Even before Brisbane won its bid in 2021 to host the 2032 Summer Olympics, the city’s high-end hotel scene was booming. W Brisbane with its eye-catching pool opened in 2018, and that same year also saw the opening of The Calile Hotel on James Street, which has since become one of the country’s most photographed accommodations.
This year alone will see the opening of the Dorsett Brisbane and Rosewood Brisbane, both in the Queen’s Wharf precinct, Amora Brisbane (formerly Novotel Brisbane) and The Star Brisbane, comprised of two crescent-shaped towers, among other new accommodations.
But where in the city can you stay for under $250 a night? While that budget does whittle down the luxury Brisbane hotels significantly, it leaves a few still standing. From a motel with all ground floor rooms and, conveniently, parking right out front, to a hotel with not one but two pools, we round up some of Brisbane’s best affordable places to stay.
Amora Hotel Brisbane
Formerly Novotel Brisbane, Amora Hotel Brisbane reopened under its new brand in 2024. The 296-room hotel has a sauna, outdoor pool and gym, and three venues, The Dapl Restaurant, Lobby Bar and Two Donkeys Café. Rooms start at $239 a night.Â
Pacific Hotel Brisbane
Pacific Hotel Brisbane’s lobby doubles as a co-working space for locals and visitors to Brissie to use for casual meetings and remote work. The hotel also has an outdoor pool and deck, a gym and a restaurant and bar with a terrace. Rooms start at $209 a night.Â
Kooii Apartments
Of Brisbane’s suburbs, Fortitude Valley, known to locals as ‘The Valley’, has been one of the most transformed in recent years. Get a feel for it with a stay at Kooii Apartments. The property has two pools and a sauna. Each unit is equipped with a balcony. Rooms start at $249.
Il Mondo Boutique Hotel
Located in Kangaroo Point, a 15-minute drive outside the CBD, Il Mondo Boutique Hotel has an outdoor pool, free parking and a Japanese restaurant. Room rates start at $239 a night, though you can pay $40 more for a balcony. Add on a hotel breakfast for $15.
Soho Brisbane Hotel
For a centrally located, affordable option, book Soho Brisbane Hotel in Wickham Terrace. The hotel is opposite Roma Street Parkland and a 10-minute walk from Queen Street Mall. Rooms start at $172 a night.
Mantra on Mary
Though rooms at Mantra on Mary start at $258 a night, a touch over budget, the CBD hotel is still worth a mention. The hotel has a pool, sauna and gym, but, easily, its best feature is its prime city location. It’s a five-minute walk from the Botanical Gardens and 10 minutes from Queen Street Mall.
Shangri-La Gardens
Not to be confused with the luxury hotel chain with a similar name, Shangri-La Gardens is a motel adjacent to Brisbane’s Moreton Bay in suburb Wynnum West. The motel has 41 rooms in five sizes, all on the ground floor with a parking space conveniently available out front. The motel also has a pool. Rooms start at $205.
Essence Suites Taringa
Essence Suites Taringa has 63 rooms, a restaurant, café and bar. On level 5, you’ll find a communal guest lounge with views of the city skyline, as well as tea and coffee you can make yourself. The hotel is conveniently located next to Taringa Train Station and has undercover parking for $20 a night. Rooms start at $233 a night.
Gambaro Hotel Brisbane
Though Gambaro Hotel Brisbane doesn’t have a pool, it does have a gym and two restaurants. Gambaro Seafood Restaurant is known among locals for its mud crab and lobster dishes, while Black Hide Steakhouse serves steaks. The hotel is a 20-minute walk from Queen Street Mall and South Bank Parklands. Rooms start at $233 a night.
Hotel Diana
Hotel Diana in Southbank is a short walk from the Gabba sports stadium, South Bank Parklands and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The hotel has free parking, a fitness centre and an optional $25 buffet breakfast. Rooms start at $209 a night.
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