Spicers Balfour
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
At a Glance
A small and elegant retreat in stylish Brisbane
Due to its size there is a lovely home-from-home feel
A wonderful roof top bar where you can enjoy canapés, cocktails and sunset views
Delicious breakfasts showcasing the best seasonal, Australian fare
A breath of fresh air in a big city, allowing you to avoid the larger chain hotels and experience some real Aussie hospitality
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Winter (June-Aug) is high season in Queensland; the water can be chilly - at least to Australians - but its temperature rarely drops below 22°C. April through October is peak visibility time for divers. Summer is hot and sticky across the state. In North Queensland the monsoonal Wet season is from November or December through March or April. It brings heavy rains, high temperatures, extreme humidity, and cyclones. It's no problem to visit then, and the Wet or "Green" season allows an unusual opportunity to explore this region during a truly balmy time of monsoonal calms.
Insider's View
Call us on 020 3993 8476 to start planning your holiday to Spicers Balfour or take a look at our itineraries to Australia
Description
Spicers Balfour Hotel offers an urban city escape within the heart of the inner city suburb of New Farm, with the Fortitude Valley and Brisbane CBD on its doorstep. This boutique hotel is the perfect place for a stopover in Brisbane.
Spicers Balfour Hotel is small boutique hotel at the heart of Brisbane City. With just nine rooms, there is a very personal feel to the hotel, so much so you almost feel like a family. The attention to detail is evident everywhere, from the charming rooftop bar to the almost Great Gatsby like décor.
The location of the hotel puts it is within walking distance of several of Brisbane's best restaurants and bars, shops and the wonderful New Farm Park. There is a lovely river walk right on the doorstep - a great way to wake up before tucking into breakfast. Guests love the rooftop bar and love the canapés and drinks served there at sunset even more, it is a wonderful way to start your evening before heading to the Balfour Kitchen for dinner or to the lively dining scene found in New Farm.
Being a small boutique hotel, all the rooms are individually designed. Despite not being the biggest, they are anything but lacking in comfort and amenities. The Balfour Kitchen is a destination restaurant in Brisbane and guests get priority. Breakfast is particularly enjoyed, with some real Aussie specialities populating the delicious menu, washed down with the freshest juices and fantastic coffee.
Accommodation
The rooms have been designed by Coopcreative, Brisbane's award-winning design team so it's no surprise that each one has its own quirky personality and style. There is one Terrace Room, three Courtyard Rooms and five Executive Rooms. They have spacious bathrooms, luxury toiletries, internet facilities and work spaces.
Courtyard Room |
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Executive Room |
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Terrace Suite |
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Childcare
We wouldn't recommend staying here with children as it is much more of an adult's retreat.
Facilities
The Balfour Kitchen offers a menu of unfussy bistro-style food. Flavoursome dishes such as five spiced duck, crab and sweetcorn steam cakes or chilli pork belly are on the evening menu whilst breakfast comprises anything from toasted granola muesli to eggs Benedict to cinnamon dusted churros. However, as ingredients are locally sourced the menu does to tend to change regularly depending on the season and what is freshly available. You can choose to eat inside our outside.
Activities
Whilst you could easily stay in the comfort of your bed and take in the views from the rooftop, getting to know Brisbane itself is a must. Grab your bag and browse the quirky and designer shops dotted throughout New Farm and Fortitude Valley or head to the bigger shopping centres for more variation. If arts is your thing, Brisbane is brimming with fabulous galleries from renowned ones such as Gallery of Modern Art to smaller more intimate ones such as Bruce Heiser. For a breath of fresh air, go for a run or walk in New Farm Park along the riverside walkway and have a picnic break.
Reviews
Charlotte Winter (Staff)
Stephen Legg (Staff)
Spicers Balfour is located in the heart of Brisbanes trendy suburb of New Farm, 30 minutes from Brisbane Airport. Brisbanes most renowned bars and boutique shopping are all within walking distance.
Historic old Queenslanders are loved by both Australians and visitors alike. In a country whose architectural past spans a mere couple of hundred years, each is to be cherished. The thought of taking one of these beautiful old buildings and turning it into a chic modern boutique hotel is enough to send a shiver down the spine. No open fireplaces, no four poster beds! Yet Spicers Balfour has pulled it off and in a superbly quirky fashion. The exterior retains all the historic character of its rambling neighbours while the interior competes with the coolest hotels in both London and New York. With just 9 rooms, each complete with Italian bed linen, Nespresso coffee machines and iPod docking stations, Spicers Balfour is cosy and warm, chic and modern.
The wonderful restaurant, The Balfour Kitchen, is open to the public for breakfast and high tea's, and to in-house guests for dinner, we thought best enjoyed on the historic old terrace. At night the exterior of the hotel is lit by pretty glittering fairy lights. Head with a cocktail to the tiny rooftop bar where at sunset views across the city to the Story Bridge are sensational.
Olivia Cryer (Staff)
Luxurious, boutique hotels in cities that try to offer the personal level of service you expect in a more rural lodge often miss the mark. Not so here at Spicers Balfour. Hidden away in the trendy, and slightly gritty, suburb of New Farm, Spicers Balfour really is a little gem of a property.
Located in a styled-up old Queenslander, dcor is an exercise in quirky, trendy and plush think velvet sofas, kooky art and rich jewel tones throughout. There is no reception to speak of, and you are invited to totally make yourself at home in the communal areas of the property, be it the cosy lounge, one of the balconies or the cool rooftop bar (that operates on an honesty basis reinforcing the feeling that you are totally at home).
Rooms are bijoux in size, but very comfortable. The Courtyard Rooms really only have a small patio outside the sliding doors, and are somewhat dark being on the ground floor I preferred the rooms on the same level as the restaurant and the lounge for their lighter feel, although due to the deep coloured furnishings, it does feel quite cosy.
The food here is a real highlight, breakfasts are typically and proudly Australian with baked eggs with asparagus, churros and dukkah being a top pick and excellent coffee and freshly squeezed juices too. Afternoon tea is a local favourite too, served on the airy verandah.
With warm and friendly staff, comfortable accommodation and a unique charm, Spicers Balfour really is a city gem and perfect for a stopover in Brisbane.
Experiences
Location & directions
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Spicers Balfour is located on Balfour Street, in the fashionable inner-city Brisbane suburb of New Farm.
How to get there
25-hour 15-minute flight with Qantas (via Singapore) to Brisbane International Airport. Spicers Balfour is approximately 20-minutes away from Brisbane Airport.
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