Advertisement
Home LIFESTYLE Travel

BHG Visits: The Calile Hotel

Australia's first urban resort is a game-changer for inner-city hotels
The luxurious Calile Hotel
Our Poolside King Room at The Calile
Sean Fennessy

Once regarded as a big country town, Brisbane is having a moment in the sun.

Advertisement

The Queensland capital has undergone an exciting transformation with new precincts, design hotels, restaurants, bars and boutique markets popping up in every pocket of the city.

The high-end hotel landscape, in particular, is burgeoning with FV by Peppers, Ovolo Inchcolm, W-Hotel and The Westin all opening their doors in this sensational city.

However, to be honest, what really lured me to this revitalised Brisbane for the weekend was the luxurious newcomer, The Calile Hotel.

Our Poolside King Room at The Calile
The luxurious Calile Hotel (Credit: Sean Fennessy)
Advertisement

Designed by Brisbane architects Richards and Spence with other tropical cities like South Beach, Miami, and Palm Springs in mind, this $100 million, seven-storey property is heralded as Australia’s first urban resort offering a unique, tropical-style escape in the heart of the James Street precinct in the hip Fortitude Valley.

With its white brick and layered concrete façade, the striking Calile certainly makes a good first impression. We park $25 per night for hotel guests and head straight into the street-level lobby where we are checked into our Poolside King Room.

The luxurious Calile Hotel
Our Poolside King Room at The Calile (Credit: Sean Fennessy)

Heading to the fifth floor, it is refreshing to see the plethora of open-air spaces and breezeways, the designers and owners, the Malouf family, clearly embracing Queensland’s enviable sub-tropical climate.

Advertisement

The antithesis of a traditional ‘inner-city hotel’ our pink, light-filled room is insanely stylish yet warm, boasting rose-tinged marble surfaces, custom crafted oak furniture and brass accents. The light, custom linen bathrobes and Grown Alchemist amenities are a nice touch.

Like most of the hotel’s 175 rooms – there are also nine suites – our curved balcony looks out over the 30-metre-pool, which is lined with towering palms and some seriously chic cabanas.

The pool terrace is the heart of the property
The pool terrace is the heart of the property (Credit: Sean Fennessy)

It’s clear the pool terrace – home to Hellenika, the sister restaurant of the hatted Gold Coast Greek institution of the same name – is the heart of the hotel. We want in on the action so we quickly change and head down for a swim.

Advertisement

The restaurant spills out onto the pool deck, where a host of beautiful people are swimming, lounging and dining on Hellenika’s modern Greek fare in the poolside cabanas. 

We spy Australian singer Delta Goodrem and boyfriend Matthew Copley lunching with a bunch of pals as we take up a spot poolside and people-watch while sipping on margaritas.

The plush poolside cabanas.
The plush poolside cabanas. (Credit: Sean Fennessy)

The Calile may be one of the most aesthetically pleasing hotels I have stayed at in some time but it also has a fresh, unique charm and sense of fun that sets it apart from other luxury properties.

Advertisement

After a fun few hours poolside, we head down to Hellenika for dinner. It’s a balmy evening and we’re lucky enough to snare a table outside overlooking the pool. I’d recommend making a booking as the restaurant is reportedly booked out most Friday and Saturday evenings.

We enjoy a Greek salad and a host of mezedes including saganaki, their famous zucchini chips, grilled South Australia calamari and octopus while we soak up the lively atmosphere.

The Calile's lobby sets the scene
The Calile’s lobby sets the scene (Credit: Sean Fennessy)

The following morning, after a sleep in and breakfast in the contemporary Lobby Bar, we browse a slick edit of premium fashion boutiques on the ground level – think Bec and Bridge, Bassike and Camilla and Marc – before, very reluctantly, checking out of this luxurious oasis and heading back out into the city.

Advertisement

Brisbane Favours the Bold
From luxury hotels to a trailblazing dining scene and intimate bars, exclusive art exhibitions to 
adrenaline-inducing adventures or relaxing at tropical islands on Brisbane’s doorstep. Dare you to book. For more information, head to visit.brisbane.qld.au.

Related stories


Advertisement