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 paying homage 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 at all times 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 just set to rise.

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

Whereas the $66 million resort opened in 2018, it’s post-pandemic that The Calile (pronounced “kal-isle”) has cemented its “it” standing, primarily helped by its fashionable location, cultural applications, 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 whole days in a lavish foyer, I immediately accredited the multitude of seating choices, buzzing bar, and smooth, minimalist design. Muted colours had 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 had been thwarted as I turned distracted by the charming carousel of individuals and trend passing by means 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 time attire or stylish workplace apparel. Locals grabbing espresso in shorts and T-shirts and resort friends strolling in from the pool in bikinis and robes created a method equilibrium paying homage to Las Vegas resorts, the place something goes.

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

“Our employees are younger and enthusiastic, quite 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 saved its A-list clientele. Kourtney Kardashian and rocker husband Travis Barker had lately checked out, and after settling into our room, we wandered onto the balcony to search 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 carrying caps and will 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 had 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 must be a celeb to really feel like a Calile VIP, although. Once 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 luxurious views. Then, once I had a minor concern with my room’s rest room, 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 resort 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 search out Tamara and Lou rocking out just a few seats over.

Right here’s my evaluate of The Calile Lodge.

The Rooms

There’s one thing majestic about coming into your resort room by means of a hanging arch (certainly one of 213 all through the resort), and issues solely bought higher on the opposite facet, the place comfortable beds, vibrant areas, and a party-starting “Calile Dice” cocktail equipment awaited. A balcony overlooking the pool was the right place to benefit from the drinks.

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

Australian skincare model Grown Alchemist supplies delicious-smelling facilities within the rest room. We had been thrilled to search 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 substances, 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 prompt meals pairings. Whereas English prepare dinner Nigella Lawson declared the bar had the “finest croissants ever,” my pal rapidly declared its pork and fennel sausage the “finest breakfast sausage ever.”

The resort additionally has a steakhouse and sushi spot, whereas Ada Lane (a cute laneway named after Ada Malouf) has extra eating places simply outdoors. On the opposite facet lies James Avenue, the place we devoured late-night Peri Peri grilled hen 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 12 months 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. Visitors can get into pool mode beforehand by listening to the resort’s Spotify playlist. The scene even impressed Australian filmmaker Scottie Cameron’s quick movie “Poolside Attraction” concerning the common resort wrestle of discovering a solar lounger.

The collaboration was a part of Calile Tradition, which celebrates artists and creators by means of occasions, partnerships, and curated conversations, corresponding to a latest session with the creator of “Bluey.” The Australian kids’s collection 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 resort additionally has a e-book membership, an lovely library, and an amphitheater internet hosting all the things from dawn yoga to weddings. The Kailo Medispa presents an infrared sauna, {couples}’ room, and wellness pods, whereas health fans can e-book private coach classes at The Gymnasium.

When it’s time to depart, 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 units. Composting bins additionally dwell on the roof.

Again indoors, if friends neglect to show off lights or A/C, eco-mode switches them off, then restores consumer 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 discovered 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.

Visitors can e-book free e-bikes to discover with out a automotive, and the concierge will even throw in a map of the very best picnic spots.

The resort additionally has eight ADA-compliant rooms.

Location

The Calile lies within the James Avenue Precinct in Fortitude Valley, a various, booming neighborhood the place {couples} hit the cinema, consumers browse boutiques, and the queue not often wanes on the gelato store.

“It is like a little bit European metropolis the place folks can decelerate,” says Catherine. “It highlights Brisbane’s signature id in which you could sit outdoors or lie by the pool any time of yr. Individuals used to return to Brisbane to launch to the Nice Barrier Reef or elsewhere, nevertheless it’s given folks a motive to cease and keep.”

The riverfront’s a 15-minute stroll away, and additional afoot are central points of interest like Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, a sprawling new leisure and leisure precinct with outlets, inns, 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 world’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.

Easy methods to Get the Most Worth

Obtain the Mates of Calile app to hitch the resort’s “buddies with advantages” program, which presents unique room charges, eating advantages and a complimentary Calile Spritz on arrival. Shopaholics will love the 90-plus reductions supplied at James Avenue retailers, whereas members additionally get 10 % off spa remedies and private coach classes.