Checking in: Rydges Hotel South Bank | Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
As I pulled up the car on the perfectly paved driveway, adorned with vibrant green plants, the valet approached me with a warm smile. Dressed sharply in black and white, he took my key and advised that my luggage would be delivered to my room shortly. I was at Rydges Hotel South Bank for a staycation; having just completed one of the country’s largest all-room redesigns and a $30million redevelopment to creating stunning new spaces and experiences, Rydges South Bank looked fresh and chic despite the fact that this year, the hotel celebrates 20 years of visionary operation.
Check-in was as swift as it can be and even though I had arrived slightly earlier than the scheduled check-in time, I was informed that my room was ready. My room for the night was a Deluxe King Suite located on the 11th floor of the hotel.
My heart literally skipped a beat when I swiped open the door. The spacious suite was bathed in sunshine and on the dining table, a welcome card from the hotel’s general manager and some sweet treats awaited. Inviting hues of luxe tobacco and burgundy were splashed throughout the suite, with a mixture of velvet, brass and natural wood textures to add highlights and finishing touches. I skipped around barefoot on the plush carpet to check out the suite - wet bar stocked with delicious treats, a nice selection of beverages and a Nespresso machine with bespoke coffee by Tripod Coffee. Nearby, a spacious work station was ready to transform your home away from home to a mobile office with free wi-fi and multiple power points. The same colour scheme carried through to the bedroom where ample storage space can be found (with soft closing drawers too). I really liked the clean, smart design of the bathroom, which felt extremely spacious with a walk-in shower and an elegantly shaped deep, freestanding bathtub. Needless to say, I spent an excessive amount of time in the tub nursing my tummy after a scrumptious dinner at the hotel’s multi-award winning restaurant, Bacchus.
Despite all of the fantastic perks inside, the real highlight of the suite were the views. Panoramic view of the glistening Brisbane River and the cityscape beyond could be seen from every corner of the living room and it got even better as I stepped outside onto the balcony which wrapped around the suite.
I genuinely didn't want to go to bed that night. The other travel bunnie and I curled up on the couch for a long time just watching the lights twinkling away in those tall buildings across the river. The next morning, after a delicious buffet breakfast downstairs at Bacchus, I took Minibun George for a walk to the kids playground across the road at South Bank Parklands before ending our suite decadence…
As the hotel is located in the action-packed South Bank precinct, it is the perfect base for any type of travellers. If you are foodie, you’re going to love Bacchus, a chef-hatted restaurant located on the podium level of the hotel which is a must-try together with the restaurants and cafes literally lining Little Stanley and Grey Streets below the hotel. GoMA, QPAC and the Cultural Centre are only a short stroll away if you love the arts. Or, take a leisurely walk along the banks of the city’s river and over the bridge where you’ll find yourself in the heart of the Brisbane CBD so you can shop till you drop.
It was such a marvellous staycation…
Disclaimer: an overwhelmingly gracious thank you to Rydges Hotel South Bank for welcoming DolceBunnie as an invited guest to your wonderfully redesigned hotel, where I enjoyed every moment of my stay. Please note that my opinion is as always, my own.
