Boutique hotel stay in New Farm near Fortitude Valley
Hotel: Spicers Balfour Brisbane
Entrance
As Brisbane moves towards the 2032 Olympics, gentrification of its inner suburbs is also accelerating. These include a couple like New Farm and “The Valley” or Fortitude Valley; ostentatiously renovating old houses and giving new ones a stylish look. Restaurants and bars are opening here and there, and stylish boutiques line the streets. Amongst all this on Balfour Street, New Farm is a boutique hotel located in the Spicers stable known as Spicers Balfour Brisbane. At the reception there is a warm welcome that comes with the negativities of the local area. No need for key; You receive your codes and they are shown to your room.
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Appearance
There is a dual personality here, but despite how opposite they are, both sides complement each other well. The reception, Balfour Kitchen & Bar, rooftop bar and some guest rooms are housed in a Queensland-style building with an inviting courtyard and airy terrace at 37 Balfour Street. A few doors down from number 17 is a beautiful art deco-style residence called Simla, with king rooms and suites in various configurations. Both venues are set against the backdrop of lush, healthy greenery you’ve come to expect from subtropical Brisbane.
room
We’re in the art deco Simla and suite 14 overlooks the street with a sunroom and lead-light windows to see everything. The sunroom has a work desk, coffee table and armchairs, as well as a kitchenette, refrigerator, mini bar and coffee-making facilities. The bathroom is huge and comes with deco style, subway style tiles and a freestanding bath with brilliant freestanding plumbing. Luckily there is a large shower stall that is out of date. The bed is your choice of king or king single, and there are teardrop-shaped pendant lights hanging from the ceiling on either side of the bed. Storage and hanging space is sufficient.
food + drink
Breakfast is served in the shade on the deck of Balfour Kitchen & Bar, with seasonal fruit as a starter, followed by eggs and accompaniments to suit your taste, avocado toast or perhaps mushrooms. The chef bakes all the bread in house and it is delicious. We also had dinner on deck; To start, the chef’s focaccia with whipped butter, crispy crust and soft interior. The set menu included scallops for starter and wagyu beef for main, with one of the sides overshadowing even the excellent beef; Pumpkin cooked in a light tempura style batter. The finishing touch was a dark chocolate and mint roulade with vanilla bean ice cream. Good food in a nice environment. There’s also a rooftop bar with views (up to the colorful Story Bridge) and a library for quiet contemplation.
out + about
There are shops around the corner where you can buy your essentials, but there are many of Brisbane’s attractions within a short walk. Walk 10 to 15 minutes one way and you’ll see James Street in Fortitude Valley, home to stylish boutiques and some very good restaurants; We lunched at The Green for inspiring Lebanese food that was fresh and full of flavour. Head in another direction, towards a small park with a view of the big city; an elevator will take you to river level, Howard Smith Docks for Felons Brewing, Italian restaurants, and plenty of room to move around. There are river walks in both directions, or hop on the ferry here and take the cheapest river tour – 50 cents per trip.
Decision
Here you are away from the chaos of the city but close enough to everything a big riverside city has to offer. Intimate yet luxurious, this stunning boutique Brisbane stay is offered with Spicers’ signature relaxed yet professional hospitality.
Fundamentals
Rooms from $299 a night, 37 Balfour Street, New Farm. Phone 1300 597 540; To see Spicerretreats.com
Our rating out of five
★★★★½
highlight
I’m a big fan of the art deco period in architecture; here they did so with admirable justice.
low light
A room safe is a useful item for storing your valuables; I like one big enough for a laptop, but these are paperback size.
The author was a guest of Spicers Balfour Brisbane.
Jim Darby is senior producer at Traveler and author of White Gold, a history of Australia’s winter sports.Connect with: X or email.
