Emporium Hotel Review, Brisbane
Written by Olivia Richardson: 05-May-2008
So saucy, quirky and unique...
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The vibe
The Emporium Hotel is so fab and eclectic/random! Think hot-chili red hues, fairy-style lights, enough mirrors to freak out the witch from Snow White, elegant chandeliers; zebra-striped, Mad-Hatter-style seats with a totally cute Fiat 500 being promo-ed out the front. It's totally whack-ness meets chic boutique.
Perfect for...
You and your man (unique romp) or for a chic girly trip.
Love
* The chic touches! They do the girly thing really well... E.g. they have GHD hair straighteners/curlers and products you can loan (free), a 'pillow menu' – you choose from 8 deluxe types (anti-snore included), twice-daily housekeeping (for the evening turn down – they give you Lindt chocolates and bottled water as well as the normal goodies), and there's a mini bar with yummy snacks and handy items such as tampons and condoms (!). They can also arrange hair treatments and cuts, and private massages (around $110) in your suite, plus a Porsche and a picnic ($545); a romantic, 'surprise' night-time room setting with wine, candles and rose petals strewn over the bed ($60) and more pampering treats.
* The precinct is gorgeous! Think Toni & Guy, suave shops, swanky yet full-of-personality restaurants. Try the very Moroccan-meets-Turkey boho chic Mecca Bah restaurant – amazing! On the opposite side of the road is a Maserati/Rolls Royce, etc. dealership if you want to spend up big. 
* The HUGE 106cm plasma TV with a Bose sound system in front of amazingly soft king-sized beds you could just get lost in. They offer 10 free cable TV channels and have movies on demand. We (hot hubby and I) loved the room so much we stayed another night and just didn't want to leave... like ever.
* The quirky-chic decorations. Lewis Carol would be pleased.
* The rooftop heated pool complete with sauna and white leather-looking sunbaking lounges. 
* The facilities: gym, 24-hour business centre with internet access, 24-hour in-suite dining, total smoke-free environment, wireless high-speed broadband internet, cocktail bar, 24-hour reception, valet parking ($25 per night), free local phone calls, washing machine and clothes dryer.
Not so keen on
* Breakfast doesn't necessarily come included in your room-rate cost.
* The clothes dryer WON'T open until the cycle is over! So don't crank the timer up!
* How you have to pay for valet parking (should be free for guests? Maybe I'm just being picky now...).
Drive there in...
A Fiat 500! So cute! So chic, so the vibe! The Fiat 500 is the cutest car on the block and has a quirky-cute yet retro-chic edge to it. Perfect for your trip around Brisbane (great for city tripping), munches on only 4.2 litres of fuel to get you 100km (less fuel than a Toyota Prius!) and totally fits in with the décor and look of the totally chic-cute-quirky Emporium Hotel!
Price
Emporium hotel rooms start at $295 a double per night.
Our ratings
Location: 4/5
Décor and design: 5/5
Cleanliness: 5/5
Staff and service: 4/5
Attention to detail: 5/5
Chic-factor: 5/5 (quirky, non-snooty chic)
Total: 5/5
Directions
Emporium Hotel is only about 15 minutes from Brisbane Airport and 5 minutes from the CDB (both by car). Find specific directions by car, bus or train here.
Things to do in Brisbane
Contact
Emporium Hotel
1000 Ann Street
Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006
Ph: (07) 3253 6999
1300 883 611
www.emporiumhotel.com.au
