Hyatt Regency Brisbane was once known as Lennons, a local icon that opened in the 70s and was the place to come for a night on the town. Local sophisticates sipped brandy crusta cocktails before adjourning to the upmarket restaurant for a carpetbag steak and a glass or two of moselle. Taking your special lady for a night out here was sure to impress, especially if you booked one of the hotel’s classy rooms. However, like brightly coloured flares, the once glamorous Lennons had not been considered stylish for many years and was bought by SilverNeedle Hospitality for a song.
After an extensive $100 million refurbishment, Lennons emerged as NEXT Hotel Brisbane and was eventually take over by Hyatt to become the Hyatt Regency Brisbane. With its high-tech amenities, this hotel would probably have guests from the 70s scratching their heads in disbelief. It might have you scratching your head too if you’re not accustomed to dealing with modern technology. Fortunately there is also plenty of great ‘old school’ service on offer from the keen, young staff.
The Hyatt Regency Brisbane is officially billed as a business hotel but my husband and I agreed that its sleek design focus and prime shopping location makes it an equally good choice for a romantic urban getaway, particularly if you like to indulge in a little retail therapy. Our room was located on a high floor and had lovely views of Brisbane City Hall and King George Square. Its ‘flow through’ design, with a bathroom that is open to the sleeping area, is one of the latest hotel design trends.
Fortunately, Hyatt Regency Brisbane has sliding doors which can be used to close off the bathroom section of the room. I love this open design if I’m travelling solo but the doors are welcome if you are sharing the room with a partner or (even more embarrassing) a friend. Once you’ve closed the bathroom doors, you will discover sweet smelling toiletries in the large shower cubicle and plenty of room to move without clipping your elbows on the bathroom sink. Four free in-room mini-bar items are included in the room rate each day as well.
My only disappointment was the fact the mini-bar didn’t include a mini bottle of wine. If you don’t drink cider or beer, you will either have to stick to the soft stuff or head downstairs for a glass of wine. Not that heading downstairs is such a bad thing. In fact, we would highly recommend it as the Hyatt Regency Brisbane has a hip drinking and dining scene that rivals the Lennons of old.
While the 70s discotheque Pacesetters might be long gone, the nostalgically named Lennons Pool Terrace & Bar on the fourth floor of the hotel has an equally trendy ‘people come here to see and be seen’ vibe. We settled down at a table for two overlooking the Queen Street Mall for a spot of people watching and a glass of Petaluma Chardonnay which is offered on-tap at close-to-70s prices.
There is also a high-end red wine available either by the glass or in a 500ml or 1 litre carafe. Don’t miss these two fine wine options, they’re both excellent drops and offer exceptional value in the on-tap format. On the same floor as the pool bar, there is a boardroom where you can meet with colleagues at one of the large boardroom-style tables. There are also computers which can be used to get on-line or catch up on some last minute paperwork if you aren’t travelling with a laptop.
The hotel restaurant, Lennons Restaurant & Bar, is on the same floor as the lobby and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Decor is cosy yet contemporary with an open kitchen, wooden tables and floor to ceiling windows. Lennons overlooks the Queen Street Mall and Queen Street’s historic shopfronts which remain hidden from shoppers below. It is an equally good choice for couples or solo diners thanks to the lively atmosphere and great people watching in the mall. The well-priced menu changes with the seasons and focuses on modern comfort food with dishes such as perfectly cooked steaks, confit duck leg with beetroot puree, pickled beetroot and beetroot meringue, or pork belly served with braised red cabbage, fried speck and apple cider jus.
We shared potato gnocchi with pumpkin cream, fetta, sage, and walnuts to start, followed by two perfectly cooked steaks that rivalled some of Brisbane’s best steak restaurants. The only misstep was a slightly stodgy steamed plum pudding for dessert. We’ll skip dessert in favour of one starter each next time as there were duelling forks when we shared the excellent gnocchi.
Breakfast is also available here each morning for in-house guests. An adjacent deli counter serves up coffee and a selection of light breakfast and lunch options to go such as muffins, fruit salad and croissants. We liked the way guests were given the option of ordering something lighter. If you have been travelling for a while, sometimes you don’t want a full buffet breakfast every morning.
The Hyatt Regency Brisbane offers guests a stylish stay with genuine enthusiasm that money does not always buy. It’s also a Brisbane hotel with a great location in the heart of the action. Much has changed in Brisbane over the past 40 plus years but one thing remains the same. Treating your special lady (or man) to a night here is still sure to impress.
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.
