Hotel Review: Pullman Brisbane King George Square

It was a comfortable stay in the CBD with probably the best buffet breakfast Brisbane has to offer.

We escaped from the Gold Coast to Brisbane’s CBD for one night to enjoy a fun city break without the kids.

Due to rainy weather and private function bookings, we did not have the opportunity to take advantage of the bars and restaurants on site for dinner. But we really enjoyed our sleep (thanks, blackout curtains) and fueled up for the day with a hearty breakfast of omelettes, donuts, lamingtons, and more.

The cost

As a 5 star hotel, the Pullman Brisbane has appropriate 5 star rates. For the night we stayed the rate was $426 with breakfast or $384 without.

The location

Right in the middle of the CBD at King George Square, the hotel is within walking distance of shops, bars, and restaurants in and around Queen Street Mall.

It’s also right next to Brisbane City Hall if you’re attending an event there.

The decor

The style is minimal and neutral, with grays and black as the main colors.

The blackout curtains were a dream, but there was a slight downside: there was a tiny but very effective bright blue light emanating from the smoke detector above our bed that illuminated the room while we slept.

The check-in/check-out process

During our stay the parking lot was temporarily closed which was a little tricky as the process involved dropping bags off and then turning around the corner to another parking lot and walking back.

It wasn’t a big deal for us and the staff were very helpful. As a bonus, we didn’t have to pay the standard $50 parking fee.

Bedroom

The king-size bed was super comfortable and there was a small desk suitable for typing on a laptop.

The room was professional and tidy overall, although in some areas a bit tired. The bathrooms would benefit from being redesigned and refreshed. In our room at least it was difficult to put on makeup as the bathroom lighting was dim and the main room lighting was not brighter.

The food

The highlight of our stay was the buffet breakfast at the Goldfinch restaurant.

There were more options than I have ever seen before: every type of egg you can imagine, lots of hot options, fruit, breads, pastries and cakes.

All the food was very good quality and accompanied by barista coffee.

The installations

We were hoping to check out some of the on-site restaurants, but due to rain, rooftop bar Sixteen Antlers (pictured below) was closed.

Enjoying a cocktail with a panoramic view of the city wasn’t an option, so we headed to the bar downstairs, but it was full due to a private reception.

So we headed over to Goldfish and enjoyed some tasty cocktails and plates to share.

The verdict

A combination of a killer location and an amazing buffet breakfast pushes this hotel to the top of my list for a comfortable stay in Brisbane. With a few tweaks (like better bathroom lighting) it would be perfect, but we would definitely book another stay.

Book your stay at Pullman Brisbane King George Square.

Sarah Megginson stayed as a guest of Pullman Hotels.