Adina’s marquee Brisbane property is the best part of both a modern unfussy hotel and a heritage-listed property.

The Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane in the 1920s former Queensland Government Savings Bank has great bones. Solid walls, an atrium with enormous high ceilings and a historic wooden staircase with wrought iron balustrades.

Whenever those concerned that the repurposing of these heritage masterpieces into fine hotels is destroying the utility and heritage voice their fears, they should cast their eyes over the rather delicate and restrained way TFE Hotels have brought this building back to life.

So careful was the restoration completed in 2018 that the Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane is in excellent shape today.

Location

City or river is the age-old question for Brisbane visitors. Well, on the top floors, Adina Brisbane serves up both. The hotel is right on the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets opposite the casino and the Queens Garden Square.

A block from the Queen St Mall and easy access to most of the business towers in the CBD, the hotel is ideal for a city break. The gardens across the road give the George St-facing rooms a welcome and refreshing verdant vista.

Style and character

The careful restoration presents the original heavy wooden doors (this was a bank after all) which open to reveal a lobby of elegant beauty.

Gorgeous high ceilings and chequerboard black-white tiles evoke all the glory of the roaring 20s and the enormous wrought iron windows that reach to the lofted ceilings give not just natural light but an additional oversized sense of grandeur for what is in reality not a massive space.

The highlights of the lobby are the dusty pastel hand-painted de Gournay panoramic wallpaper artworks. These verdant landscapes along with the careful restoration of the ornate ceiling roses, Tiffany duck egg blue walls and duotone geometric tiling lift the lobby ambience to a somewhat magical milieu.

The Art Deco styling is found throughout the public spaces; the carpet is geometric bronze and black and opposite the lifts on all levels are full-length mirrors.

The compact heated pool is enclosed on all sides by the hotel building to give a sense of being confined when in fact it is open to the elements. But look up and enjoy the Joan Miro-esque Oogie Boogie mobile artwork.

Facilities

The Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane has a pool, gym, 24-hour front desk and onsite parking with direct access to the hotel.

Rooms

There are 220 rooms, all with a kitchenette. The rooms vary from studios, one- to three-bedroom apartments and suites across three room categories: standard, premier and balcony. The top floors naturally have the best views of the river and South Bank.

The rooms in the original structure (not the top five floors which have been added) benefit from the high ceilings and even the studio’s floor plan is carefully designed to maximise space – a chaise lounge and table and two chairs from which to work or eat are on hand.

The room palette embraces a rich British racing green and turquoise soft furnishing. White subway tiles in the bathroom are contrasted with black floor tiles and Ink & Water toiletries.

Food and drink

There are three outlets within the hotel, each for a different occasion.

The highlight is Donna Chang, tucked into the Elizabeth St side of the lobby. The Cantonese-inspired restaurant has reportedly the best dumplings in the city and a Kung Pao Chicken the envy of some of the best Cantonese eateries in the country.

For coffee and a quick breakfast, the St Marks Road Co. is set in a small nook on the George St side of the lobby.

And in the basement, the Boom Boom Room is a Japanese bar and restaurant with a plethora of Japanese whisky, sake and beer.

Accessibility

Accessible rooms are available in the studio and one-bedroom apartment categories. The accessible one-bedroom apartments have an interjoining door to a studio next door and therefore can be converted into a two-bedroom apartment for travelling carers or family.

Is Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane family-friendly?

Yep – the Adina brand is synonymous with space, multi-room apartments, kitchenettes and laundries. All are highly appreciated by families on the move.

Details

Best for: Business travellers, long-stay travellers and couples.

Address: 171 George St, Brisbane QLD 4000

Phone: +61 7 3155 1000

Cost: Rates start from $321 per night.