Treasury Brisbane – Hotel Review

Over the years, the grand old dame now known as Treasury Brisbane has housed everything from the Queensland Art Gallery to various arms of the local government. Now in its current life as a five-star hotel and casino, Treasury Brisbane retains its old-world charm with ornate, high-ceilinged rooms, marble bathrooms and an impressive on-site dining precinct of its very own. Read on for the full review.

There’s a lot to like about Treasury Brisbane, for both the staycay and city-break crowds. Occupying a corner in the centre of the CBD, nothing of note is too far, including South Bank and its galleries and the shopping of Queen Street Mall. For good food, there’s even less distance to travel: the property boasts an impressive seven restaurants and three bars, which only the dedicated could make a sizable dent in. Ready for the challenge?

Where is Treasury Brisbane? 

It’s located on William Street in the CBD, overlooking a pleasant park and just near Brisbane River. The second building, housing the casino and more hotel rooms, is across the road. It’s a 30-minute drive from the airport. 

What’s near Treasury Brisbane?

There’s lots to see within 15 minutes’ walking distance: Queen Street Mall's shopping and nightlife district has options for drinking and dining at all times of the day, and pulses with energy into the night. Queensland Performing Arts Centre has an excellent roster of musicals, theatre, opera and dance. The scenic South Bank Parklands is a peaceful enclave that runs alongside Brisbane River. 

Room types 

Treasury Brisbane is known for its old-world charm and guest rooms feature five-metre-high ceilings, double doors and mahogany furniture. The rooms are split across the main hotel and the casino across the road so take your pick. The smallest room, the Deluxe King Room, is still a generous 37 square metres and offers a mixture of park, city or river views with plenty of natural light. The Parlour King Room offers a generous sitting area and spacious marble bathroom. Some of the suites feature original exposed beams and skylights and all suites have separate lounge areas and expansive private balconies to enjoy the river views. 

Restaurants and bars 

With its own dining precinct, you won’t need to go far to have a whole weekend’s worth of fabulous meals, whether it’s a mid-morning coffee at Ryan’s on the Park, canh chua hai san (seafood tamarind soup) at the popular Fat Noodle for lunch, Cantonese-style dumplings for a snack at Mei Wei or a date night at Black Hide by Gambaro for a wagyu rib-eye. With plush velvet armchairs and moody lighting, the Art Deco speakeasy By George is the ideal spot to finish the night with a cocktail.

Travel for work

Five different rooms of various sizes provide options for meetings or small conferences  –  all with names that allude to their history, such as the Cabinet Room, the former meeting room of the State Cabinet. Most have state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, projection screens and teleconferencing facilities. Additionally, all guest rooms have a small desk and fast, free wi-fi if you need to catch up on work. 

Gym and pool

A gymnasium offers basic cardio machines and weights - after a workout, loosen your muscles in the sauna. The City Botanic Gardens are nearby if you feel like stretching your legs outdoors. 

What you need to know

The weekend high tea at The Lab is considered one of Brisbane’s best, with hand-crafted French teas and decadent sweets overseen by in-house executive chef Steven Jones (who perfected his pastries among the London high tea set).

SEE ALSO: The Best Hotels in Brisbane City (For Every Type of Traveller)