Rocking Into Ovolo The Valley With Major Tom

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Rock Star Suite at Ovolo The Valley in Brisbane. — *The Major Tom suite is a massive space that channels David Bowie.*

Ground control to Major Tom, you’ve really made the grade with the Rock Star Suite at Ovolo The Valley. Art, music, and pop culture meet head-on in this quirky Brisbane hotel, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the hotel’s two premium suites.

Channeling David Bowie, we checked into the Major Tom suite, a massive 76m² galaxy-sized space with a lounge, full-sized dining table, kitchenette/bar, separate king-sized bedroom and stunning ensuite bathroom. The hotel’s other Rock Star Suite, Purple Rain, is similarly proportioned.

Both carry the stamp of Ovolo Hotels founder, Girish Jhunjhnuwala, who is an avid music fan and brings a personal and playful touch to his boutique designer hotels. Driven by the very things he likes and dislikes about hotels and travel, the Hong Kong-based owner embraces a concept of “all inclusive”. A key feature is the daily Apero Hour with the first round of drinks on the house, along with complimentary self-laundry facilities, breakfast and superspeed wifi.

*Pops of colour around the king-sized bed add to the show-stopping décor.*

At Ovolo The Valley, there’s even a ‘hair service menu’ allowing guests to choose complimentary TRESemmé haircare products that suit their particular hair type. And for those who are still big kids at heart, the foyer beckons with a Candy Bar including a jar full of the teeth lollies that were a prized part of my childhood. (Dare I confess to having a weakness for them still?)

The chameleon of rock is playing as we get our first glimpse of the Major Tom suite, though we quickly discover that the turntable and records are just for show and the music is playing on Alexa.

Original artworks and striking decorative pieces are dotted throughout the suite, and before long, we’re slipping our shoes off and kicking back on the lounge with some of the books that have been provided, including a Bowie Biographic and a photographic essay on street art.

*The ingredients left for us to mix our own cocktails.*

The ingredients have been left for us to mix our own cocktails, but at this point we’re hanging out for a refreshing cuppa (loving the Tea Drop tea). There’s also a coffee pod machine if that’s your thing.

The suite has not just one but two bathrooms, the main one with a double vanity, walk-in rain shower and standalone tub for long soaks. Admirably, like many ethically aware hotels, it is stocked with Who Gives A Crap toilet paper and refillable toiletries.

The king-sized bed has a velvet bedhead and pink tassels hanging from the bedside light – pops of colour that add to the show-stopping décor. There are weights and a yoga mat in our room, and a rooftop pool for some necessary exercise. But Apero hour is calling so we’re off to the Kazba for our welcome drink, a refreshing peach spritz served with a generous selection of olives and other nibbles.

The eye-catching foyer at Ovolo The Valley. — *The eye-catching foyer welcomes guests to Ovolo The Valley.*

Best vegetarian restaurant

The bar and adjoining Za Za Ta restaurant have an exotic Middle Eastern / 1940’s cocktail armoire ambience, with a touch of old Queenslander in the white shutters and rattan bar stools. There’s a great cocktail and G & T list with Signature creations like Sultan’s Affair, a blend of Ambleside No 8 Gin, Regal Rogue, lychee, prosecco, hibiscus and citrus.

The cocktails are mixed, muddled, and infused with spices that might be found in a Middle Eastern market, along with citrus and indigenous botanicals. There’s also a good selection of Zero Proof cocktails and a wine list with a slant towards artisan producers.

Za Za Ta was named Queensland’s Best Vegetarian Restaurant in Delicious magazine’s 2022 ‘100 list’. Its menu entices with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours, all presented with a distinctly modern approach. Restaurants throughout the Ovolo collection of hotels went vegetarian during Covid, perhaps in keeping with its founder’s self-declared vegetarian status.

*One of the cosy spaces in Kazbah, as quirky as the rest of the property.*

It’s been a successful move for the group — not surprisingly, since even many meat-eaters (like us) are conscious of incorporating more vegetarian dishes in our diet. Designed for sharing, the dishes at Za Za Ta include flavour bombs such as Shish barak pumpkin dumplings with parsnip yoghurt and burnt butter; and Barbecued cauliflower shawarma with labneh mornay.

But it’s the starter we really can’t get enough of — a delicious haloumi doughnut with chilli jam and pomegranate, the prelude to an eclectic feast that concludes with a single Medjool date each (stuffed with almond and orange) and a piece of rosewater Turkish delight. Set menus with matching wines are also available.

Part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection, Ovolo The Valley is a short stroll away from numerous live music venues, pubs, restaurants, cafés and rooftop cocktail lounges. But ground control to Major Tom, we’re not going anywhere soon.