Where to stay in Brisbane in 2026: Rydges South Bank review

A welcoming city located along the twists and turns of the Brisbane River, Queensland’s capital is a hub of great food, cultural experiences, and entertainment. There’s no shortage of fun things to do and great spots to visit, and any excuse will do to take advantage of the blue skies and warm sunshine that bring Brisbane to life. During a two-night stay, I experienced the iconic Rydges South Bank, enjoying an unforgettable meal and taking in spectacular views of my hometown. To help you plan your Brisbane trip in 2026, here’s my detailed review of Rydges South Bank Brisbane.

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Where is the hotel located?

You’ll find the hotel located on Grey Street in South Bank, Brisbane’s cultural precinct. Take a look at the map below. The hotel is in an excellent spot for visitors, allowing easy access to all the major sights around the Brisbane CBD area, Kangaroo Point, South Bank, New Farm, Fortitude Valley, West End and beyond. Visitors can easily explore the area on foot, finding an abundance of entertainment, cultural and dining options or use Uber to get to spots a little further away. In my opinion, South Bank is an excellent place to base yourself!

How to get to Brisbane and your hotel

With a pretty impressive international airport, getting to Brisbane has never been easier. If you’re flying internationally, you may find yourself transiting through Sydney or even Melbourne before catching a domestic flight to Brisbane. A number of budget-friendly airlines now fly to the Gold Coast’s Coolangatta Airport, so if you’re looking to save money on flights, it could be a viable option. Just bear in mind you’ll need to get from the Gold Coast to Brisbane. A hire car is the most convenient option but it can also be done by train, transfer company or even Uber.

On arriving in Brisbane, you’ll need to get from the airport to your accommodation. Brisbane’s CBD is around 20 minutes drive from the airport. Brisbane Airtrain departs every 15 minutes during peak times and every 30 minutes off-peak, taking 20 minutes to get from the airport to CBD with a few stops along the way to suit different accommodation locations. An adult one-way ticket costs around $25 in 2026, though I’d recommend checking the Brisbane Airtrain website for current prices. Depending on the time of day, an Uber from Brisbane Airport to Brisbane CBD should cost around $40-$55 and a taxi around $55-$75. These prices vary depending on whether your driver uses the tunnels, time of day and traffic conditions, so use them as a rough guide. A shared airport transfer service typically costs around $25-$30 for a door-to-door service, and there are car hire agencies at both domestic and international airports. The best option for you depends on group size, arrival time and budget.

What are the rooms like?

Rydges South Bank underwent a significant $30 million refurbishment several years ago and the results still hold up beautifully in 2026. I spent two nights in a Deluxe King Suite River View and the things that impressed me most were the room size and the stunning views of Brisbane.

My suite, 1015, was located on the 10th floor, nestled on the corner of the hotel. The private balcony wrapped around the front and side of the suite, affording stunning views over South Bank, the Brisbane CBD skyline and out to West End, Petrie Terrace and beyond. The side portion is spacious with two chairs and a small side table, the perfect spot to sit and relax in the warm afternoon sunshine with a great glass of wine or cold drink.

Inside, the suite was a generous suite complete with an entryway, kitchenette, a large living area featuring a desk and chair, small table and chairs, L-shape lounge and huge flat-screen television. With such a great view outside, having a living area of this size was perfect as, with the curtains drawn open, it felt like we were enjoying Brisbane the entire time, even when we were indoors relaxing. 

We found the desk area useful for editing photos and catching up on emails, while the small table was the perfect spot to sit and have a bite to eat. I actually used the table as my morning make-up spot as it offered the perfect lighting. The couch area was very comfortable, giving us plenty of spots to sit and relax.

The separate bedroom featured a very comfortable king-size bed adorned with a large number of pillows! I mention this because sometimes at hotels you find yourself with only one or two pillows, occasionally of very questionable quality. It was great to have a large number of pillows to choose from.

Being so close to the CBD and freeway, with lots of traffic passing through South Bank each day, I was curious how noisy the room would be. When I shut the balcony doors and bedroom door, I couldn’t hear a peep. The room is completely dark once you close the curtains and turn the bedside alarm clock off, which I appreciated as someone who needs pitch darkness to sleep properly.

The bedroom itself was a great size and with such magnificent views and generous living space, I found myself not needing to spend much time in there, so it really was a smart use of space. The bathroom sits off the bedroom, a modern space with a very large mirror, walk-in shower, bathtub, and single basin.

The shower had great water pressure and plenty of hot water. I also noticed a few modern touches in the bathroom which were really great, like the mirror being anti-fog in one spot right above the basin and the mirror having this great lighting behind it!

There is a range of different room types to choose from depending on your personal preference and budget. They include Queen or Twin, Superior Queen or Twin, Deluxe Queen or Twin and onto Junior, King Two Bedroom, Two Bedroom Superior and Deluxe King River View Suites.

Let’s talk about the food situation

A stay in South Bank will see you spoilt for choice when it comes to dining options. There’s no shortage of fantastic cafes, restaurants, cafes, and bars all within walking distance of the hotel. But, I want to talk about the on-site dining.

I started my stay with a visit to Soleil Pool Bar, located on one of the lower floors overlooking Grey Street. It was a Friday afternoon so the pool bar had a great pre-weekend buzz with a live DJ playing great songs to set the mood. I enjoyed some delicious cocktails and shared a burger, greek salad, and trio of dips with Turkish bread from the grazing menu. Everything was really delicious and the service was great too.

When it comes to breakfast you can opt to head down to Bacchus Restaurant for their buffet and barista-made coffee or order in-room dining from the ‘Replenish’ menu, complete with a glass of Moët, if you like! You can also find CBD Cafe Bar Dining offer breakfast, lunch and dinner favourites like stone-baked pizza, salads, burgers and more. If you fancy a special afternoon, Bacchus also puts on a spectacular High Tea, complete with freshly baked goodies, tea, coffee and a little something stronger, if you prefer.

By far, the most memorable dining experience from my stay was the exceptional four-course degustation at Bacchus Restaurant. Each course was absolutely delicious, giving me the chance to try things I’d never tried before and enjoy a true food experience. Not only was the food amazing but sommelier Andrew did an outstanding job pairing wine perfectly with my meal. I’m fairly inexperienced when it comes to wine and Andrew chose perfectly, explaining everything in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-appreciate way.

What other facilities does the hotel have?

While we spent most of our time enjoying the room, eating delicious food or exploring, it’s important to take note of the hotels’ other amenities. The on-site gym was overhauled during the refurbishment, featuring brand new machines and a sauna. While not huge, the gym offers a great variety of machines and free weights to get in a great workout!

The swimming pool, located next to Soleil Pool Bar is located on the lower floors, overlooking Grey Street. It’s probably about the same size as a pool you might find at your friend’s house, for example, with nearby Streets Beach complementing it nicely.

The hotel offers a valet parking service, concierge, in-room dining and there’s a business centre with two desktop macs located in the foyer. Personally, I think the hotel’s location is such a strength as it ads on all these extra amenities simply by them being so close. You’ve got a great variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars located very closeby as well as the amazing swimming at nearby Streets Beach and entertainment galore in the surrounding area.

I made the most of the location by heading to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), located a very quick five-minute walk from Rydges South Bank. I saw ‘The Book of Mormon’ and absolutely loved it. It was a great evening out, getting dressed up, having food and drinks at Soleil Pool Bar and then walking over for the show, taking some time to stroll through the gardens and along the water at South Bank. It was perfect.

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The verdict…

There are a large number of hotels in Brisbane so when it comes time to choose one, you really have to look at what sets them apart. For me, Rydges South Bank stood out for its perfect location, fantastic views and the delicious degustation offered at Bacchus Restaurant.

For those visiting from out of town, the hotel offers everything you could need, including great dining options, convenient location, and comfortable surroundings. For locals on a staycation, the location makes it absolutely perfect for taking advantage of all the great entertainment and dining options nearby. As a local, I loved watching the show at QPAC, having a really special dining experience and exploring my hometown again.

The hotel is classy and quiet, meaning it would suit anyone from a couple on a weekend getaway to a family visiting from overseas or even someone on a business trip. Even if you don’t stay at the hotel, I’d recommend visiting Bacchus to sample the degustation as a special dining experience. It was a truly memorable meal and well worth the visit.

My two-night stay at Rydges South Bank was generously hosted by the hotel. This review was not paid for and all opinions are, as always, my own.

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