The W Brisbane opened in Queensland’’ s capital in June 2018, starting what would end up being a severe hotel boom in the city. Regardless of high end brand-new rivals like the Calile Hotel and the Emporium Hotel South Bank, the W has actually held its ground thanks to its dynamic dining and drinking locations, a popular full-service day spa and its quirkily embellished visitor spaces.

( Photo by Eric Rosen/The Points Guy).

On my current see to Australia , I dropped in Brisbane for a single night to remain at the hotel. That was enough to advise me of how much I’’d liked the home on previous check outs and why I’’d stay here once again next time I pass through the city .

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.In This Post.Quick take.

Although the W brand name has actually been feeling a bit out-of-date recently , the W Brisbane brings a fresh, brand-new energy to the label. The interior style by Nic Graham &&Associates is almost a visual essay made up totally of vibrant declarations that pay tribute to Brisbane’’ s fancy image and the jungly ecology of Queensland as well as the hotel’’ s place on the banks of the Brisbane River.

. ( Photo by Eric Rosen/The Points Guy).

In the general public locations, vibrant murals by Australian artist Reko Rennie contrast with saucy sculptures of bejeweled flip-flops and fruits. Corridor carpets with opal-inspired patterns and water-like whorls enhance Warhol-like photographic prints of Australia’’ s animals. There’’ s the wall outside the Three Blue Ducks dining establishment with Australian slang expressions scrawled throughout it. She’’ ll be right.

Rooms, on the other hand, function spirited recommendations to the location’’ s durable locals and river systems. White wood wall paneling hearkens to the siding of conventional Queenslander homes. Blue-green minibars are designed on post-war food safes. Side tables are formed like huge boomerangs. And the bath tubs –– separated from the bed rooms by glass walls frosted with pointillistic water beads and both wood and Perspex rods indicated to remember river reeds –– are made like sheep station (cattle ranch) water troughs. It’’ s like taking a look at a black-and-white motion picture about Queensland that’’ s been colorized.

As for COVID procedures, the front desk and each bar and dining establishment needed visitors to track their motions utilizing the Check In QLD app and to use masks when moving throughout the general public locations. This might, nevertheless, end when the state starts unwinding masking and tracking requireds.

.Arriving.

The W Brisbane lies riverside in the city’’ s Central Business District. An Uber flight from the airport expenses in between 40-50 Australian dollars ($ 29-$ 37), though you can likewise capture the city’’ s Airtrain to the city ’ s Central Station for AU$ 15 ($ 11) each method if you buy your tickets beforehand. The station has to do with a 10-minute walk to the hotel.

There were awful storms that ultimately triggered historical flooding in the city throughout my check out, so I wound up simply taking ubers and taxis, however usually the Airtrain would have been a perfect option.

( Photo by Eric Rosen/The Points Guy).

From the hotel, you can quickly stroll to points all over the town hall, though you may wish to Uber to the dining and drinking dens of Fortitude Valley. It’’ s likewise simple to stroll throughout the bridge over the Brisbane River straight opposite the hotel to go to the city’’ s cultural district, which makes up Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the Queensland Art Gallery, the Queensland Museum, the State Library of Queensland and the Gallery of Modern Art.

.Reserving information.

Nightly rates at the W Brisbane tend to run in between $220-$ 310 per night in a starter classification Wonderful king-size bed space with a partial river view.

For the night I required to book at the last minute, paid rates for that kind of space were running much greater, beginning at AU$ 607 ($ 449).

( Screenshot from marriott.com).

However, there was likewise award schedule for simply 35,000 points per night, which I wound up reservation. That netted me a worth of 1.28 cents per Marriott point, well above the 0.8 cents each which TPG worths Marriott Bonvoy points to be worth. I wound up getting back at more worth from my points when I was updated to a Spectacular space with a river view and a king-size bed, which would have cost AU$ 645 ($ 477) thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status .

( Screenshot from marriott.com.).

It likewise put the hotel within variety of my anniversary totally free night award from the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ ™ American Express® ® Card I bring, which peaks at 35,000 points.

.Standout functions.( Photo by Eric Rosen/The Points Guy).Vibrant, modern style that feels fresh and interesting instead of gimmicky.Scenic city and river views from the hotel spaces.A satisfying however little station of AWAY Spa with vigor swimming pools and treatments that include natural Australian Sodashi items.Among the most Instagram-worthy swimming pools in Australia … plus an exceptional poolside bar for treats and sips like the Pink Me Up with Beefeater Pink Strawberry gin, champagne, lychee and increased.Disadvantages.( Photo by Eric Rosen/The Points Guy).The swimming pool and lobby bar can end up being loud celebration scenes quickly, so if you choose something quieter, you will most likely wish to choose another hotel.Space rates appear to escalate over weekends, so midweek stays may be the method to go.Whatever/Whenever service is more like Maybe/Sometimes –– case in point, throughout the deluge the early morning of my stay, the concierge wouldn’’ t even attempt buying me a taxi, declaring it was difficult to get across dispatchers, though I had a simple sufficient time calling one on my own.The space.

Whereas some Ws tend to accept a dark, moody visual, the W Brisbane feels brilliant and sunshiney throughout … even on a really, really cloudy day, as I found.

As with the remainder of the hotel, the design in the visitor spaces is motivated by the Brisbane River. In my Spectacular space with a complete river view through a wall of windows (with electronic blinds managed by bedside touchscreen panels), that implied swirling, curling wall and carpet patterns, a birdcage-like closet confined by reedy wood rods and a neon toss pillow emblazoned with a cockatoo profile ornamenting the comfy, king-size W Hotels Bed.

The huge minibar was equipped with goodies like Eveleigh Bottling Co. pre-made mixed drinks and Penfold’’ s Cabernet-Shiraz mix. It wasn’’ t all play. There was a substantial work table with plugs galore, a comfy desk chair and a Breville espresso device for caffeinating up in the early morning.

The glassed-in restroom held a distinctive trough tub and a single sink and vanity plus a walk-in shower and different toilet space –– nevertheless, you might just utilize one at the same time with any personal privacy because the glass door moved from one side to the other however did not close both simultaneously. Thanks to W’’ s departure from Bliss bath items, this hotel included melon-scented Momo ones by Italian brand name Davines.

Food and beverage.

The W Brisbane hosts a number of distinct dining and drinking outlets, depending upon what fits your state of mind. The signature dining establishment is Three Blue Ducks, which fields other Australian outlets in cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Byron Bay and serves ““ paddock-to-plate ” food from sustainable and ethical sources.

Come with buddies given that numerous plates are implied for sharing, though I handled to polish off a loading plate of grilled Moreton Bay bugs (a kind of slipper lobster) with umami XO sauce, lime and charred greens (AU$ 55, or $41) along with a side of roasted broccolini with confit chili, gremolata and toasted hemp seeds (AU$ 13, or $10), combining the food with a glass of on-tap Chenin Blanc-Sauvignon Blanc (AU$ 14, or $10.50) from Blind Corner in Western Australia’’ s Margaret River area. More daring tastes buds may even venture to attempt the kangaroo tartare with marinaded quandong, Davidson’’ s plum mayo, mountain pepper and olive brik pastry (AU$ 25, or $18.50).

The hotel’’ s WET Deck bar is surrounding to the swimming pool and serves primarily mixed drinks and little bites alfresco on the 4th flooring. The mixed drinks are primarily AU$ 22 ($ 16) and consist of signatures like the Gin O’’ Clock with ADco Brisbane gin, yuzu, strawberry gum, juniper berries and sour finger limes. The ““ Tucker, ” or food menu, consists of products like pork bao buns( AU$ 30, or$ 22) and Tasmanian salmon sliders (AU$ 36, or $27).

( Photo by Eric Rosen/The Points Guy).

The lobby bar, on the other hand, uses up half the very first flooring together with reception and the W Store. You can prebook an elegant afternoon tea, however been available in the night once the live DJ begins spinning and settle into among the relaxing seating locations either in the bar itself or that spill out into the location approaching the check-in desks.

Though bartenders there more than happy to work up the classics, there’’ s a continuous cooperation with Moët Hennessy and the mixologists from East London’’ s Oriole Bar with mixed drinks based upon ““ the fruits of exile, expedition and empire.” ” Basically, they ’ ve taken particular locations like South Africa, Chile, France and Turkey as their motivation. I attempted the Rabbie Burns (Scotland, obviously) with Glenmorangie 10-year-old whisky, toasted barley infusion, kirsch, Campari and nettle-plum honegar (AU$ 26, or $19) —– the mix was strong however sweet, fruity yet smoky, and the ideal method to unwind my night.

Amenities and service.

The W’’ s fully equipped FIT health club was open 24/7 with keycard gain access to and lies on the 6th flooring. It was relatively big for a hotel fitness center, with different locations totally free weights, weight-lifting devices, cardio makers and a single Peloton bike off by itself.

Down one flooring was the AWAY Spa, which appeared to be hosting a easygoing and little bachelorette celebration the afternoon I existed. Do not intend on simply dropping in: According to its site, there’’ s a six-week wait on visits.

Unfortunately, that implied losing out on signature experiences like the Crown Jewels of Oz massage (45-minute back and shoulders: $96; 60-minute full-body: $163) with Sodashi Western Australian tiger-eye gem and plant essence oil. I likewise needed to avoid the guys’’ s relaxation location with sauna and vigor swimming pools. Next time I’’ ll understand to contact advance.

The hotel’’ s swimming pool, situated on the 4th flooring, is Instagram-famous thanks to its zebra-like striped columns and ceiling and its clubby indoor-outdoor atmosphere. The outside area wasn’’ t much in usage thanks to the shower, however lots of visitors and household groups appeared to be delighting in the covered lounges and the swimming pool itself.

The W Brisbane was the busiest hotel I remained at throughout my whole journey to Australia, and most likely appeared that method because the majority of folks were stuck inside due to the weather condition. That stated, the personnel was extremely mindful. Whenever I walked as much as a dining establishment or bar, I was signed in instantly and seated and servers were constantly on hand to see if I required anything else. The one snafu was attempting to purchase a taxi to leave, which was a down note to end on, however easy to understand offered simply how bad the storms were ending up being.

.Taking a look at.

Even after a couple of years and a couple of stays —– in addition to time at a few of the city’’ s — other noteworthy hotels– the W Brisbane still stays among my preferred locations to invest a night or 2 in Brisbane. Some may discover the decoration over the top, however I believe it stabilizes simply the correct amount of peculiarity, color and Queensland. The roomy visitor spaces, range of food and drink choices and a Sodashi-skewing health spa are all consider its favor as far as I’’ m worried. While I’’d balk at paying over $300 per night, the wide-open schedule of award nights implies I constantly inspect the Marriott app if my strategies take me through Brisbane to see if I can score a night there utilizing my points or charge card anniversary certificates.

Featured picture by Eric Rosen/The Points Guy.

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