Spicers Balfour Hotel

When a trip to Brisbane, Australia, pops up onto your calendar and you are searching for a place to stay, take a look at the boutique Spicers Balfour Hotel. Located in the suburb of New Farm, within close proximity to the city center right across the Brisbane River and and hip James Street with its shopping, restaurants and bars within walking distance, Spicers Balfour is in a residential setting, making its guests feel they are a part of the community.

The iconic Queenslander structure, complete with open-air verandah (a wonderful spot for breakfast, by the way), has just nine rooms. Just down the block, the Art Deco Simla building, also part of Spicers Balfour, features eight luxury suites that invite you to settle in and stay awhile.

© Siegfried Schnepf | Dreamstime.com

Whichever accommodations you choose, be assured they are pleasantly styled and feature Italian bed linens, luxurious toiletries, Bose sound systems, iPod docking stations and more. In the Simla Suites, you will also find a separate sitting room, en-suite bathroom, minibar and a cool retro refrigerator to keep your goodies chilled throughout your stay.

When it comes to dining, if you would rather eat in, The Balfour Kitchen is ready to welcome you with thoughtful breakfasts (served all day), lunches (served until 2 p.m.) and dinners. The restaurant also serves its famous Balfour High Tea every day of the week 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Balfour Kitchen touts its menus as modern Australian with a European flair, and the flavor combinations are simply delightful.

When night falls, one of the best spots to be in the city is at Spicers Balfour’s rooftop bar. With a glass of wine or Champagne in hand, overlooking sparkling views of the city’s Story Bridge, toast to a wonderful day in Brisbane, and to the day yet to come.

Though small in size, the staff at Spicers Balfour is big on hospitality and service, and the staff will go above and beyond to make sure your stay exceeds expectations.