The Westin Brisbane: A five-star hotel devoted to your wellbeing

Offering marshmallow-soft bedding, in-room fitness gear and healthy Mediterranean meals, The Westin Brisbane lavishly fuels inner-city exploration.

As wellness tourism thrives and boutique stays with razor-sharp attention to detail dazzle, I’d begun to overlook our big-chain stalwarts. Ditching been-there-done-that comfort for shiny newness, I became totally fixated on one-bettering my last experience. Checking into The Westin Brisbane in December 2025, my foolish fear of missing out was acutely remedied. A five-star leader since its November 2018 unveiling, it remains one of Australia’s most plush hotels while expediting genuine holistic wellbeing. Let me walk you through my stay at The Westin Brisbane.

Where is The Westin Brisbane?

the Nautilus Pool and Bar at The Westin Brisbane — The idyllic The Westin Brisbane is within walking distance to Queen Street Mall.

I tackle Brisbane CBD’s concrete jungle to find The Westin Brisbane situated a few blocks back from the Brisbane River and within walking distance to Queen Street Mall’s shops. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Brisbane Airport and within a sea of city skyrises, so whoever is driving should follow Maps closely to ensure you don’t miss its busy street entrance (like I nearly did). I snap up underground valet parking for $60 per day, and highly recommend it as the concierge team are very speedy and professional.

What is the style and character of The Westin Brisbane?

inside The Westin Renewal Suite Lounge — The Renewal Suite Lounge dials up the glamour.

It’s been almost a decade since The Westin Brisbane opened, but the design by the globally acclaimed Woods Bagot, an architectural company founded in Adelaide, holds strong. Famed for projects spanning a Los Angeles’ LAX Airport portion, Sydney Central Station and Dubai’s Six Senses Residences, the team built a tower that embraces, even morphs into, its surroundings, before dialling up the glamour inside rooms and suites. The lobby is crafted from exposed concrete, stone and glass while timbers and curved finishes soften the urban elegance. What really delights me is the signature scent that drifts throughout the entire hotel, a Westin signature White Tea that blends aloe vera, vanilla and cedar. It’s deliciously fancy-fresh without ever overpowering.

What facilities does The Westin Brisbane have?

a couple relaxing at Nautilus swim-up pool bar, The Westin Brisbane — Nautilus is Brisbane’s only swim-up pool bar.

There’s no denying it – The Westin Brisbane wins significant points for its swim-up bar. It claims to be the city’s only swim-up bar, in fact. Located on level 2P, Nautilus Pool and Bar is a slick slice of inner-city indulgence with deep city views – think gazing into other skyscraper windows and balconies – and/ submerged pool lounges. I order a perfectly spiced margarita (just the right amount of requested extra heat) to help wash down a serving of fish tacos under a partially covered section of the indoor-outdoor space. It’s a clever design as I dine comfortably, shielded from the day’s sun, before dipping into the heated pool for lashings of sunlight. Fending off that notorious Queensland climate one step further, an ice cream menu offers eight unique varieties spanning Drumsticks, icy poles and Connoisseur. I lean in, slurping mine at one of the swim-up bar seats as my legs kick beneath the water. Bliss.

Right next to the pool is the equally impressive WestinWORKOUT, a hotel gym with a line of treadmills, all the presses, bikes, ergs, gear spanning everything from boxing gloves to yoga mats, refrigerated towels, dry towels and even headphones upon request. I smash out a treadmill sprint in a corner that overlooks Nautilus pool and the serene views push me to sweat it out longer than usual.

There’s also the Westin Club lounge on level 3, and if you’re staying in a Club Room or a Renewal Suite (more on that soon), you get daily complimentary access from 6:30am to 10:30pm. I find a continental breakfast and a couple of additional hot buffet-style dishes until 10:30am each morning, while canapes, wines, beers and charcuterie line the benchtops from 5:00pm until 7:00pm. It’s a lovely perk with ample seating and a few flat-screen TVs, and guests without lounge inclusion can purchase access for $150 per day.

The Westin Brisbane is also home to Heavenly Spa, one of the best Brisbane day spas. Located next door to the lounge on level 3, it’s a beautiful, calming oasis filled with super experienced and passionate spa therapists like Elena who performs my 60-minute Purifying Detox Facial. While the treatment itself is illuminating and filled with just the right number of actives, Elena discusses my skin in-depth and her ingredient and brand knowledge blows my mind.

What are the rooms like at The Westin Brisbane?

a suite with a balcony at The Westin Brisbane — Settle into sophisticated indulgence.

My favourite thing about The Westin Brisbane (and it’s a tough call because nothing disappoints) is my room: Westin Renewal Suite number 706. While all 298 rooms and suites extend the minimalistic elegance of the hotel’s lobby, the Westin Renewal Suites feature the brand’s signature ‘Heavenly Bed’ with temperature regulation and peak softness due to a plush-top mattress and gel-infused memory foam. It is the fluffiest hotel bed I’ve experienced in years, and I bat at the quilt while watching TV because it fluffs like microwaved popcorn to almost obstruct my view. A truly privileged first world problem, I know.

Additionally, everything is angled towards ensuring I get quality shut-eye. At my bedside, I find a lavender balm to roll on pulse points, an eye mask, ear plugs and a QR code that links to white noise if the hum of the city proves bothersome (I never hear it once, mind you, even as heavy construction across the road continued through the wee hours). Plus, that gorgeous White Tea scent is found throughout the amenities (body wash, shampoo, conditioner and body cream) so all five senses are ravished.

Two WestinWORKOUT gear lending kits help lull me even further into a state of Zen. Delivered direct to my door upon request, one is a bag containing a yoga mat, Bala balance blocks, Bala resistance bands and Bala weighted bangles, while the other is a large freezer bag-esque box containing two high-tech massage tools. It’s an incredible initiative, offering me a chance to bend and stretch without the awkwardness of a gym floor dotted with strangers.

Other room highlights include a freestanding tub next to a rain showerhead and double white vanity built on beautiful grey marble, a vanity kit complete with a Dyson hair dryer, hair combs, nail care kit, mouth wash and more, a spacious work station fitted with a USB port and power outlet, touch-operated lamp, brown leather cushioned seat and an ergonomically sound table, ultra fluffy white robes and white slippers, and a separate living area with its own flat-screen TV and lounge. Oh, and there’s a separate powder room and toilet because, well, five-star.

What food and drink options are there at The Westin Brisbane?

a spread of food on the table at The Westin Brisbane — Dine on health-conscious options.

Another serious drawcard, The Westin Brisbane is where you’ll find the acclaimed fine dining restaurant Settimo from legendary chef Guy Grossi, which is undoubtedly one of the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane. I take the elevator down to level 1 where I’m greeted with adorable tiny orange dots leading me to the restaurant’s doors. It’s playful already and the joy flows inside, especially when I get to talking to Settimo’s sensational restaurant manager, Gianmarco. A master of wine, he perfectly pairs my Tagliarini alle Vongole with a Chianti from the restaurant’s ‘Cellar Selection’, a genius collective that invites guests to sample high-quality, often expensive bottles by the glass. The vibe is warm, and even more so at breakfast the following morning where a daily buffet is served at a rate of $49 per guest. I love a buffet breakfast, and this one excels as peak produce refines traditional offerings like the sauteed mushrooms which blend field and portobello varieties with herbs. My favourite station is the Amalfi corner, stocked with beetroot panzanella and pumpkin and feta salads, sliced tomatoes, bocconcini, loose leaves and obligatory bottles of olive oil. Right behind, in a large fridge, I dress my veg with a selection of cold cuts. When in the Med, I say.

There’s also The Charles, a more casual cafe that doubles as a cocktail bar in the afternoon and evening. It’s located on the ground floor right by the hotel’s check-in counters and opens onto a side alley and Mary Street, so it’s great for people watching at every hour of the day.

In-room dining is also fabulous as it serves me a killer Sambuca-laced tiramisu whipped up in Settimo’s kitchen. I love how there are dedicated health-conscious options, too. An ‘Eat Well Menu’ spans soups, a grilled salmon and a vegetable risotto while a ‘Sleep Well Menu’ (yep, they’re championing sleep again) is centred on crucial vitamins and minerals like folate, magnesium, potassium and serotonin.

The cherries on top are the two Everleigh Bottling Co. bottled cocktails – a negroni and an espresso martini – on the in-room dining menu, the former of which I delight in as a long-time lover of the Melbourne brand (and bar). Very cool, Westin Brisbane.

Does The Westin Brisbane have access for guests with disabilities?

It sure does. The Westin Brisbane offers special features for guests with access needs across its Premium City and Club City View King accessible room types, including roll-in showers, bathroom grab rails and extra space. I also spotted braille etched into each of the buttons inside the lift, and I was told the team could organise a pool hoist at Nautilus upon request. Even better? Settimo is accessible via a wheelchair-friendly elevator from the outside of the hotel, so sashaying in for a post-exploration aperitif is practically seamless.

Is The Westin Brisbane family-friendly?

Families are welcome to lap up The Westin Brisbane, with children offered multiple tailored food menus while the swimming pool’s shaded areas ensure minimal sunscreen reapplication. I even spot youngsters smashing juice and sweets in the Westin Club, but parents should note that kids under the age of 16 aren’t allowed beyond 6pm. The ultimate selling point for families? The Westin King Suite sleeps up to five guests, while other rooms deliver a rollaway bed upon request. Sleeping the full clan will evidently prove as luxurious as going stag.

Details

Best for: Business travellers and couples

Address: 111 Mary St, Brisbane

Price: Rooms start from $322, while the Westin Renewal Suite starts from $626

From the moment you arrive in Moreton Bay, stunning natural vistas, fresh and tasty dining, history and more invite you to stay and play.

Untouched national park, mirror-like lagoons and endless stretches of beaches all make Moreton Bay experiences feel like you’ve stumbled across a secret Queenslanders collectively vowed not to tell. Yet it’s easily accessible. Explore further and discover hinterland farms, ancient rainforest, fresh seafood and more: there’s something on offer for every pace, interest and generation.

Just 20 minutes from Brisbane Airport, it’s hard to believe how underrated this Queensland getaway is. Here’s your ultimate guide to rediscover play with unmissable experiences in Moreton Bay.

1. G’Day Adventure Tours, Bribie Island

G’Day Adventure Tours’ Sea to Table Experience should be your first agenda item in Moreton Bay. Take a 4WD journey through the sandy tracks of Bribie Island’s beaches to the still, glassy waters of the island’s lagoons. Glide over perfect replicas of paperbarks and fluffy blue clouds mirrored in the lagoon waters in your kayak. Listen as native birdsong echoes around you.

Then, it’s on to Fort Bribie. During the Second World War, these concrete bunkers – now slowly being enveloped by the dunes – were the last line of defence for Moreton Bay.

End the day with a sun-dappled beach picnic of locally caught Queensland prawns and famous Moreton Bay bugs. As you head home, watch the dolphins playfully dart in and out of the surf.

2. Morgan’s Seafood at Scarborough

Right on the Scarborough Boat Harbour, you’ll find Morgan’s Seafood . Between the luxury yachts, you’ll also spot trawlers and fishermen delivering their day’s catch right to Morgan’s. The family-owned and operated spot is one of the best places to try the region’s eponymous Moreton Bay bug. Or, sample more of the area’s direct-from-the-boat seafood fresh at their oyster and sushi bar. If you’re lucky, your visit might coincide with a day they’ve caught tuna.

Picture fish caught that day, prepared and then served to you as fresh sashimi as the sun sets over the unique silhouette of the Glasshouse Mountains.

3. Woorim Beach, Bribie Island

On Bribie’s eastern coastline, you’ll find Woorim Beach : aka the closest surf beach to Brisbane. Find a place on the sand by the patrolled area or wander further south to find a quiet spot and while the day away between the shaded dunes, the pages of your book and the peaceful sound of rolling waves.

Ask any local where to grab lunch, and they’ll direct you to Bribie Island Surf Club Bistro . Tuck into a fresh, local seafood platter, just metres from the beach.

4. D’Aguilar National Park

D’Aguilar National Park is a 40,000-hectare slice of greenery that stretches from urban Brisbane right up to Woodford (home of the Woodford Folk Festival). The vast expanse of park is home to ancient rainforests, eucalypt forests and shaded swimming spots hidden within gorges and under waterfalls. The area is significant for the Jinibara and Turrbal people, with ceremonial bora rings and dreaming trails all found within the park.

Carve out some time in your itinerary to explore the park’s many trails. The Maiala day-use area is the perfect starting point for walks for all levels of ability.

5. Arcade Wine Bar

arcade wine bar moreton bay — Sit down to a menu inspired by Italy.

Opposite the Redcliffe Jetty and down a laneway, you’ll find an unassuming wine bar. Venture inside and quickly fall in love with Arcade Wine Bar , one of the region’s most beloved local haunts.

Owners Danilo and Matt have a combined 50 years of sommelier experience, which they have poured into the menu, styling and wine list. More than just a hole-in-the-wall wine bar, Arcade Wine is an enoteca (a wine repository), whose walls are lined with bottles upon bottles of Italian wine varietals from every corner of Italy.

Settle in with a wine and work your way through the menu inspired by Danilo’s native Italy: traditional meatballs, their quick-to-sell-out terrine, or a selection of Italian cheeses, charcuterie and arancini.

6. Wamuran & Loop Rail Trail

Away from the ocean, tucked in the hinterland, is the Wamuran & Loop Rail Trail . Perfect for cyclists or walkers, the trail was built to showcase the history of the Caboolture to Kilcoy rail corridor (last operating in 1964) and makes for the perfect family day out. The trail runs for 10.5km and connects Wamuran and Caboolture via an accessible path.

Pass through former railroad, bridges and shaded bushland as you cut from A to B. Plus, visit in winter for a detour along the way to one of the many pick-your-own strawberry farms.

7. Farm Visits

Beaches, mountains and history make an enticing combination. But Moreton Bay also brings hinterland, family-friendly farms to the table. Trevena Glen is one of the area’s most loved, with bunnies, ponies, sheep, alpacas (and more) available to visit for the kids. For the adults, book a horse-riding session and be treated to a grazing platter as you watch the sun set over the mountains of D’Aguilar National Park.

At White Ridge Farm , find camels, putt-putt, train and tractor rides and all kinds of animals. The entire farm is paved, making it accessible for all.

8. Miss Sprinkles

Miss Sprinkles Gelato moreton bay — Pick your scoop at Miss Sprinkles Gelato.

An ice cream at the beach is one of life’s most perfect pleasures. While in town, stop by Miss Sprinkles for the locals’ pick of homemade gelato on the Scarborough foreshore.

The gelato here is made the authentic Italian way and scooped up just across from the beach. Or, settle in at their kitschy pink wooden tables for traditional gelato in the sunshine. Aside from the homemade gelato, you’ll also find tarts, pies and even doggie gelato.

To start planning your Moreton Bay trip, or for more information, head to visitmoretonbay.com.au.