With properties such as The Calile garnering worldwide attention for its perfectly understated approach to luxury, it’s little wonder people are flocking to Brisbane for an extended visit. The Fortitude Valley favourite isn’t not the only place to dropyour suitcase, however. Here’s our roundup of the best hotels in the heart of the Queensland capital for your next getaway.

Image credit: Hotel X

Hotel X, Fortitude Valley

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Towering 12 storeys above the city, Hotel X is hard to miss: its bold façade is lit up by millions of rainbow-hued LED lights. This striking first impression sets the tone for what awaits inside the 146-room stay where geometric designs and architectural lighting are found throughout. Some rooms frame glittering skyline views while others overlook the Brisbane River – the 60-square-metre Hotel X Suite offers both. For the ultimate leisurely afternoon, graze on Spanish tapas such as spanner crab bruschetta and lamb empanadas at Iris Rooftop Bar & Restaurant or order cocktails to your private poolside cabana. Hotel X is only two kilometres north of the CBD and just a short stroll from the riverside dining hub of Howard Smith Wharves and the boutiques of James Street.

Image credit: The Star Grand

The Star Grand, Queen's Wharf

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Italian, Japanese, French and modern Cantonese fare – The Star Grand’s dining options place some of the world’s best-loved cuisines at your fingertips. Pair that with 340 spacious rooms featuring QLED TVs and king-sized beds, three infinity-style pools that are heated year round and a 100-metre-high Sky Deck offering panoramic views and there’s little need to leave the premises. Should the city beckon, Roma Street, Central and South Brisbane stations are an easy walk away, while South Bank’s weekend markets, which are on Friday through to Sunday, and the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) are just across the Brisbane River.

Image credit: InterContinental Brisbane, CBD

InterContinental Brisbane, CBD

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Pools with city views, opulent rooms and suites and standout dining are a tried-and-true recipe for an indulgent escape and this 319-key hotel offers all of the above and more. The only hotel designed by the late Modernist architect Harry Seidler, the property is flooded with natural light from a soaring glass atrium, illuminating the lush greenery and vibrant pops of red across the interior. Unwind with a dip in the heated outdoor pool then dine on Modern Australian fare, including beetroot carpaccio and pan-seared barramundi with Mooloolaba prawn bisque – at Latitude 27 Kitchen. Head to the new Club InterContinental lounge on Level 25, where guests can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the skyline and Brisbane River as well as complimentary daily breakfast, twilight drinks and canapés.

Emporium Hotel South Bank

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The crowning glory of Emporium Hotel South Bank just south of Brisbane’s city is its rooftop pool, which peers out over the spectacular city skyline. Up here, guests can order a cocktail, step into a steaming sauna, sweat it out in the traditional Japanese ganbanyoku, book a treatment at the spa or simply sit back and take it all in.

Crystalbrook Vincent

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Slotting into the atmospheric Howard Smith Wharves precinct alongside the Brisbane River, the boutique Crystalbrook Vincent has wonderful views of the water and brims with character. From its colourful, art-filled rooms to the onsite eateries focused on menus of hyper-local produce, you’ll feel like you’re in the centre of the action.

The Calile

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This pastel property needs little introduction. Letting its muted retro-styled interior do the talking, Fortitude Valley’s The Calile remains Brisbane’s hotel du jour, thanks to its easy-on-the-eye design and delicious onsite eateries, especially the Greek stunner that is Hellenika. The other deal sealer? The huge, sun-drenched outdoor pool and location in the cool, café-dotted neighbourhood of Fortitude Valley.

Hyatt Regency Brisbane

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Set in the heart of the CBD, Hyatt Regency Brisbane is within walking distance of all the city offers (Queen Street Mall, ferry terminals to South Bank and beyond) but with a few other notable drawcards. The expansive outdoor terrace, complete with parasol-shaded pool deck and bar that spills out around it, is the perfect place to conclude a jam-packed day.

Westin Brisbane

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Westin Brisbane, a stylish hotel in the heart of the CBD, proves business and pleasure can mix. There’s both fun – in the form of the city’s only swim-up bar and a soothing onsite spa – as well as an exclusive lounge space perfect for business travellers and plenty of meeting room space with adjoining, sun-drenched terraces.

The Inchcolm by Ovolo

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A characterful property near bustling Brisbane city, Spring Hill and Fortitude Valley, there are few unadorned walls at The Inchcolm by Ovolo. The richly-decorated rooms brim with personality and the perks are pretty impressive, too. Martini Hour, where the namesake drink is spruiked in various iterations, happens every evening, and those minibar goodies? All yours, on the house.

Spicers Balfour

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New Farm’s quaint and unassuming Spicers Balfour offers a home-away-from-home brand of luxury. There are soaking tubs, in-room Nespresso machines and a charming eatery, The Balfour Kitchen & Bar, tellingly popular with locals and temporary residents alike.

Treasury Brisbane

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Housed in a heritage building, Treasury Brisbane occupies a prominent corner in the centre of Brisbane city and carries the historic feel to its rooms of high ceilings and mahogany furnishings. The hotel’s buzzing Queen's Wharf location makes Treasury feel like its very own little dining district – an attractive reason to stay and sample all the precinct has to offer, from Cantonese to classic brunch-time fare.

Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane

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Housed in a restored, heritage-listed sandstone building from the 1920s, Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane sets an atmospheric tone. The homey rooms, which span studios through to three-bedroom apartments, include kitchenettes and comfy dining areas and are within walking distance of everything Brisbane city has to offer.

Amora Hotel Brisbane

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Business travellers can tick more than a few boxes at Amora Hotel Brisbane, a comfy and convenient stay in Spring Hill, less than ten minutes by car from the CBD. While the requisite plush beds and generous in-room work spaces are here, there’s also a rooftop pool, fitness centre and gym, as well as a sauna and bar serving a menu of classic cocktails and craft beers.

Sage Hotel James Street

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Budget-friendly Sage Hotel James Street gives guests everything they need — most notably a prime position on a main strip in lively Fortitude Valley east of Brisbane’s city. Guests also have complimentary access to Lina rooftop, a bar and lounge function space complete with an infinity pool lined with a cocktail bar and blue and white parasols.

The Sebel Brisbane

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Staying for a long time, not just a good time? Apartments at The Sebel Brisbane can ease you into extended stays, with full kitchenettes, spacious living and dining areas, as well as a great location within walking distance of Queen Street Mall. If you’re travelling as a family, you can also book connecting rooms for further convenience.