WHATS NEW IN BRISBANE

Rydges redevelopment

G20 Summit in Brisbane 2014

Queensland's capital Brisbane has been selected as host city for the Group of 20 (G20) leaders' summit on November 15-16, 2014 to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. http://www.dpmcgov.au/g20/index.cfm

Rydges hotel redevelopment

Rydges on Grey Street, Southbank is undergoing an $11 million redevelopment which will see a dramatic improvement of street level activation. The redevelopment follows the completion of the new Brisbane Convention Centre Expansion project, the new ABC headquarters and the upgrade of South Brisbane Station. These projects will significantly enhance Grey Street's walkability and street amenity. www.rydges.com/southbank

Second luxury Emporium Hotel planned for South Bank

Tony and Francine John, creators of the award-winning Emporium and owners of Australia's best luxury accommodation, the Emporium Hotel, have an exciting new development Southpoint. Featuring a second luxury Emporium Hotel and premium residential apartments, Southpoint will be an iconic development at the entrance to Queensland's premier destination precinct, South Bank, Southpoint will be located on the last remaining site in this famous Brisbane precinct. http://lastpieceofsouthbank.com

Lawrence Hotel
Brisbane's Fortitude Valley will welcome a new five-star boutique hotel in late 2014. The Ann Street site was purchased by private Brisbane-based developer, Kenlynn Projects, which plans a new hotel development known as the Lawrence Hotel. The new hotel will be a full-service, purpose-built hotel with 150 rooms including 16 suites, conference and function spaces, restaurant, bar, and two levels of car parking.
http://brisbanedevelopment.com/lawrence-hotel-fortitude-valley/

Chifley Hotel Brisbane upgrade and rebrand to NEXT Hotel

SilverNeedle Hospitality has announced that Brisbane's landmark hotel, the Chifley, will undergo refurbishments and will be rebranded as the world's first 'NEXT' Hotel. The $AUD 35 million refurbishment will see the hotel converted from its current 150 rooms into a 300 room new generation 'NEXT' Hotel. Scheduled to open in 2014, the Chifley will be one of the largest hotel rebuilding projects in Australia in recent years. NEXT Hotels and Resorts is SilverNeedle Hospitality's flagship brand that has been developed with the needs of the business traveller in mind. It will embrace contemporary design while focusing on efficiency from point of booking through to final departure. http://www.silverneedlehotels.com.au/news/silverneedle-hospitality-launches-worlds-first-next-hotel-in-australia/

Sebel reborn as Pullman Brisbane King George Square

The former Sebel King George Square hotel has taken on the world's newest five-star hotel branding as it has rebranded to Pullman Brisbane King George Square. The adjoining Citigate hotel has also been rebadged to Mercure, the second in the Brisbane CBD. http://accorhotels.com.au/press/australia

Sofitel Brisbane Central

Following a multi-million-dollar rooms refurbishment Sofitel Brisbane Central offers a new level of luxury accommodation for Brisbane city. All 433 rooms including 81 Club rooms, and 21 luxurious Suites have undergone a makeover of impressive proportions. New finishes, furniture, lighting and technology ensure both the business and leisure traveller are well catered for throughout a variety of room types. All rooms access wifi and are provided with a dedicated data connection. www.sofitelbrisbane.com.au

Hilton Brisbane

Hilton Brisbane

Hilton Brisbane has completed an AUD$37 million to rooms and public spaces revealing all its Harry Seidler glory again. The 319 deluxe and executive rooms have been completely refurbished, and there's a new flagship restaurant and bar, Vintaged Bar & Grill, a state of the art business centre with three new boardrooms plus a reinvigorated porte cochere entrance featuring Brisbane's biggest video wall. The property is the country's only hotel ever designed by Seidler, one of the founders of modernist design in Australia. www.hilton.com/brisbane

 

 

 Stamford Plaza Brisbane

Stamford Plaza Brisbane has revamped its famed Stamford Suite. Located on the highest floor of the hotel, the Stamford has been beautifully refurbished. Featuring a baby grand piano, an AUD$40,000 bed, rich furnishings and designer artwork, the Stamford Suite has previously accommodated the Queen, heads of state, visiting rock stars like Rod Stewart and pop princess Taylor Swift. www.stamford.com.au

Brisbane extends the hand of friendship

Visitors to Brisbane will be welcomed with open arms following the introduction of the Brisbane Greeters Program, which will encourage volunteers to welcome visitors to the city and host free personalised walking tours. Providing visitors with a personal perspective of the city, the tours will reveal the heart and soul of Brisbane across four categories: Arts and Culture; History and Heritage; Family Fun; Architecture. Tours can be booked online, or through the Brisbane Visitor Information and Booking Centre in the Queen Street Mall - which is the starting point for all tours. www.brisbanegreeters.com.au

Shop in style with new Brisbane shopping tours

Discover Brisbane's best-kept fashion secrets with Shop In Style Escape's new collection of walking tours, taking in the hottest neighbourhoods, boutiques and one-off shops. From fashion to furniture, homemade chocolate and liqueur to perfume, art and design, luxury and underground designers, there's something to delight even the fussiest shopper. The 'Hidden Gem' tours also include a selection of styling and make-up masterclass experiences - enjoyed with a glass of bubbles - and fun extras like chocolate tasting, styling tips and a Shop in Style Escape goodie bag. The three-hour tours are available twice daily Monday to Saturday in Brisbane CBD, and Tuesday to Sunday in Paddington and Fortitude Valley. www.shopinstyleescape.com

Sirromet Wines Food and Wine Group Safaris

Sirromet Wines Executive and Celebrity Chef Andrew Mirosch has teamed up with Chief Winemaker Adam Chapman to conduct personalised group and corporate "Food and Wine Group Safari's". A Food and Wine Group Safari is the ultimate way to spend an afternoon enjoying great, wild fermented wines and fantastic food matches at four unique locations at Sirromet's Mount Cotton headquarters over a leisurely four to five hours. Each course is prepared in front of guests at each location and matched with each of the individual wines from Sirromet's LE SAUVAGE "The Wild" wine range. Guests of the Safaris also receive 6six take-home bottles of LE SAUVAGE "The Wild" to enjoy. www.sirromet.com.au

Garuda Indonesia to start flying into Brisbane

Garuda Indonesia has announced it will start flying into Brisbane in August, bolstering ties between Queensland and Indonesia. Queensland Tourism Minister Stuckey said there were a range of growth opportunities for the State's tourism industry, particularly in Indonesia's business and incentive travel markets. www.garuda.com

New Brisbane restaurants and bars

The Alfred & Constance

Alfred & Constance, Fortitude Valley

The Alfred & Constance has opened to rave reviews, providing Brisbanites with a favourite new watering hole. Alfred & Constance flows in, between and around two beautiful vintage Queenslander homes, offering a huge outdoor area to take advantage of Brisbane's climate, while still retaining intimate nooks and crannies. Housing a gastro pub, dessert bar and four bars, including the fun-loving Tiki bar, the ethos of the food centres on locally sourced, nose-to-tail cooking. Beware the boozy smoothies and soft serves! www.alfredandconstance.com.au

Pony Lounge & Dining, Brisbane City

Sydney's Pony has galloped into Brisbane with the opening of Pony Lounge & Dining at Eagle Street Pier. The classy fit-out harnesses the theatrics of the open-plan kitchen and grill (yes, that is a whole pig roasting away), while capturing the money shot across the Brisbane River and Story Bridge. Brisbane-born head chef Damian Heads has led the kitchen to create an inspiring menu based on the restaurant's rustic, casual dining concept, showcasing the finest cuts of meat, fresh seafood and share plates. www.ponydining.com.au

Riverbar & Kitchen, Brisbane City

In December 2012, located on the riverfront at Eagle Street Pier, Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan's Riverbar & Kitchen has opened. The 480-capacity casual bar reflects its waterfront location with a clear nautical theme and offers light breakfasts, through to share plates, grills, pizzas and drinks at night. www.riverbarandkitchen.com.au

Fat Noodle, Brisbane City

Star chef Luke Nguyen has launched his first interstate Fat Noodle restaurant in the Treasury Casino, which will open until 3am on weekends. The 100-seater restaurant will serve up 'street style' Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai and Malay food, including Nguyen' famous Fat Pho Noodles with a 20-hour beef broth. Helping to cement the trend towards sister restaurants and higher-end hotel and casino dining, the Sydney brand is sure to be an instant favourite with late night diners. www.treasurybrisbane.com.au

Chowhouse, Fortitude Valley

Moving into the space formally known as James Street Bistro, Chowhouse has injected a tasty selection of Asian street food into the popular brunch and weekend tipple strip. With a menu that sports tasty delights like Nasi Goreng alongside tried and tested breakfast choices, through to street food style bites, tasty grills, and a baked-daily selection of sweets. Chowhouse offers well-priced food. www.chowhouse.com.au

Bacchus, South Bank

South Bank has added to its stable of world-class dining options with the launch of highly anticipated pool, bar and restaurant concept - Bacchus. Named after the Roman god of food, wine and indulgence and headed up by Executive Chef Dominic Rose, Bacchus showcases a modern Mediterranean menu with a focus on the latest culinary craze - olive oil matching. In a first for Brisbane, Bacchus also houses a New York and Miami-inspired terrace pool, bar and cabana lounge area, making it the perfect destination for poolside cocktails this summer. www.bacchussouthbank.com.au

Bistro One Eleven, Brisbane City

Catering to Brisbane's power-lunch corporate crowd, Philip Johnson's swish new restaurant is a welcome addition to the riverside strip. Taking pride of place in the new One One One building, the space exudes understated elegance that is sure to impress. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner weekdays, and Saturday for dinner, the always-evolving menu features bites such as scotch duck eggs through to mains of fresh local fish, meat and poultry. www.bistrooneeleven.com

Nant Whisky Cellar and Bar

Whisky bars are looking set to become the new craft beer joint, and the opening of Nant in the Emporium Complex in Fortitude Valley is setting the bar high. Offering 80 single-malt whiskies from around the world (including Nant's three premium drops), as well as a selection of Tassie wines and a tapas menu peppered with Tasmanian produce, it's a clear taste of the 'other pointy end' of Australia in Brisbane. www.nantdistillery.com.au

Sixes and Sevens

Brisbane's James St is abuzz with the new addition of Sixes and Sevens, occupying a heritage-listed cottage once used for pop up sales and an adjoining deck and astro-turfed outdoor space. The owners of cru bar (just up the street) have given the cottage a new lease of life with tropical wallpaper, salvaged timber, exposed light bulbs and a tasty gastropub menu. www.sixes.com.au

Olea

East Brisbane is quickly blossoming into the land of the small bar, with Olea settling in as neighbours to Foxy Bean in Woolloongabba. The $AUD10 lunch box specials, filled with the likes of pork steamed buns, Wagyu burgers and rice paper rolls, are particularly enticing. www.olea88.com.au

Next Door Kitchen and Bar

An elegant new wine bar inspired by the speakeasies of the 1920s is a new addition to South Bank. Next Door Kitchen & Bar is a wine bar with an emphasis on shared dining, Next Door Kitchen & Bar serves up old-style cocktails, craft beers and a wine list that nods to the 1920s. http://www.nextdoorkitchenbar.com.au/

InCider Trading

In a stroke of what some would call fruitful genius, this new boutique cellar has opened on Wickham St in Fortitude Valley with a very convenient courtyard bar out the back, offering wine and cider by the glass or bottle, wine flights and a succinct tapas menu. www.facebook.com/InCiderTrading

Loft

Taking over the space above Archive in West End, Loft is a self-proclaimed New York-style Village bar serving up an impressive repertoire of cocktails, wines and grazing menu. Patrons can slip up to Loft for a cosy and classy evening in plush surrounds. www.loftwestend.com

Tippler's Tap

If you're looking for Chicago-style comfort food and a finely tuned selection of craft beers on tap, head into the industrial streets of Newstead to discover the new man cave otherwise known as Tippler's Tap. www.tipplerstap.com.au