The Calile Hotel
Hotel · Fortitude Valley
48 James St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, Australia
Highlights
Chic hotel with a stunning pool, spa, gym, and dining options
Chic hotel with a stunning pool, spa, gym, and dining options
"A striking 175-room urban hotel acclaimed for its singular architecture and lush subtropical landscaping, praised for decades-long placemaking by its owners and for pragmatic yet polished service; features a pool deck Greek restaurant and sits at the heart of a vibrant precinct filled with dining options." - David Prior
"The Calile Hotel is located in the hip arts, nightlife, and shopping hub of Fortitude Valley’s James Street Precinct in Brisbane. Opened in 2018 with a $66 million investment, it is Australia's first urban resort, offering a Mediterranean twist in design with white brick, marble, and arches. The hotel has 164 rooms, including 11 suites, designed sustainably using materials like cork. It features a lively pool scene, a buzzing lobby bar, and a rooftop garden that supplies ingredients for its restaurants. The hotel hosts cultural events and is known for its welcoming and fun staff, attracting celebrity guests who enjoy the laid-back atmosphere. Sustainability efforts include a solar panel array and composting bins. Guests can explore the area with free e-bikes and enjoy discounts through the Friends of Calile program." - Leena Tailor
"Located in Brisbane’s James Street precinct, this 175-room hotel channels 1960s motel and midcentury Miami aesthetics with a breezy, design-forward vibe, sage-and-pistachio interiors, poolside DJ sets and a social program called Calile Culture that brings writers and creatives to the property. The lively dining scene (including Hellenika) and nearby neighborhood favorites make it a stylish, laid-back base for exploring the city’s growing design and food districts." - Jennifer Flowers, Krisanne Fordham, Laura Dannen Redman
"Set the scene for us. The city’s most anticipated opening. From the outside, it’s all geometric white brick and concrete blocks; inside, the first thing that hits guests coming in from the glaring sub-tropical sun is the cool of the lobby—in both senses—from the marble of the check-in counter to the young staff wearing linen uniforms designed by hip Aussie brand Bassike. What's the story behind it? Brother owners Cal and Michael Malouf are the developers behind the James Street district, and have transformed it from a light industrial zone into a must-visit shopping and dining destination. The hotel is named after their great grandfather who came to Australia in 1892 and created his own retail empire in Brisbane. What can we expect in our room? A gorgeous mash-up of materials: a raw concrete ceiling, leather day bed, marble table and cork-lined walls. All the honey-hued timber joinery is bespoke and brass light fittings add a dash of glamour. Even the smallest Essential rooms are a decent size; some, such as Poolside, have a generous, curved balcony overlooking the action below. How about the food and drink? Greek restaurant Hellenika (the original is on the Gold Coast) is all pale timber, marble and brass light fittings. But the best bit is that it serves poolside, both on its own terrace and to the cabanas. The menu is full of classics—flaky spanakopita, aubergine moussaka, chicken souvlaki—which somehow taste much cleaner and fresher than typical taverna fare. For breakfast, try The Onassis: streaky bacon, loukanika (Greek sausages), olive-oil fried eggs, fresh tomato, a lamb cutlet, and toast. Anything to say about the service? Staff are crisp and efficient, like their uniforms. Who comes here? Fortitude Valley ladies who like to shop. All the best local fashion brands—Dion Lee, Camilla & Marc, Bassike—are to be found at the base of the hotel. What’s the neighborhood scene like? The James Street precinct is the epicenter of Brisbane cool and there are around 130 boutiques, restaurants and bars in the immediate vicinity. The lively lobby bar is accessible from the street, making it the go-to for shopped-out locals in need of a spritz-fix. Anything else we should know? The 30-meter-pool is lined with palm trees and smart cabanas. The gym and spa are both designed with the same extreme attention to detail as the rest of the hotel. No fuss, but it’s far from basic. Is it worth it—and why? Among a raft of Brisbane hotel openings, this one stands out for its contemporary architecture and considered design." - Stephen Todd
"Brisbane’s cosmopolitan arts and nightlife district of Fortitude Valley is the setting for the Calile Hotel, an urban boutique-style hotel that nevertheless feels a bit like a beachfront resort — though its central pool does its best as a stand-in for the ocean. Rooms look out over the pool or the Brisbane skyline, and are decorated in a handsome and soothing palette of soft blues and rosy earth tones. Meanwhile the Kailo Medispa and the well-equipped Gymnasium further the luxury-resort vibe." - Mark Fedeli
