Kelvin grove or gardens point, and the cycle paths to UQ St Lucia are not too hard to get to. For an urban suburb, it is surprisingly quiet!

I lived in West End for 5 years - back then it was extremely bohemian: an amazing mix of friendly people and cheap (but excellent) food. It still holds onto its boho roots but has been slowly turned more upmarket. Parking was always terrible, the nightlife and food was always amazing and the proximity to uni and the city was the main draw card.
I visit west end often - its a great place to hang out with friends and there is always plenty to do!