Elegance with a touch of whimsical romance is what the Langham Gold Coast offers, with its all-pink décor and stylish design. But like a classic fairytale, some things about the Langham Gold Coast on Old Burleigh Road at Surfers Paradise have a twist you may not be expecting. As I arrived in the lobby of the Langham Gold Coast, the signature scent of ginger flower took me back to past stays at the Langham hotels in London, Hong Kong and Pasadena. But what would the Langham’s beachside hotel be like?

Today the reception area was busy but well managed, with orderly queues and equal attention and service for celebrities and regular guests alike. With pleasantries exchanged, I was checked into my Deluxe Ocean View room and given the keys. I was staying one night and only had a carry-on bag but the porter was passionate about taking it to my room. This high level of service continued throughout our stay, with every staff member going out of their way to ensure we had a great stay.

Langham Gold Coast rooms and suites

The Gold Coast Langham has 339 rooms and suites, spread over 35 levels with a mixture of standard and residential-styled layouts. These are designed with both family and couples in mind. There are hinterland and ocean view rooms to choose from, with ocean view rooms being the most expensive. Arriving at my room, I was immediately impressed with the size and the beach chic decor.

With a mix of creams, blues and greys, the colour palette and features like artwork and carpeting were both calming and stylish. The large king bed took centre stage with pendant lights hanging above marble-topped bedside tables, adding to the overall layout. A circular dining set with two deep chairs and a chaise at the foot of the bed made up the rest of the room. There was also a marble plinth near the door that worked well as a wallet, phone and room key stand.

The other notable feature of the room was the massive bathroom with a colossal oval freestanding bath for two that was built for romance. A separate rain shower with a hand-held nozzle sat directly opposite the bath, along with a single vanity. As for cupboard and storage space, this looked to have been an afterthought with an open wardrobe and only three draws to share as one was taken up with the in-room safe. Ideal for a one-night stay with carry on luggage which is what we were doing, but perhaps not so great for a longer holiday or for those who like to pack lots of different outfits.

Tech-wise, the room was stocked with a 50” Samsung Smart TV with ‘Streamvision’ casting, electric blackout curtains (that had a large gap in the middle that made for an early wake-up the next day, but I suspect this was only in our room), and a Nespresso machine with an assortment of pods. A variety of USB ports, power outlets and a master light switch are located on both sides of the bed.

The mini bar includes the usual assortment of snacks and refreshments at a premium price. At $10 for a juice, $14 for some sweet treats and pre-mixed cocktails for $24 each, you might be tempted to walk to a 7/11 or BWS for that midnight snack or cocktail, but the prices reflect the fact the hotel is a luxury 5-star brand. One word of caution: the cocktail mix on the minibar cabinet (which looks a lot like a welcome drink) and the branded plastic thongs in your bathroom are not complimentary and come with a fee. Do as we did and skip that ‘free’ arrival cocktail and take-home souvenir at the end of your stay, unless you’re willing to pay for it. 

We loved everything about our accommodation – except the balcony which was more like a glassed-in sunroom. A shame considering the sea and beach views, and lovely ocean breezes on offer outside. Our room’s balcony, while being spacious and well-appointed with two white cushioned lounges, heated up like a sauna from sunrise to halfway through the afternoon. Late afternoon and early evenings were very pleasant, but the glass was hazy and took away a lot of the ocean ambience and views. The design felt urban rather than beachy, and better suited to a city stay.

Langham Gold Coast spa and more

Located on level two of the hotel, is the Chuan Spa, a jewel-shaped indoor pool, a fitness studio and gym and a kids club. If your room isn’t ready, you can use the changing facilities at the gorgeous spa which is beautifully appointed. For families with little ones, the Kid Club is an unsupervised playroom so you need to stay with them. A supervised kid’s program may be available during school holidays, but check with the hotel.

Langham High Tea on the Gold Coast

We strolled past the Palm Court area adjacent to the lobby, and couldn’t help but notice the Langham’s signature high tea. It looked terrific and very elegant. All pastries and savoury items at the high tea are made by the resident pastry chefs and are a thing of beauty to behold. You need to book well in advance for the high tea at the Langham Gold Coast as it’s very popular, plus orders are placed with the kitchen in advance. Later that evening we tried to reserve a table for the following day, but we missed out as the high tea experience was already booked out!

Langham Gold Coast buffet options

If you would like to enjoy one of the Langham Gold Coast buffets, you’ve got the choice of breakfast, lunch and dinner at Akoya on the ground floor. During breakfast at Akoya, the queue of hungry diners can stretch out the door but have patience as the buffet selection is worth the wait and the best we’ve had on the Gold Coast. As a bonus, excellent espresso coffees are included. On the weekend, Akoya does a buffet lunch on Saturday. For dinner, you can have the Akoya buffet which dishes up Queensland’s famous seafood every night of the week.

If you would prefer a meal that’s not a buffet, Palm Court turns into a supper club in the evening and serves light meals. An a la carte lunch is served at Akoya on every day except Saturday. Just up from Akoya is 26 & Sunny, a café and deli with sea views and sweet treats plus wraps and coffee. We missed this café when we arrived and ended up at a surf club which is often our go to dining option at the beach.

T’ang Court Gold Coast

Taking dining to the next level on Level 2 is Tang Court, the Langham Gold Coast’s signature Chinese restaurant and cousin to its Hong Kong namesake, which has three Michelin stars. Having dined at the Hong Kong restaurant and T’ang Court on the Gold Coast, I can say both are very different. However, the quality of the produce and the service is the same at both – simply exceptional!

If you’re coming here to dine, prepare your credit card and bank account for a serious workout as the prices reflect the fine dining experience. Embracing southern Chinese cuisine with a focus on local seafood, Tang Court takes you (and your wallet) on a dining journey filled with delicious delights, and possibly some whimpering when you get the bill. Wine costs also reflect the calibre of the restaurant, with prices starting at $23 for a glass of white wine.

Langham Gold Coast pool and lounge area

Heading to the outdoor recreation area on the ground floor, we loved the look of the beautiful lagoon pool, but it seemed way too small for the number of people at the hotel and had very limited seating. Guests were circling like sharks, trying to find somewhere to sit. We gave up and decided to drop our towels in a corner, join the throng in the water and go for a swim. On a lovely Gold Coast day, the pool area was packed with everyone from families with little kids, to groups of girls who looked like models and posed for loads of photos, heavily tattooed gents, hens and bucks party groups, couples trying to enjoy a romantic drink at the pool bar, and me in a rashie, sunnies and sun hat, enjoying the people watching and looking nothing like a model. Despite the crowds, this was one of our favourite parts of the hotel and we went swimming several times.

Final thoughts on the Langham Gold Coast

After experiencing the Langham Gold Coast and most of the other upmarket hotels on the Gold Coast like the Hilton Surfers Paradise, the Star Grand Gold Coast, Peppers Soul, The Darling Gold Coast and the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa, I can confirm that the Langham is one of the best hotels on the Gold Coast, despite the occasional design glitch. Quality staff and exceptional service take the Gold Coast Langham from good to great and make it stand out amongst the competition.

Disclosure: The writers stayed as guests of the Langham Gold Coast and paid for their dining experience at T’ang Court.

Looking for some things to do on the Gold Coast? Some of our favourite Gold Coast activities include hot air ballooning, whale watching, jet boating, visiting Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary or David Fleay Wildlife Park, indoor skydiving with iFly, bushwalking in the Gold Coast’s national parks, SkyPoint Climb, exploring the Gold Coast’s markets, checking out the local cafe scene, and enjoying the Gold Coast for free. There’s also plenty of fun to be had if you visit the Gold Coast in winter or have some wet weather.