We Spent 48 Hours Inside Australia’s No.1 Hotel

In partnership with Emporium Hotel South Bank, we spend 48 hours inside the Brisbane hotel where rooftop cocktails, river views, Italian dinners and one extraordinary wine collection are all an elevator ride away.

There comes a moment during a weekend at Emporium Hotel South Bank when heading out into Brisbane starts to feel almost beside the point.

It might happen over a cocktail on The Terrace, as the skyline trades a golden sunset for city lights. Or later, after dinner at FIRMA Italian, a nightcap at The Reserve Wine Bar and a long soak in a bathtub overlooking the city from level 20. By morning, warm almond croissants await at Belle Époque, the French cafe downstairs, while a 23-metre rooftop infinity pool beckons above.

Across 143 suites, four dining venues, a rooftop pool and spa, Emporium has the energy of a vertical city, stacking a remarkably full Brisbane weekend into one luxury address.

The only real question is how far you plan to get.

Check In, Stay Curious

Emporium makes its intentions clear before you have even checked into your room. Valet is painless, jazz drifts through the lobby and afternoon light hits zebra print, deep reds, greenery and glossy stone, with The Reserve’s chandelier already visible across the floor. Subtlety has taken the afternoon off, and surrendering to it is part of the fun.

That confidence makes more sense once you know the hotel remains independently owned by the family who created it. Architect Anthony John and interior designer Francine John have shaped the property from the beginning, taking pride in every detail while making room for the eccentricity and creative flourishes that give Emporium its character.

The individuality comes with credentials to match. In 2026, Emporium Hotel South Bank was the only Queensland hotel named in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, ranking 12th across Australia and New Zealand. Tripadvisor also ranked it number one in Australia and the South Pacific, and number 21 in the world. Its Chief Concierge holds Les Clefs d’Or golden keys accreditation, which means the service is every bit as polished as the personality.

Cancel Your Plans

The Premium River City King Suite brings Brisbane to you, with sweeping views across the river, South Bank and the CBD beyond.

Inside, there is dark marble, twin vanities, a deep jetted tub facing the skyline, and two robes waiting nearby. With the bed looking indecently plush and the city glowing beyond the windows, doing absolutely nothing is the first stop on the agenda, and for good reason.

Then again, the Terrace is only one floor up.

5pm, Go Up

By late afternoon, The Terrace has slipped into its evening skin almost without announcing the change. Lunch plates disappear, and before long there are lychee mocktails, spicy margaritas and locals and visitors alike drifting in as the skyline starts to glow.

Order the sashimi, settle near the glass and let Brisbane do the work. Towers catch the evening light, the river darkens below and phones start lifting towards the view. DJs take over on Friday nights, live music carries through the weekend and, crucially, plenty of the crowd have no room key at all. The Terrace has a life beyond the hotel, which is exactly what the best hotel bars need.

Dinner, One Lift Down

FIRMA shifts the pace again with Italian music, softer lighting and walls lined with wine. If the grilled asparagus is on the menu, order it with pistachio and lemon zest. The burrata with fennel jam, grapefruit and dill oil follows beautifully, before the King River wagyu rib fillet takes things firmly into dinner territory.

Dessert brings a final flourish, with tiramisu assembled tableside, layer by layer, before the evening moves downstairs.

One More Glass

The Reserve deserves more than a passing nightcap. At its heart is founder Anthony John’s personal wine collection, assembled over more than three decades and now valued at over $10 million. Its wine list has earned Three Glass status at Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards for three consecutive years, making this far more than a handsome bar. It’s a fabulous date-night spot, too.

The room itself is rich with detail, from the glowing onyx bar and soaring wine displays to the grand piano nearby, but it is the cellar that gives The Reserve its weight. This is somewhere to spend time with the wine list, ask questions and let the evening stretch another hour.

Sitchu Tip: Ask the team to steer you towards something with a story. An Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir alongside Brabander goat’s cheese, creamy Bûche d’Affinois and gin-laced venison is an excellent place to start.

Wake Up in Paris

By morning, Emporium has another experience in store. Belle Époque trades the hotel’s after-dark drama for black-and-white tiles, trailing greenery and pastry cabinets, landing somewhere between South Bank and a polished corner of Paris.

Begin with the almond croissant while it is still warm, then decide how seriously breakfast needs to be taken: Nutella French toast with caramelised banana and mascarpone cream, or a Noosa ham omelette with vintage cheddar and house-made relish.

Sitchu Tip: The zero-rush rule applies here. Savour every sip of your latte and let the pastry crumbs accumulate.

Finish at the Top

Before checkout, go back to the roof. The infinity pool is heated, loungers line the edge and towels and sunscreen are already waiting, leaving very little to stop you from delaying reality a little longer and taking one last look at Brisbane below.

For a final indulgence, The Healing Stone Day Spa offers Ganbanyoku, a Japanese hot-rock therapy that’s perfect for spending your last hour horizontal.

Across Sitchu’s recent two-night stay at Emporium Hotel South Bank, there was very little reason to leave the hotel. There was breakfast in Paris, cocktails above Brisbane, dinner in Italy, an award-winning wine list and a heated pool waiting on the roof. The city is right outside for those wanting to explore, but Emporium’s real trick is giving you every reason not to.

Reserve your stay at Emporium Hotel South Bank and Stay Curious.