10 Best Hotels in Brisbane Australia — Riverside CBD (2026)

We open the Brisbane list with a river-view serviced apartment that families keep coming back to: Meriton Suites Herschel Street, a 5-star high-rise on Herschel Street at the western edge of the CBD, a short walk from the Brisbane River and Roma Street Station. There are around 260 units, from studios to 3-bedroom suites, and a good number look straight out over the river as it bends through the city. Every unit has a kitchen with microwave and fridge, an in-room washer/dryer, and air-con, which makes it an easy pick for families and longer stays. Downstairs you get a heated indoor pool, spa, sauna, and gym, plus 24-hour reception, concierge, laundry, and on-site parking. It's about 3 minutes on foot to the riverwalk, 6-7 minutes to Roma Street Station, and 9 minutes to the Queen Street Mall. Real guests rate it 8.9/10 on Trip.com, with rooms from roughly AUD $120 a night.

For #2 we picked the international flag that lands you in the middle of Brisbane's shopping district — Hilton Brisbane, a tower on Elizabeth Street with its front door practically on the Queen Street Mall pedestrian strip. There are around 319 rooms, each with a flat-screen TV, air-con, and ensuite bathroom. The signature is the lobby: a tall atrium that opens up through several floors, designed by Harry Seidler, one of Australia's most influential architects. Facilities run deep — an outdoor pool, spa, an outdoor tennis court, fitness room, and sauna, plus restaurants, the in-house Brisbane Brewing brewpub, a bar, childcare, a business centre, meeting rooms, an Executive lounge, and valet parking. Wi-Fi is free. Central Station and the Queen's Wharf entertainment precinct are both about 5–6 minutes' walk. Real guests score it 9.0/10 across 182 reviews on Trip.com, with rooms from roughly $185 a night. We'd send couples and business travellers who want a polished hotel right on top of the shops.

The #3 pick puts you in one of the tallest residential towers in Brisbane: Meriton Suites Adelaide Street runs about 234 metres up the northeast corner of the CBD, a short walk from Chinatown Mall and the Brisbane River. There are roughly 216 suites, from studios to 3-bedroom layouts, and the prized Altitude Suites start on the 63rd floor. Every single suite gets a full kitchen — large fridge, oven, coffee machine — plus an in-room washer-dryer, which is the whole point for families and anyone staying more than a few nights. Many units add a balcony with wide city or river views. Downstairs you get an indoor pool, spa, sauna, gym, concierge, on-site parking and free Wi-Fi. Real guests rate it 8.8/10 on Trip.com, and rooms start around $127 a night. Best for couples and families who want a kitchen, a washer and a view from way up high.

Coming in at #4 is the pick with the best riverfront address on this whole list: Stamford Plaza Brisbane. This 5-star hotel sits directly on the Brisbane River on Edward Street, with the City Botanic Gardens right next door — which is why it feels calmer and greener than the towers buried in the shopping core. There are around 252 rooms, each with a minibar, safe, work desk, and an ensuite with a hairdryer; many of them face the river and the gardens. Downstairs you get an outdoor pool, a spa with a jacuzzi, a sauna, a riverside restaurant, bars, room service, and a daily breakfast that runs both Western and Chinese. There's also a sizeable events floor of roughly 784 square metres, a conference centre with 6 meeting rooms, concierge, free Wi-Fi, and valet parking. It's about an 8-minute walk to the Queen Street Mall. Real guests rate it 9.1/10 on Trip.com across 124 reviews, and rooms start around $160 a night. We'd send couples and business travelers here.

Our #5 pick has the most central shopping-district address on the whole list — Next Hotel Brisbane, a modern 5-star that opens straight onto the Queen Street Mall pedestrian strip at 72 Queen Street. Heads-up before you book: it has been rebranded as Hyatt Regency Brisbane — same building, same address, not a closure — and some booking sites still list both names, so check the address matches. Inside are roughly 292 rooms in a contemporary fit-out, each with a 48-inch flat-screen TV, minibar, tea and coffee kit, air-con, and free Wi-Fi; most face the city. The signature draw is the 20 m heated rooftop infinity pool, backed by the Hibiscus Bar & Terrace and the Lennons Restaurant & Bar, plus a gym, concierge, and 24-hour reception. It is about an 8 to 10 minute walk to both Central and Roma Street stations. Guests on Trip.com score it 8.7/10 across 257 reviews, with rooms from around AU$235 a night.

At rank 6 the list shifts to value, and Ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street earns its spot with a location most 5-star hotels would envy. This 4-star Accor property sits on Elizabeth Street, a few steps off the Queen Street Mall pedestrian strip in the heart of the CBD. Rooms are modern and compact, each with a fridge, LED TV, air-con, and en suite. The standouts are a gym open 24 hours, The Social all-day-dining restaurant, and a bar-lounge. What really sells it is the address: the Treasury Casino is roughly 100 metres away, and the Brisbane River and the new Queen's Wharf entertainment precinct are about a 4-minute walk. Central Station is 9 to 10 minutes on foot. Guest reviews on Trip.com average 8.9/10 across 246 stays, and rates start near AU$90 a night — the reason we steer shoppers and solo travelers here over pricier neighbours.

Our #7 pick is also the highest-rated stay on this whole list: Capri by Fraser Brisbane, a 4-star serviced residence from Fraser Hospitality on Albert Street in the heart of the CBD, a flat 5-minute walk from Queen Street Mall and about 0.4 km from the City Botanic Gardens. There are roughly 239 rooms, all done in a clean, contemporary style, and every single one has a kitchenette with a microwave and an espresso machine, air-con, a proper work desk, and an en-suite bathroom. Add a guest pool, an on-site gym, optional Western breakfast, paid private parking (pre-book it), free Wi-Fi, and a guest laundry. What sets it apart is the number: 9.2/10 from 234 reviews on Trip.com, the top score here — guests single out the clean, modern rooms and reliable service. Rates start around AUD$135 a night, and it lands best with couples and business travelers who want a high-scoring room with a kitchen.

Heads up before you book: this hotel was rebranded by IHG as Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre — same building, same address at 27–35 Turbot Street on the western edge of the CBD. It didn't close; some booking sites still list both names. Post-rebrand it's a 4-star boutique with about 212 rooms done in a retro look — deep navy walls and artwork by Queensland artists, so the corridors and rooms actually photograph well. Every room has air-con, a work desk, premium bedding, and an en-suite. Inside you get 24-hour room service, the Izakaya Publico Japanese restaurant, the speakeasy-style 1603 bar, buffet breakfast, a gym, and 24-hour reception. It's a 6–7 minute walk to Queen Street Mall and roughly 250 metres to the Brisbane Quarter precinct. Real guests rate it 8.9/10 across 204 reviews, with rooms from about AUD $130 a night.

At #9 we have the best-value space on the Brisbane list: iStay River City, a 4-star serviced apartment on Albert Street in the heart of the CBD, about a 5-minute walk from the Queen Street Mall. The units are genuine apartments — 55-80 sqm 1-2 bedroom layouts with an open-plan living and dining area, a three-seat sofa facing a big TV, and a separate bedroom with a Queen bed. Every unit has a full kitchen, an in-room washer/dryer, and a large balcony looking out over the city, which makes it an easy pick for families and multi-night stays. There's an outdoor pool, a gym with a spa pool and sauna, and a rooftop terrace with seating and a BBQ. A Coles supermarket sits under the building, the riverside South Bank is about 10 minutes over Victoria Bridge, and Central Station is roughly 6 minutes away. Real guests rate it 8.7/10 on Trip.com, with rooms from around AUD $108 a night.

We close the Brisbane list with the budget pick that earns its keep: the Metropolitan Motor Inn, a 3-star hotel-motel at 106 Leichhardt Street in Spring Hill, two blocks off the CBD edge. One thing to flag before you book — it rebranded to The Metropolitan Spring Hill back in March 2019. Same building, same address, not a closure; some booking sites still list both names. There are around 55 rooms, each with a fridge, LCD TV, air-con and tea/coffee kit, a few with private balconies, all with an ensuite shower. Guests get a sun terrace, the on-site Four Hearts Cafe for lunch and brunch, free on-site parking (subject to space), 24-hour reception and free Wi-Fi. The handy bit: free city loop buses stop right outside, and it's only about 5-7 minutes on foot to Central Station. Real-guest scores sit at 8.7/10 on Trip.com, with rooms from roughly $77 a night — the lowest entry price on this list.