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 grew to become 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 complicated remodeling the CBD, its star is just set to rise.

It’s within the hip arts, nightlife, and purchasing 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 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 fashionable location, cultural applications, and celebrity visitors — 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 permitted the multitude of seating choices, buzzing bar, and glossy, 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 grew to become distracted by the charming carousel of individuals and trend passing by. Melbournians and Sydneysiders could also be celebrated for his or her type, however the Foyer Bar proved a runway of its personal, with clusters of girls assembly for drinks in flamboyant summer season clothes or stylish workplace apparel. Locals grabbing espresso in shorts and T-shirts and lodge visitors 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 equipment reads. It’s a testomony to the group the lodge has constructed by 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, somewhat 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 not too long ago 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 Prepare 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 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 all people else is having fun with.”

You don’t should be a star 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 sumptuous views. Then, once I had a minor challenge with my room’s rest room, they provided a automobile 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 search 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 getting into your lodge room by a placing arch (one in all 213 all through the lodge), and issues solely received higher on the opposite facet, the place cosy beds, vibrant areas, and a party-starting “Calile Dice” cocktail equipment 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 personal 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 chopping down timber and has thermal properties that assist preserve rooms cool in Brisbane’s warmth. In-room balconies additional assist pure cooling.

Australian skincare model Grown Alchemist supplies delicious-smelling facilities within the rest room. We have been thrilled to search out ample bench area 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 elements, 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 “finest croissants ever,” my pal rapidly declared its pork and fennel sausage the “finest 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 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 previous 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. Company can get into pool mode beforehand by listening to the lodge’s Spotify playlist. The scene even impressed Australian filmmaker Scottie Cameron’s brief movie “Poolside Attraction” in regards to the common resort battle of discovering a solar lounger.

The collaboration was a part of Calile Tradition, which celebrates artists and creators by occasions, partnerships, and curated conversations, reminiscent of a current session with the creator of “Bluey.” The Australian youngsters’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 cute library, and an amphitheater internet hosting the whole lot from dawn yoga to weddings. The Kailo Medispa affords an infrared sauna, {couples}’ room, and wellness pods, whereas health lovers can guide private coach periods at The Gymnasium.

When it’s time to go away, The Museum of Small Issues present 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 isn’t a star. 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 items and different gadgets. Composting bins additionally stay on the roof.

Again indoors, if visitors 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 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.

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

The lodge 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 just a little European metropolis the place folks can decelerate,” says Catherine. “It highlights Brisbane’s signature id in that you may sit exterior or lie by the pool any time of yr. Folks used to come back to Brisbane to launch to the Nice Barrier Reef or elsewhere, but it surely’s given folks a cause 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, 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 realm’s a 10-minute Uber away.

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

The way to Get the Most Worth

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