Sun-kissed Brisbane has been overturning stereotypes to become Australia’s new ‘It’ city. The capital of Queensland sits pretty on the banks of the eponymous Brisbane River on Australia’s east coast. Brisbane has grown out of the shadows of Melbourne and Sydney to become a destination in its own right. It’s toasty even in the winter sun, has a burgeoning food scene, and hosts some of Australia’s biggest galleries and cultural festivals. So, where are all the queens in Queensland? In Brisbane, of course! Brisbane is one amazing pink-dollar destination if the sheer options for gay accommodation in Brisbane are any indication. In fact, we were practically drowning in choices while looking for them!
The fact that the local gay community here is well-organized and enthusiastic only sweetened the deal. Brisbane’s small but lively LGBTQ scene is in Fortitude Valley, right in the heart of the city. Also, there’s a visible queer presence in West End, Newstead, and New Farm as well. Additionally, Brisbane hosts many annual LGBTQ events, including Brisbane Pride and Big Gay Day. In addition to this, what drew us here is that Brisbane is one of the cleanest cities in the world. It’s what made exploring it so amazing. Also, just an hour south of Brisbane sits the amazing Gold Coast, one of the country’s top tourist destinations. If that wasn’t enough, then one of the most beautiful islands in Australia, North Stradbroke, lies just an hour away as well. Thus, vibrant Brisbane was like expecting the unexpected – and waiting for us to show us a good time.
Table of contents
The Calile Hotel
11
Best location. The self-styled ‘urban resort’ of the Calile Hotel was a stand-out choice for us as we were looking for leisurely LGBTQ accommodation in Brisbane. Plus, we also wanted to stay close to Brisbane’s wild nightlife, which made this hotel perfect. That’s because we were right down the street from the best gay cruising clubs and nightclubs in the city. Plus, we were right on the street where the Big Gay Day takes place!
Pronounced ‘Kal-Isle’ to reflect the owners’ Lebanese heritage, the hotel is cool in every sense of the word. What’s more, it melds contemporary facilities with retro style. The breezy, open-air hallways on every floor are unusual but rather welcoming. Moreover, the hotel has a rather ’50s-Miami feel to it; think pastel blues, sage green hues, and palm trees fringing the pool. Our favorite place on the property was the heart of the hotel, which is the sensational pool deck. We’d sprawl out on the many palm-shaded cabanas for sipping on cocktails or digging into the food. Since we’re bibliophiles, we loved going to the small library to lounge for some quiet time. There’s even a well-equipped gym and an amphitheater nearby. Our first stop for the day would be the lobby bar for a hearty breakfast, and our last would be the lovely day spa, which offered a range of treatments.
The rooms here have pink, green, or blue color themes. Mod-cons aside, the rooms even provide slippers and plush bathrobes, making for a very comfortable stay. Also, all of them have electronic blackout blinds, which were a necessity after our night of revelry. The bathrooms have sliding screens, allowing full views from the bed for some seriously sexy times. We went for the pink rooms with balconies overlooking the pool, which were the best of the lot.
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W Brisbane
10
Best gay-friendly brand. We were looking for a snazzy, sexy LGBTQ-friendly brand hotel in Brisbane, and we couldn’t do better than the W Brisbane. Marvelous, cool, spectacular, and wonderful – W Brisbane’s four room categories might as well be describing the hotel itself. Firstly, the gay scene in Fortitude Valley was a hop, skip, and jump away. Plus, it’s as close to the Brisbane River as we could possibly get in the inner city and is merely two blocks from City Hall and Queen Street Mall.
We design-crazy and creative peeps loved the zany design cues of this Brisbane hotel. Think quirky modern Australian art and images of everything from flip-flops and bananas to giant pineapples. W’s policy of ‘Whatever, Whenever’ applies to this place, too, so you can expect top-notch service. Whether or not you’re looking to mingle, the indoor heated saltwater pool is the steamiest place on the property. The black-and-white-striped surroundings and water mosaics only add to the sexy atmosphere. We’d lounge here all day and order cocktails from the adjacent pool bar all day long. After that, we headed to the spa with its steam rooms and relaxation pools, complete with a couple’s treatment room. Besides the gym, there are the hotel’s restaurants that served fabulous meals. We especially loved the superb paddock-to-plate breakfast with kedgeree, coconut-chia pudding, and made-to-order eggs.
All rooms, even entry-level ones, feature a slew of hi-tech amenities, plush bathrobes, bathtubs and rainfall showers, and even retro-style cocktail bars. Completing the spacious rooms are wonderful beds and vibrant color pops that make all sorts of cavorting here as fun as it gets.
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Capri by Fraser Brisbane
9
Best for inner-city stay. The Capri by Fraser Brisbane fits the bill of an inner-city LGBTQ-friendly hotel perfectly. Staying at this stylish and smart hotel put us close to Brisbane’s sights, the river, as well as the main shopping avenues. Overall, staying at this hotel allowed us to explore the top things to do in Brisbane easily.
The hotel made an instant amazing impression right from the time we set foot within. For one, the lobby walls covered in wallpaper designed with book spines are an ode to the bookstore that was here earlier. In fact, the walls have a 3D effect, thanks to the real books embedded into them. And we loved it, obviously. After a long day of exploring the city, the dimly lit heated indoor lap pool was very welcoming. Additionally, there are even gender-separate steam and sauna rooms and a 24-hour gym with a yoga space. Apart from superb room service, the best meal we had here was the buffet breakfast at the in-house Asana restaurant, complete with cooked-to-order eggs.
Rooms at the Capri are huge and equally zany, with stylized kookaburras and koalas adorning the walls. Apart from bedside push buttons to control the drapes, the rooms also have plush, super-comfy beds, huge firescreen TVs, and even a fully-equipped kitchenette. The bathrooms are lovely, with Capri’s signature yellows, greens, and blues making an appearance.
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Rydges South Bank Brisbane
8
We were looking for a chilled-out gay-friendly accommodation in South Bank, Brisbane’s riverside cultural quarter. That’s when we landed on the Rydges South Bank Brisbane. A $30 million facelift made this hotel a force to reckon with, and we saw many younger travelers here. As young LGBTQ culture buffs, we loved this glamorous base in the city.
The hotel’s massive revamp not only lent it a chic urban sheen but also resulted in the creation of some cool outdoor spaces. Their crown jewel, and our personal favorite, was the amazing outdoor heated pool area. After a swim, we’d lounge on the daybeds and call for cocktails from the bar right behind. The vast minimalist lobby stands in contrast with the rooms, which are much cozier with a muted burgundy-brown-grey color palette. In addition to that, the digs also feature a gym, a sauna, and even a spa. Since we were staying more than a night, we were given beverage vouchers worth 10 USD (14.9 AUD) for every night. The action at the hotel took place at the Soleil Pool Bar, where we thoroughly enjoyed the DJ pool parties on Friday-Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. The best bit was the breakfast, which was a lavish buffet affair with cooked-to-order eggs.
Rooms here have new “dream beds” with foam and feather pillows that we were dying to try out, and when we did, we didn’t feel like getting out of them. Moreover, all standard rooms feature minibars and plush bathrooms, while suites have kitchenettes and bathtubs too. Superior rooms, like ours, even had balconies! Nevertheless, many rooms enjoy sweeping views of the Brisbane skyline.
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Spicers Balfour Hotel
7
Best boutique. Staying at the Spicers Balfour Hotel in Brisbane’s hippest inner city suburb was quite a welcome departure from traditional hotel stays. This charming boutique stay sits in a sprawling 1910-built “Queenslander” home beautifully converted into an intimate three-level hotel. At the same time, it has retained original touches like the tropical gardens and the wide veranda.
Since it has just 17 rooms, staying here made for a very intimate experience. In fact, some of those rooms, known as the Simla Suites, are actually in the neighboring Art-Deco 1930s structure. Plus, they have all the fittings and furnishings reflecting that era. We stayed in the ground floor King Executive room, which even had a narrow courtyard with a bamboo garden! Nevertheless, all rooms have plush beds, Italian linens, Bose sound systems, coffee machines, iPod docking stations, and whatnot. We especially loved the framed black-and-white photos that depicted scenes from Brisbane’s modern history.
While there are lesser amenities than in a traditional hotel, there is a bar and a library/lounge, so we felt like we were at home. While the hotel serves a delicious à la carte breakfast and no other meals, it does allow delivery from restaurants around. Plus, the staff is very friendly and helpful, dishing out helpful tips on what to do and where to go. That’s how we discovered the Brisbane True Crime Tour, which is a bestselling tour where the knowledgeable guide took us to the city’s most historic and oldest areas. We retraced the steps of (in)famous criminals by venturing into secret nooks and alleyways!
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The Constance Hotel Fortitude Valley
6
The Constance Hotel Fortitude Valley is a fabulous hotel smack dab in the heart of Brisbane’s gayborhood of Fortitude Valley. In fact, the hotel is also the official accommodation partner for the Big Gay Day! During this time, the hotel even doled out perks like special rates, free in-house movies, and late check-out, among other things. It’s also touted as Brisbane’s first and only street art hotel, so it’s no doubt that we had an absolute blast staying here!
The hotel focused on the ‘wow’ factor, whether it was a wildly vibrant exterior or the interiors. The entire place is filled with striking street art and contemporary design, finished with heritage elements like century-old recycled timber floors. We had fun taking pictures of every corner of the hotel! The incredible industrial-chic interiors were complemented by an unfailingly cheerful and helpful staff, who took care of all our whims and fancies. The hotel not only has a rooftop gym but also offered free access to the public Valley Pool five minutes away. Plus, the in-house restaurant serves delectable meals, including a superb à la carte breakfast.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better hotel in Fortitude Valley than the Constance. Great digs, excellent amenities, and a fabulous neighborhood – what more could we want?”
WOW Travel
After letting our hair down in a cruising and gay megaclub, all we wanted to do is crash. And this hotel’s five room types are all crash-worthy and infinitely amazing, complete with eye-popping artwork and swish flourishes. While some of the best rooms had balconies and private courtyards, there are even ones with their own spa baths. We chose the King Room with the private courtyard balcony, and we had a ball of a time staying there.
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Bunk Brisbane
5
Best value-for-money. There isn’t a better party gay accommodation in Brisbane that’s also value-for-money than Bunk Brisbane. This backpacker haven was originally an old art college and hasn’t stopped partying since its transformation. The massive, five-storied hostel lay right in the heart of the Fortitude Valley gayborhood. So, we literally dove into Brisbane’s gay nightlife right from our digs.
There’s a lot to love about this fabulous hostel, starting right from its outdoor pool, which we’ve rarely seen in hostels. The place even offers fun floats, so we had absolute fun in the pool with the new friends we made here. The entire hostel is one huge spot for meet-cutes, right from the pool and hot tub to the in-house bar, Birdees, which is extremely popular with both locals and travelers. The tiki-inspired beer garden, private booths, and live entertainment meant that the party went on late into the night. Finally, the large communal kitchen was perfect for whipping up quick in-between meals in the company of handsome, good-looking fellow travelers. The best bit? The 24-hour reception desk staff helped us with everything and even booked tours of the city and beyond.
Just like any other hostel, Bunk Brisbane offers both dorms and private rooms. Plus, it even had options for some great five-bed apartments if you’re a large group. Apart from ensuite bathrooms in every dorm/room, all of them have free Wi-Fi.
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Royal on the Park Hotel
4
Located right near the Brisbane River in Frog’s Hollow is the blast from the ’60s past we were looking for in the form of the Royal on the Park Hotel. This gorgeous, old-world hotel boasts more spacious rooms than anywhere else in the city. What’s more, this hotel has been an enduring favorite with politicians and even rock stars among its clientele. Since we love old-style romance, it boded well for us that the walking and cycling paths along the Brisbane River were just a block away.
The 1969-built hotel has long been one of the most popular ones in the city. We especially loved the design quirks like poolside croquet lawns, carpeted stairs, and scalloped ‘sun hoods’ outside the rooms. Aside from the top-floor gym, there are even some old-fashioned hoops on the lawns during weekends. The ground-floor outdoor swimming pool is lovely for a dip and a swim in all seasons. Plus, we even enjoyed the small heated spa pool nearby. What’s more, the hotel even arranged for in-room massages, after which we enjoyed a delicious meal at the in-house restaurant, complete with a hearty breakfast spread.
Even entry-level rooms are huge here, and enjoy views of the river or the gardens and the city. Floor-to-ceiling windows apart, the brocade cushions, gold-olive hues, and botanical prints on the walls add boundless charm. Since we wanted to splurge, we got the suite with a spa bath in a separate lounge room!
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Limes Boutique Hotel
3
Limes Boutique Hotel is one of the best boutique LGBTQ-friendly stays in Brisbane. We were fascinated by the unforgettable, Swiss cheese-like facade of this 21-room design hotel. It sits smack dab in the heart of Fortitude Valley, allowing us to explore both Brisbane’s sights and its scintillating gay nightlife. Right from the lobby to the rooms, the spaces are cool, even though they’re small.
The rooftop was the heart of all action at the hotel, complete with a spa pool and a trendy cocktail bar. On weekend nights, we’d flock here, along with young Brisbanites, and have a great time. What’s more, this space doubled as an open-air rooftop cinema on certain nights, where we curled up with our partners and nibbled on tapas and cocktails. Even though there’s no restaurant, we could order delectable room service from the adjacent restaurant.
The rooms here are long-ish yet extremely attractive and sexy. Snuggle-worthy king beds, espresso machines, and kitchenettes are mainstays, as are a couple of other standard mod-cons. The bathrooms were a bit of a squeeze, but that boded well for us (wink-wink). In fact, our ground-floor room even had a small courtyard with a hammock.
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Hyatt Regency Brisbane
2
It’s only fitting that the Hyatt Regency Brisbane, formerly the stunningly futuristic Next Hotel, lies on a boulevard known as Queen Street! We tech-crazy travelers found it one of the city’s most hi-tech hotels, complete with mobile check-in and keyless technology for access. Since we liked everything to be at the touch of a button, then staying here was ideal for you.
Since the Brisbane property was the first in the NEXT chain, the hotel exuded the distinctive charisma of an individualistic property. Right from the outdoor bar to the pool deck, it was sophistication galore. But what we really appreciated was that we could use our smartphones for everything from checking in to controlling room entertainment, lights, and temperature; we could even order room service! The highlight is the fabulous infinity pool, which makes this hotel one of Brisbane’s top hotels with a rooftop pool! A 24-hour gym, a nice, round-the-clock lounge with free coffee and tea, and a small library round up the amenities. We loved the hearty complimentary breakfast, along with to-go options.
While some rooms have Queen Street and pool views, others have river and city ones. But all feature lovely blue hues and excellent Brisbane-themed artwork. Coffee machines, modern bathrooms, queen beds, and minibars with four free items complete the offerings.
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Voco Brisbane Hotel
1
The Voco Brisbane Hotel is a well-located, mid-range gay accommodation in Brisbane that’ll suit a large spectrum of LGBTQ travelers. Are you looking to dive into the gay scene of Fortitude Valley like us? It’s a mere 10-minute train ride. Are you a sucker for views? Mercure enjoys spectacular views of the Brisbane River and its four bridges, as well as the South Bank across the river. It’s also just two blocks from Brisbane’s best shopping and even sits right by the entrance to the freeway to the Gold Coast!
We were given no less than a red-carpet reception by the hotel staff. The large, minimalist lobby with vibrant color pops, potted plants, orchids, espresso machines, and even iPads made an immediate impression. A 24-hour reception meant that we could waltz in even late after a hectic night out on the town. Besides arranging for in-room massages, the hotel even has a fitness center. The highlight, however, was the outdoor heated lap pool, where we’d gather on the colorful bean bags and daybeds. Mercure’s in-house restaurant serves, among other meals, a superb breakfast buffet with juices, fresh fruit, lots of pastries, and hot items.
The first thing that caught our eye in the rooms were the striking black-and-white images of the Brisbane River. All rooms enjoy great views of the city or the river and feature everything from work desks to minibars. Since we got the urge to splurge, we chose the top-floor Privilege room, which had perks like espresso machines, slippers, bathrobes, mineral water, and chocolates.
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Our Verdict!
Brisbane is an excellent LGBTQ-friendly destination, and it’s evident from the many LGBTQ-friendly hotels that we’ve seen above. That said, we’ve picked out a specialized list with the best hotels of the lot, according to their best features. That should make it easier for you to narrow down your ideal hotel.
- Best location: The Calile Hotel
- Best gay-friendly brand: W Brisbane
- Best for inner-city stay: Capri By Fraser Brisbane
- Best boutique: Spicers Balfour Hotel
- Best value-for-money: Bunk Brisbane
Just So You Know:
- Brisbane is home to an Australian online news outlet, Q News, which caters to LGBTQ communities in the region.
Get Some Culture in Brisbane:
- Brisbane Pride Festival – Brisbane Pride is the third-largest LGBTQ+ event in Australia and is an annual celebration of inclusion, diversity, and love. This four-week September festival sees quirky events, talk shows, parties, and lots of fun club nights.
- Big Gay Day – This is one of Australia’s most welcoming and treasured LGBTQ festivals, complete with a parade, stage acts, and carnival acts.
Best Gay Bars / Clubs in Brisbane:
- The Beat MegaClub – Established in 1983, this is Brisbane’s best and biggest gay nightclub. Right from DJs and parties to affordable drinks, this Fortitude Valley club has it all!
- The Sportsman Hotel – This bar, bistro, and hotel is one of the best gay meeting places in Brisbane. In fact, regular patrons affectionately call it “Sporties” for more than 30 years, and it’s still just as fabulous as ever. The best bit? It’s both gay-owned and operated and has events going on all seven days of the, along with pumping weekends.
- Fluffy@EI8HT – This weekly camp-pop gay dance party is all about drag acts, upbeat music, and lots of pink opulence. It’s wildly popular and wildly successful.
Best Gay Saunas in Brisbane:
- Wet Spa & Sauna – This is the city’s only gay sauna and spa. It also has the only gay swimming pool in the city! Wet also has private rooms, glory holes, a maze area, a sling room, and a private video lounge.
- Hellfire Club – This is Brisbane’s premier fetish club that’s been hosting kinky fetish events catering to everyone from hedonists and drag queens to trans people and fetishists for 23 years! Peeps come here in the pursuit of depraved pleasure and indulge in all manner of debauched, sexy, and kinky antics, but with consent, of course.
