Australia

Built in 1984, Sofitel Brisbane Central is modern French luxury at its finest, bringing French flair to Brisbane, artfully blending the essence of our locale with the brand’s French zest. The hotel offers heartfelt, tailor-made services and luxurious settings that are stylish and chic; sophisticated places where each and every guest is made to feel special and finds joie de vivre throughout their stay.

Sofitel Brisbane Central is conveniently located above Brisbane’s Central Rail Station and is a visual and historic landmark on the city skyline boasting some of the city’s best views over Anzac Square, the central business district and surrounding hinterlands. With 416 guest rooms & suites, an award-winning day spa, expansive executive lounge, elite fitness facilities, and three restaurants and bars, Sofitel Brisbane Central entices you to indulge in and celebrate the pleasures of life.

Poised majestically atop a soaring mountain of the imposing Great Dividing Range just 90 minutes west of Brisbane QLD, all inclduive lusury lodge Spicers Peak Lodge is surrounded by untouched rainforest, the world heritage listed Main Range National Park and the dramatic volcanic scenery of the fertile Scenic Rim. With its rarefied position, a distinct sense of solitude and stillness fills the air, whilst the enticingly remote location gives promise to endless adventures. At the top of the long winding country road that delivers you to the lodge, you’re greeted by the retreat’s own herd of curious and hirsute Highland cattle, their splendid locks flowing in the breeze. Inside, the towering peaks of the main guesthouse reach for the wide sky; imposing wooden beams frame the rooms with intent; and the heavy stones of the striking fireplace connect calmly with the earth.

In The Peak restaurant, a captivating story unfolds daily, celebrating the very best of Australian cuisine and ingredients. With a nod to the narrative of the great Australian battler, and a modern twist applied for intrigue, diners will often find dishes such as Kangaroo Island marron, Abrolhos Island scallops, Red Gum lamb rack and native pepper and white chocolate ganash on the menu. This inimitable retreat is Australia’s highest non-alpine mountain lodge, and here, every experience is elevated. Myriad adventures await in the sky or on the land. For the active, there’s helicopter scenic flights, nature hikes, 4WD discovery tours and mountain biking. For those wishing for a gentler pace, there’s sunset picnics, star gazing, a guest library, pool table and tennis court. The peerless infinity pool – with yawning views of the mountains – is a temptation impossible to resist for most, as are the indulgent and restorative powers of the Spa Anise Day Spa.

The Brisbane River curves through the city in a ribbon of light, and W Brisbane answers with unapologetic color and theatrical flair. Marking the W brand’s debut in Queensland under the Marriott portfolio, the hotel opened in 2018 along North Quay, placing guests within easy reach of the South Bank cultural precinct and the city’s commercial core. Inside, 312 rooms and suites unfold in saturated purples, metallic accents, and sculptural lines, while floor-to-ceiling windows frame the river and skyline in cinematic scale. The design draws on Queensland’s mineral hues and the fluidity of the river itself, striking a calibrated balance between high-energy glamour and polished urban sophistication.

Dining and social life revolve around distinct, design-forward venues. Lex serves as the hotel’s culinary anchor, presenting modern Australian cuisine with a focus on open-fire techniques and locally sourced Queensland produce. The Living Room Bar transitions effortlessly from daytime espresso lounge to evening cocktail salon, while the elevated WET Deck, complete with river-facing pool and bar, has become one of Brisbane’s most recognizable party addresses. AWAY Spa channels the brand’s neon-edged, future-leaning aesthetic into a restorative retreat, complemented by the FIT gym and versatile event spaces. Less restrained than traditional Australian luxury hotels, W Brisbane feels like an ongoing celebration, an address where river reflections, subtropical heat, and design bravado converge to redefine the city’s tempo of indulgence.

Hyatt Regency Brisbane rises directly above Queen Street Mall, Hyatt's first hotel in Brisbane and a building with more backstory than most. The site was home to the legendary Lennons Hotel, whose first incarnation opened in 1884 and whose 1972 Queen Street tower was the tallest building in town, hosting guests from General MacArthur to The Beatles. Hyatt took over in February 2021 and completed a full refurbishment, fitting 292 rooms and suites across 26 floors with open-plan bathrooms, walk-in showers and floor-to-ceiling windows framing either the city skyline or the Brisbane River. High Floor King Rooms face the river, catching the gold-orange light that floods the water at sunset. Every room includes a Nespresso machine and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. Tesla charging and valet parking are on site.

Lennons Restaurant and Bar on the second floor is the hotel's nod to its predecessor, a modern bistro built around sustainable Queensland produce and Australian wines. Up on level four, Hibiscus Bar and Terrace is Brisbane's most laid-back rooftop scene — a heated 20-metre infinity pool under yellow-and-white umbrellas by day, cocktails beneath the stars by night, live music on Fridays and Saturdays, and sport on the big screen. The 24-hour fitness centre includes a Peloton bike. Step outside into the pedestrian mall's shops and cafés; South Bank's cultural precinct is a 15-minute walk across the river, putting GOMA, the Queensland Museum and the man-made Streets Beach within easy reach. Brisbane airport is 17 minutes by car. The 2032 Olympics are headed for this city, and this hotel already has the best seat.

Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre sits at North Quay and treats the entire building as a canvas for the city's untold stories. A Tuk Nook coffee cart greets you in the foyer; across the wall, a mural of Sammy the Bengal tiger, Brisbane's legendary escape artist, sets the tone before you even reach the first-floor check-in. Queensland artists Blends, Bronte Naylor and Fuzeillear fill the corridors and common spaces with large-scale original works, turning the hotel into a walking discovery trail. The 212 rooms lean into retro charm: deep blue feature walls, industrial lighting, pop-up desks and sleek tiled bathrooms. Standard rooms run about 26 square metres; larger categories reach 36 to 38. Walk-in showers replace bathtubs, and 24-hour in-room dining keeps things flexible. Dogs under 40 kilograms are welcome.

Izakaya Publico is the restaurant you didn't expect inside a hotel, a street-art-wrapped izakaya housing Australia's first Warayaki straw-fire grill, where Queensland produce gets flash-seared for maximum flavour alongside sake and craft beer. Through an unmarked door, Bar 1603, named for the year izakaya culture began, pours handcrafted sake cocktails, local brews and Australian wines in a speakeasy setting. The hotel has no pool of its own but grants guests complimentary access to the rooftop pool at neighbouring voco Brisbane. Roma Street station is five minutes on foot; Queen Street Mall sits 600 metres away; Brisbane Quarter's dining precinct is 250 metres out; South Bank and GOMA are an easy walk across the river. This is not a hotel that wants you to stay in, it is one that sends you out into the city and waits for the stories you bring back.

In Brisbane’s after‑dark playground of Fortitude Valley, Hotel X lands like a flashbulb on Brunswick Street. Unveiled in 2021 as the inaugural property of IHG’s Vignette Collection, the 146 rooms wrap neon accents, curated art and in‑room tablets into a 24‑hour sensory set‑piece. Floor‑to‑ceiling glass frames jacaranda‑lined streets while black‑and‑white marble bathrooms stock Byredo amenities.

Above it all, Iris Rooftop pairs a horizon‑wide pool with Spanish plates and sunset cocktails, winning Australia’s “Best Hotel Bar 2024”. Street level Bisou Bisou riffs on French bistro classics, and the nightly Social Wine Hour keeps conversation flowing. Named Australia’s Best Upper Upscale Hotel at the 2022 HM Awards, the property adds a Technogym‑equipped studio, valet parking and pet‑friendly stays, while the concierge plots riverside cycling, cliff‑side climbs and market forays. For style hunters and creative crews alike, Hotel X delivers bold, boutique luxury lit by the Valley’s electric heartbeat.