Amora becomes Brisbane’s newest five-star hotel after $30m makeover

One $30 million makeover later, an old hotel with great bones has become the newest five-star accommodation offering for one Aussie city.

Inside Brisbane's newly renovated Amora Hotel.

An older hotel with great bones spent most of last year under wraps being given a brand new, $30 million refresh – making it Brisbane’s newest five-star hotel in the process.

The Amora Hotel is located right in the heart of Brisbane, just a block away from Central station and a short walk from hotspots like Fortitude Valley and Howard Smith Wharves.

Many of us will have had the experience of booking a room in a five-star hotel – only to check in and find that the rating might’ve applied in, say, 1992, but the facilities are looking a bit worse for wear nowadays.

Inside the newly renovated rooms at Amora Hotel.

In contrast, the Amora’s makeover was only completed in December last year, and everything feels brand spanking new: From the 296 guest rooms on site to the newly renovated pool, complete with adjoining sauna for a bit of hot-cold therapy.

The rooms now come with king beds so comfortable, they’re even for sale if you can’t face going back to your own sad old mattress after you’ve checked out.

There’s also a fully equipped gym on site, as well as a dozen conference and multipurpose rooms of varying sizes – given its proximity to Brisbane’s CBD, Amora has traditionally been more of a corporate hotel, but post-makeover, it’s pushing into everything from a wedding venue to weekend leisure travellers.

Indeed, the weekend I visited, it was an unofficial Pink convention, acting as home base for the many fans who’d travelled far and wide to see the star’s two shows down the road at Suncorp Stadium.

Drinks in the Lobby Bar.

A three-course dinner at Dapl restaurant.

After check in, I managed to coax myself out of my room – and that lush bed – to head downstairs for a pre-dinner cocktail at the Lobby Bar. Across the lobby, the stunning new ground floor restaurant, Dapl, offers botanically-themed modern Australian fare.

Desserts are a particular highlight, so it’d be rude not to opt for the three-course dinner with matching wines, but a warning: you won’t be able to do too much afterwards than take the lift back up to your room for a lie down. During the morning, Dapl turns breakfast buffet, with a huge selection alongside eggs and omelettes made to order.

Confession time: Despite plans for an action-packed weekend exploring Brisbane, my stay at Amora was decidedly more chilled, rarely venturing far from the hotel amid repeated trips to the on-site restaurant, bar, and health facilities.

Like any major Australian city, Brisbane’s not wanting for five-star hotels, but with its brand-new renovation, this new-look offering definitely has an edge on its competitors.

The writer visited as a guest of Amora Hotel.