Voulez-vous coucher avec nous ce soir? Will you sleep with us tonight is the cheeky question on the door key at the New Inchcolm Hotel & Suites, and it's certainly not hard to answer yes.
Following an $8 million refurbishment and restoration program, Inchcolm is an AAA 5-star hotel with 50 elegant room options including Brisbane's first loft-style apartments. It's also the first Brisbane hotel for the upscale MGallery Collection of hotels.
Step back into Brisbane's history with elegance.
You might be tempted go retro or dig out a flapper style dress for this hotel because the building deserves a level of elegance and style. Leave your thongs (footwear style) at home.
Built in the 1920s in the neo-Georgian style, the hotel is an eclectic blend of new and old elements with memory rich heritage treasures to highlight the hotel's history. The building has always been known as Inchcolm and was named after Inchcolm Island in Scotland by its builder Dr. John Thomson. Brisbane locals with a long city connection will remember it as Dr. Thomson's medical practice and medical specialist rooms. My grandmother was a patient of Dr. Thomson and used to visit him at Inchcolm and current building owner, Peter Flynn was born in the building.
Flynn bought Inchcolm with the vision of creating a New York style boutique hotel which opened in 1998. The New Inchcolm Hotel & Suites is a significantly upgraded venue with spaces that are welcoming, quirky and surprising.
It's refreshing to step back into Brisbane's history this way and a little glimpse into how things used to be, albeit a very glammed up version. There was even talk of a ghost around the dinner table which is not unusual in a building of age, but I can't report any unusual bumps in the night.
One step inside the foyer and the building reveals its heritage bones with a tessellated tiled hallway, and rich wood paneled walls. The Socialites Bar is a place for a quiet drink while Thomson's Reserve Restaurant offers food with well-developed flavours and prepared with skill.
Take the old cage lift up to the rooms which have been kitted out with cosy beds, glamorous bathrooms, and enough one-off furniture items so that it feels more like a guest room in a mansion than a hotel room.
At the rear is a new section which replaced an outdoor pool terrace with a series of plush loft suites. The double level window provides a new Brisbane view that's sure to become very sought after. Downstairs is a comfortable lounge area with stairs leading up to the bedroom and designer bathroom.
There are lots of little touches designed to enhance the guest experience from the local New Farm sweets in the mini bar to the welcome message written on the bathroom mirror. I couldn't resist flicking through the brand new Vogue magazine on the coffee table. This is a hotel room that's hard to leave.
There's also plenty to like in Thomson's Reserve Restaurant where I enjoyed a stylish six-course degustation which included sous vide rolled wagyu tenderloin with smoked gnocchi and carrots (pictured at top), pressed organic duck leg and breast with purple sweet potato and heirloom beets.
To finish there was a wonderful concoction of white chocolate, fizzy honeycomb and orange curd topped with a golden cherry meringue.
Inchcolm Hotel & Suites
My room - 410
Recommended for - Travellers looking for a special experience, anniversaries or special liaisons.
Best tip: Make sure you turn the shower on full heat and then turn backward to set the temperature.
Bottom line: Rooms start at $219 although check for specials.
Kerry Heaney
Disclaimer: Ed+bK was a guest of Inchcolm Hotel
