I’ve got a soft spot for the Brisbane Marriott Hotel. When it opened in the 1990s, there was a public open day, such was the excitement surrounding this fancy new five star hotel overlooking the Brisbane River. My husband and I toured the hotel and, liking what we saw, took up two of the Grand Opening Special Deals. We bought a one night stay in a standard room including breakfast for $99 and one night at $129 for a club room. However, we never ended up using the $99 voucher. After sinking into the plump Chesterfield lounges in the Executive Lounge and sipping Champagne overlooking the Brisbane River, we upgraded our $99 voucher to a club room one and came back and did it all again.
Things were pretty quiet down this end of the river when the Marriott first opened. These days it’s a different story. With the rebirth of the neighbouring Riverside Precinct and Howard Smith Wharves, the Brisbane Marriot Hotel now has Brisbane’s most popular entertainment precinct on its doorstep.
It was easy to see where the renovation money went when we got to our room. The traditional and somewhat old-fashioned décor we remembered from our last stay in 2008 had been replaced by new furnishings in modern neutral tones that reminded us of the Australian bush. Original marble in the bathroom had been restored and was complemented by a new-look shower with modern cream-coloured tiling and a powerful shower head. Our favourite new feature was the chaise lounge next to the window which offered the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the Brisbane River view.
It was large enough to serve as an extra bed for a third guest which is a clever design touch for those travelling with a child. As part of the renovation, all rooms were also fitted with new lighting and air conditioning controls which front desk staff can adjust when guests check-in. That evening we discovered the Executive Lounge had also undergone some major changes. Most of these were good, although we did find ourselves nostalgically longing for those plush, studded Chesterfield lounges.
In their place were dark and light grey bucket chairs, and bistro style seating with matching tables for breakfast. The Executive Lounge looked a lot more corporate than it used to, but the service was as warm and friendly as ever. The lounge also felt more spacious with the new look design. The new design also fixed a problem with the original lounge, which looked posh but didn’t have enough seating at peak times. The Chesterfields looked fabulous but took up a lot of valuable floor space. We missed them for nostalgic reasons but thought the new-look seating was a smarter choice.
Downstairs the hotel’s restaurant, Motion Dining, had also been redesigned. There were now high tables in M Bar for a drink or casual dinner. Diners could also be seated overlooking the grill, a great option for solo travellers as they get dinner and a show sitting here. Our a la carte dinner was impressive, especially the lamb rack which was melt-in-the-mouth tender and perfectly cooked. With steaks and the lamb priced around the $35 mark, Motion Dining is well priced for a five star hotel.
Breakfast is also served here and features something you don’t usually see at a mainstream five star hotel – as-you-like-it eggs and omelettes ordered at – and delivered to – your table. It was lovely being able to relax and chat over breakfast without having to hover alongside the egg station waiting for food. The Brisbane Marriott Hotel is looking better than ever and has moved with the times without losing any of its original grace and charm. If only you could still book a room including breakfast here for $99!
Disclosure: The writers stayed as guests of the Brisbane Marriott Hotel.
If you’re looking for accommodation in Brisbane, we have reviewed the Treasury Hotel, The Calile, The Alva Hotel, Ovolo The Valley, W Brisbane, Capri by Fraser Brisbane, Hilton Brisbane, The Johnson, NEXT Hotel Brisbane, Sage Hotel James Street, The Westin Brisbane, Oaks Brisbane Festival Suites, Royal on the Park, Ibis Styles Elizabeth Street, Sofitel Brisbane, Crystalbrook Vincent, The Inchcolm, Chester Hotel, and Pullman Brisbane Airport.
