Inner-city Brisbane’s The Calile Hotel and James Street Precinct are part of the country’s most stylish escapes, with leafy laneways, black-and-white facades, and high-end retail.
This story is featured in Issue 18 of Forbes Australia. Tap here to secure your copy.
Brisbane was never top of my list when considering a luxury city break. But after a weekend immersed in the delights of The Calile Hotel and James Street Precinct, I’ve had a change of heart. What was supposed to be a quick work trip turned into an extended stay – and by the end, I was googling real estate prices in the area.
Repeatedly named among the world’s best hotels, The Calile opened in October 2018 and was designed by Brisbane-based architects Richards & Spence. It feels open, airy, sun-drenched. The pastel-toned rooms overlook a Slim Aarons-style pool with green-and-white striped umbrellas, cabanas and neatly lined sun lounges.
But what I hadn’t experienced until now was the way the hotel and its surrounding precinct, once an inner-city industrial pocket of Fortitude Valley, have evolved into a destination in itself.
When you step outside the hotel’s curved archways onto the stone-paved Ada Lane or palm-lined James Street, you’re transported somewhere that feels part Mediterranean and part a sub-tropical version of Rodeo Drive. Colonnades, leafy balconies and boutiques like Venroy, Carla Zampatti and Scanlan Theodore line the streets.
The area draws you into an enclave of laid-back luxury – where designer fashion, architectural finesse, buzzing bars, and a world-class medispa combine to make you feel as though you’ve truly escaped.
There’s no shortage of dining options within and around the hotel. Hellenika, overlooking the central pool, nails the long-lunch vibe with its white-and-green umbrellas, saganaki and spritzes.
In the Lobby Bar, I noticed influencers gathered for long brunches and food snaps, and the ever-popular street-inspired Thai restaurant Same Same, as well as SK Steak & Oyster.
But the stand-out for me is Sushi Room, just opposite the hotel reception. I hadn’t heard of it before this trip, and now I’d rate it among the best fine-dining Japanese I’ve had anywhere. It began with a glass of yuzu upon arrival and a warm welcome from Head Chef Shimpei Raikuni (Sim), who came out to guide us through the menu.
We handed over complete control, and I’m so glad we did. Fresh wasabi grated at the table from a Tasmanian wasabi stick, delicate tempura eggplant and prawns, and melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu, which one of my dining companions described as “the best thing I’ve ever eaten”, was slicked with a whisper of sauce and crispy kale on the side.
The front-of-house team, Brittany (aka Kate to us) and Will, were excellent hosts. Will was like a poet when it came to wine and dessert. He passionately directed us toward the Monaka – a kind of Japanese ice-cream sandwich that, at first glance, looks like a cheeseburger. No cheese involved, but what arrives at the table is sensational – black sesame ice cream, red bean paste, mochi and crisp rice wafer shell.
Will explained how the ‘cheese’ illusion is created using hot, glutinous rice – mashed until it forms a silky, melty slab that looks remarkably like a slice of cheddar.
And then if you’re after a little pre-lunch indulgence, the Kailo Medispa tucked within the hotel is just opposite Hellenika. Whether it’s a facial, massage or even an IV vitamin infusion, it’s the place to recharge. The spa’s co-founder and CEO, Kristy Morris, was named Australia’s Best Luxury Wellness CEO of 2024 by APAC Insider, and her global expansion has seen Kailo Nutrition launch into the US, Dubai and Germany. The medispa, operating from the hotel since 2018, has been recognised as Australia’s top luxury wellness medispa.
Overall, the entire experience was a delightful surprise, from the high-energy vibe and leafy outdoor dining to discovering a capsule city destination that felt like an escape. Downtown Brisbane is my new little urban luxury escape – who would have thought?
This story is featured in Issue 18 of Forbes Australia. Tap here to secure your copy.
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