W Brisbane Review

Standing proud on the edge of Brisbane’s central business district (CBD) and the city’s twisting, eponymous river, The W cuts a slick sail against the rest of its neighbouring corporate buildings. Inside, the W is vibrant, snazzy and energetic, with a design unashamedly inspired by pop art sensibilities. Rooms range from ‘Wonderful’, ‘Marvelous’ and ‘Fantastic’ to suites which up the ante from ‘ Wow’ to ‘Extreme Wow’ – all of which easily describe a typical stay here.  The Luxury Editor’s Simon recently reviewed the hotel so read on to discover more.

Standing at medium height on the edge of Brisbane’s unimaginatively titled but still buzzing CBD (central business district), the W overlooks the city’s horseshoe-shaped river and its cultural South Bank. The hotel’s cubic-shaped finger might be overpowered by some of its nearby taller and broader corporate neighbours, but its sleek lines and darkest blue facade seamlessly blend in with them. Look closer, however, ideally from a distance, and you’ll notice a white border that surrounds the whole building, which funks it up like a suit trouser with a side stripe, and suggests that what’s inside isn’t just another staid corporation but something a whole lot more exciting. 

The melange of architecture, fashion and design continues apace on the first floor, where the reception’s three floating desks mark the start of a loop which continues into a stylish area full of tall chairs and low loungers, cushions and sofas. Different-sized silver donuts reflect off a concrete wall. Tens of bulbs hang above a long, tall marble table. These segue into a bar behind which bottles are contrasted by vertical strips of distressed mirroring. The bar, of course, flows back into the reception. A fence of wooden poles dipped in various depths of white paint provides visual cohesiveness. Sometimes, the fence resembles a row of erect cigarettes but perhaps more accurately and more often, an expansive and undulating pop art sculpture. 

The lift, small and compact by definition, is full of reflecting mirrors and pumping beats, reminds me of the French ‘boîte’ – literally translated as ‘box’ but also slang for ‘nightclub’. Walk down the corridors and the carpet teems with overlapping dots; yellow, red, blue, black. It looks like a 3D showcase for which no one’s handed out 3D glasses. Not dissimilarly, blow-ups of Australian animals, crocodiles, beetles, parakeets, shimmer lysergically off the walls. 

If the corridors are a trip, my self-styled ‘Spectacular’ room is busy but super cool. With an unparalleled view over the Brisbane River, the whole of South Brisbane and way beyond, it certainly lives up to its name. The sunset can be mind-blowing and the nighttime vista, beguiling, hypnotic jewels in a sea of sparkling treasures. The bathroom sits on the left of the entrance. It has a neat, white tin bath with the unusual but pleasing (and practical) addition of a wooden backrest. The shower has an Amazon rainforest spray head and a sliding door which links to the toilet. Shower gel, shampoo, and soap are provided by Davines Momo and contain yellow melon extract. 

60s-style furniture slump next to the comfortable king-size bed opposite which is a large, flat-screen TV and what looks like a pop art circular chest of drawers but is, in fact, a fashionably well-disguised minibar. If you want to make your own cocktails, a gold shaker shimmers next to small spirit bottles and two black martini glasses ooze style. Unlike many hotel rooms where adjusting one light can be an IQ test of soul-destroying proportions, the W makes it dummy-proof with a finger-tapping light menu which includes ‘bright’ ‘soft’, ‘mood’ and ‘night light’ options.

The two curtains (gauze and blackout) can also be opened and closed at the similar flick of a finger. Perhaps wildest of all is the ergonomic cupboard. Round and see-through, shaped by the same beige and white wooden poles that encircle the first floor, I can’t be the first guest who sees the resemblance to a go-go dancing cage. 

The hotel’s signature restaurant is the Lex, which channels the verve and spirit of New York City, the birthplace of W Hotels. It’s a large space with large windows and at night is moodily lit as much by the buildings and riverscape opposite as its own design.

We opt for the tasting menu and kick off with lychee martinis and a whiskey sour. The former are sweet but tart and are served with fresh lychee and vicious skewers. The latter is smooth, light and tangy with both amaretto and grenadine flavouring.

For starters, the focaccia is light and fluffy and served with olive oil and a generous dipping bowl of sour cream. The oysters are small but tasty and are served with a Bloody Mary mignonette while the Tater Tots are crunchy, moreish and sprinkled with Avruga caviar and dainty dollops of crème frâiche. 

The Entrées are similarly dainty and equally irresistible. Served on what tastes like a pretzel, with what looks like a slice of parmesan but is a slice of truffle, the Smoked Wagyu is raw, chunky and more of a mouthful than it appears. The Scallops are presented on shells, are warm and additionally flavoured with a light salsa. For English eyes, the wine list is unusual.

Not so much because of its content but the descriptions of its content. Bottles come in the ‘Big Business’, ‘Oversize’, ‘Fruit Forward & Table Friendly’ and ‘Light & Bright’ categories. Our UK-trained Japanese sommelier recommends a Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon due to its versatility.

‘The Gables’ perfectly compliments the succulent strips of Warilba Organic Lamb Rump, which are pink, succulent, sprinkled with grains of salt, and additionally flavoured with bursts of fat. The feast is finished with a firm but gooey cheesecake and blueberry ice cream. 

The Lex also serves breakfast until 10am on weekdays and 10.30am on weekends. The intimate and moody lighting is replaced by a natural, fresh and bright East Coast clarity. An outdoor terrace curves around the building and overlooks both the river and the Riverside Expressway. Watching cars pass by whilst breakfasting might not sound like the ideal start to a morning but traffic is sufficiently far away to be practically noiseless, curiously filmic and strangely hypnotic. And hey, if the occasional jet ski zips up the river, parallel to the expressway, then so much the better.

Breakfast choices abound. There’s an omelette station with two chefs ready to mix your favourite ingredients. A few metres down, more chefs make sure the cooked breakfast is warm and constantly stocked. It’s predominantly an English fry-up but fried salmon, Mexican beans and German chipolatas add to the mix. There’s a bagel bar if you want to make your own or a counter with ready-made ones cut in half. There’s fresh fruit, yoghurts, raspberry rolls and praline fingers, breads and pastries galore and even a gluten-free station if your health so demands. I opt for a self-made salmon bagel one morning and a fried breakfast another. Both leave me more than satisfied.

If the Lex eschews some of the hotel’s jazzier idiosyncracies, the pool fully embraces them. Big, bold, black zigs and white zags adorn the pool’s roof, its floor, and its columns. Smashing the pop art theme out of the building, the offering is surely a joyous homage to Brigitte Riley rather than, say, a wonky zebra. There’s a small outdoor deck for sunbathing and a ‘Wet deck’ which contains a bar, a Mexican-themed snack service and a large lounging area. House music from the likes of Dimitri from Paris, Space 92 and Ralf Gum pumps for that continual party vibe and, bizarrely, seems louder and cleaner underwater.

After semi deep-diving, it turns out the pool has its own underwater speakers; more attention to detail that makes a stay in the W a non-stop journey of discovery and enjoyment.  W Brisbane is in our guide to the best hotels in Brisbane.