This Sunny Australian Metropolis Feels Like a European City — and It Has a Celeb-favorite Lodge

“Are we nonetheless in Brisbane?” I requested myself.

Inside an hour of checking into The Calile Lodge, I turned fixated on the motley trend spectacle unfolding within the foyer, made besties with the spirited employees, hit a pool scene harking back to Las Vegas, and located an American rock star on the neighboring balcony.

Rising up in New Zealand, Brisbane was a gateway to our Gold Coast holidays’ seashores and amusement parks. Whereas I’ve returned since, it’s all the time appeared lackluster in comparison with my Sydney and Melbourne adventures — however I clearly hadn’t explored sufficient. It seems the Queensland capital has lengthy been having a second, and with the multibillion-dollar new Queen’s Wharf Brisbane advanced reworking the CBD, its star is simply set to rise.

It’s within the hip arts, nightlife, and buying hub of Fortitude Valley’s James Road Precinct, the place I discovered all of the enjoyable. Dubbed Australia’s first city resort, The Calile is called after co-owner Catherine Malouf’s great-grandfather Calile (initially Khalil) Malouf, who left Lebanon for Australia together with his spouse, Ada, in 1892. The Malouf household started creating James Road right into a thriving hub in 2001, then shrugged off recommendation {that a} resort-style lodge wouldn’t work close to the town.

Whereas the $66 million lodge opened in 2018, it’s post-pandemic that The Calile (pronounced “kal-isle”) has cemented its “it” standing, primarily helped by its stylish location, cultural packages, and celebrity friends — which embrace Catherine’s 95-year-old father Calile Malouf, Sr., who lives on-site. “Sure, the Calile lives in The Calile,” she laughed.

As a foyer connoisseur who will fortunately laze or work away complete days in a lavish foyer, I immediately authorized the multitude of seating choices, buzzing bar, and modern, minimalist design. Muted colours have been sprinkled with lush greenery to intensify the balmy oasis really feel architects sought to create. On the identical time, white brick, marble, and arches add a Mediterranean twist and honor the household’s heritage.

Plans to work from the foyer have been thwarted as I turned distracted by the fascinating carousel of individuals and trend passing by way of. Melbournians and Sydneysiders could also be celebrated for his or her fashion, however the Foyer Bar proved a runway of its personal, with clusters of ladies assembly for drinks in flamboyant summer season clothes or stylish workplace apparel. Locals grabbing espresso in shorts and T-shirts and lodge friends strolling in from the pool in bikinis and robes created a method equilibrium harking back to Las Vegas resorts, the place something goes.

“If bars may communicate, this one would say ‘welcome’ — whether or not you’ve crossed the planet to get right here or merely the road,” the lodge’s media package reads. It’s a testomony to the neighborhood the lodge has constructed by way of social and cultural initiatives and bubbly employees like Tamara and Lou, who instantly handled us like long-lost pals.

“Our employees are younger and enthusiastic, reasonably than seasoned hospitality professionals, and we’ve embraced that,” says Catherine. “We name folks by their first names. Our tradition’s very Australian — heat and real — which has created a luxurious product that’s not stuffy.”

It’s as if the Soho Membership ditched its exclusivity however stored its A-list clientele. Kourtney Kardashian and rocker husband Travis Barker had just lately checked out, and after settling into our room, we wandered onto the balcony to seek out Matchbox Twenty’s Paul Doucette absorbing the solar subsequent door (then promptly rushed inside to dial down the boy band tunes we’d been cranking). Earlier than lengthy, we bumped into his bandmate, Rob Thomas, within the hallways and located guitarist Kyle Cook dinner by the pool.

“Celebrities can slide into the expertise with out pomp and ceremony,” says Catherine. “The Hemsworths have lunch by the pool sporting caps and may be themselves. When Julia Roberts, George [Clooney], and [wife] Amal got here, they sat on the Foyer Bar having wine for two-and-a-half hours and have been left alone. Bono was actually into the brutalist design and structure. All of them come for various causes, however can combine and luxuriate in what everyone else is having fun with.”

You don’t should be a celeb to really feel like a Calile VIP, although. After I requested what lies behind the elevator’s locked seventh-floor button, Tamara and Lou promptly escorted us to the rooftop’s thriving herb gardens and sumptuous views. Then, once I had a minor difficulty with my room’s toilet, they supplied a automotive service that made us really feel like rockstars as we pulled as much as Matchbox Twenty’s gig in a black BMW with “Calile” plates.

In Arabic, “khalil” means “pal,” which is what the lodge and its folks felt like after three days. By no means was that extra obvious than once I seemed over mid-concert and was overjoyed to seek out Tamara and Lou rocking out a couple of seats over.

Right here’s my evaluation of The Calile Lodge.

The Rooms

There’s one thing majestic about coming into your lodge room by way of a putting arch (one in every of 213 all through the lodge), and issues solely received higher on the opposite aspect, the place comfortable beds, brilliant areas, and a party-starting “Calile Dice” cocktail package awaited. A balcony overlooking the pool was the proper place to benefit from the drinks.

The lodge has 164 rooms throughout seven ranges, plus 11 suites, two of which have non-public rooftop terraces appropriate for small events. Every room has been designed utilizing moral, sustainable practices, like swapping carpet and wallpaper for cork. Cork may be harvested with out slicing down bushes and has thermal properties that assist maintain rooms cool in Brisbane’s warmth. In-room balconies additional assist pure cooling.

Australian skincare model Grown Alchemist offers delicious-smelling facilities within the toilet. We have been thrilled to seek out ample bench house for our mountain-like mass of make-up, toiletries, and hair home equipment.

Meals and Drink

Whether or not serving poolside Greek fare at Hellenika or breakfast on the Foyer Bar, The Calile prides itself on providing native and seasonal produce. When sourcing components, the primary cease is the rooftop backyard, which options eight rows of arched planters that includes herbs like Italian parsley and sage. Bee hives produce honey for breakfast dishes just like the Foyer Bar’s crumpets and cocktails like The Apiarist, made with spiced rum, gingerbread liqueur, and honeycomb syrup.

The Calile Spritz is one other must-try on the Foyer Bar, the place mocktails include advised meals pairings. Whereas English cook dinner Nigella Lawson declared the bar had the “greatest croissants ever,” my pal shortly declared its pork and fennel sausage the “greatest breakfast sausage ever.”

The lodge additionally has a steakhouse and sushi spot, whereas Ada Lane (a cute laneway named after Ada Malouf) has extra eating places simply exterior. On the opposite aspect lies James Road, the place we devoured late-night Peri Peri grilled rooster burgers at Ribs and Burgers Fortitude Valley.

Venturing additional throughout a morning stroll, we discovered quaint espresso spot Agnes Bakery tucked right into a homely outdated cottage. Its close by sister spot, Agnes Restaurant, was named Australia’s 2023 Restaurant of the Yr by Gourmand Traveller journal.

Actions and Experiences

The pool is the place the motion’s at, with native DJs spinning Balearic beats, emphasizing the teal- and white-themed deck’s Mediterranean vibes. Company can get into pool mode beforehand by listening to the lodge’s Spotify playlist. The scene even impressed Australian filmmaker Scottie Cameron’s quick movie “Poolside Attraction” in regards to the common resort wrestle of discovering a solar lounger.

The collaboration was a part of Calile Tradition, which celebrates artists and creators by way of occasions, partnerships, and curated conversations, comparable to a current session with the creator of “Bluey.” The Australian kids’s sequence was 2024’s most-watched present in America and spawned Bluey’s World Brisbane, a brand new immersive expertise that includes play zones and photograph alternatives.

The lodge additionally has a guide membership, an lovely library, and an amphitheater internet hosting all the things from dawn yoga to weddings. The Kailo Medispa provides an infrared sauna, {couples}’ room, and wellness pods, whereas health fans can guide private coach classes at The Gymnasium.

When it’s time to go away, The Museum of Small Issues reward retailer sells a candle and room spray of The Calile’s signature scent.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The Calile’s web site reads, “It could shock you that the primary VIP visitor at The Calile just isn’t a celeb. The solar is our most valued visitor.” Sustainability and energy-saving initiatives have been prioritized. Throughout our rooftop tour with Tamara and Lou, we noticed the 90-panel photo voltaic array that powers A/C models and different gadgets. Composting bins additionally stay on the roof.

Again indoors, if friends overlook to show off lights or A/C, eco-mode switches them off, then restores person settings upon re-entrance. Glass is used for drinks, every ground has a water station, and there are espresso cup recycling stations, which have turned over 52,500 disposable cups in three years. Balconies and open-air elevator lobbies naturally ventilate areas. Whereas it reduces energy consumption, we quickly realized it’s not conducive to noise management — discovering ourselves politely escorted to the foyer when our “bit loud” late-night hallway conversations disturbed the sixth-floor peace.

Company can guide free e-bikes to discover with no automotive, and the concierge will even throw in a map of the perfect picnic spots.

The lodge additionally has eight ADA-compliant rooms.

Location

The Calile lies within the James Road Precinct in Fortitude Valley, a various, booming neighborhood the place {couples} hit the cinema, consumers browse boutiques, and the queue hardly ever wanes on the gelato store.

“It is like somewhat European metropolis the place folks can decelerate,” says Catherine. “It highlights Brisbane’s signature identification in that you may sit exterior or lie by the pool any time of 12 months. Individuals used to come back to Brisbane to launch to the Nice Barrier Reef or elsewhere, however it’s given folks a motive to cease and keep.”

The riverfront’s a 15-minute stroll away, and additional afoot are central sights like Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, a sprawling new leisure and leisure precinct with outlets, lodges, trails, and the must-see Sky Deck — an 820-foot “rooftop runway” towering 328 toes above the river and lined with eating places and bars. The realm’s a 10-minute Uber away.

You’ll want a rental automotive, public transport, or a tour to go to locations just like the Australia Zoo or the Gold Coast.

Find out how to Get the Most Worth

Obtain the Pals of Calile app to affix the lodge’s “pals with advantages” program, which provides unique room charges, eating advantages and a complimentary Calile Spritz on arrival. Shopaholics will love the 90-plus reductions supplied at James Road retailers, whereas members additionally get 10 p.c off spa remedies and private coach classes.