Rydges Fortitude Valley Brisbane

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The country meets the city at Rydges Fortitude Valley, a 4.5-star Brisbane hotel with urban flair peppered with a delightful touch of rural charm. And by ‘country’, I mean in a stylish modern way, not in a yee-haw, giddy-up way.

Rydges’ location, opposite the Showgrounds and the Royal International Convention Centre, means it becomes home base for many regional Queenslanders visiting the Ekka (as Brisbane’s show is fondly called) or one of the many festivals or events held throughout the year.

It’s reflected in the décor – my room is adorned with pictures of the Ekka while on the bed there’s a cushion with an eye-catching duck print. The colour palette, too, is in natural, earthy tones, the beautiful soft carpet vaguely reminiscent of rustic floorboards, the foot stool and tan leather tub chair evoking images of a country retreat.

Rydges Fortitude Valley Brisbane extends a warm country welcome at reception. — The hotel extends a warm country welcome at reception.

The theme is carried through to the hotel’s Six Acres restaurant, with its paddock to plate philosophy. And opening my curtains to the view, it’s wow, just wow, at the incredible view of the Showgrounds’ main arena and grandstand. It’s enough to make a bushman’s heart skip a beat.

The hotel extends a warm country welcome too, when the super-friendly staff check me in at reception, a bright space with hefty feature timber walls and a soaring ceiling bathed in natural light.

Rydges Fortitude Valley Brisbane — The view from my room of the Showgrounds’ main arena.

Opened in 2016, Rydges Fortitude Valley has 208 rooms and suites, including family rooms sleeping up to four, and spacious executive suites with separate living rooms. Rooms are stylish and well-appointed with very comfy beds, luxe bedding, individually controlled air-conditioning, work desk, flat screen TV with satellite channels, free wi-fi, in-room safe, hair dryer, designer toiletries, blockout curtains, iron and ironing board, refrigerator and mini bar.

My Arena View King Room has a spacious ensuite with walk-in shower, with both a rain shower overhead and a hand-held shower. It’s all fresh and modern with a sizeable marble top bench with tea and coffee making facilities, and a Nespresso coffee pod machine. I like that the tea is Australian-grown Nerada tea.

Rydges Fortitude Valley Brisbane The Paddock Bar, on the ground floor adjacent to reception and Six Acres Restaurant. — Six Acres Bar, on the ground floor adjacent to reception and Six Acres Restaurant.

The hotel has a heated outdoor pool, complimentary 24-hour gym access, 24-hour reception, and 24-hour room service. Secure undercover parking is available and there is fast, easy access from Brisbane Airport and the CBD.

Out-of-towners must love the location – all the cafés and restaurants of bustling King Street are just outside the door, it’s next door to The Tivoli entertainment venue, and it’s an easy walk to pretty much anything in Fortitude Valley. Request a room on the King Street side of the hotel, preferably on the 5^th or 6^th floor.

A daily buffet breakfast is served at Six Acres, with the option of continental or a hot breakfast. The extensive array of dishes includes an impressive selection of fresh and stewed fruits – I love that they had fresh figs, red dragonfruit and even carambola (star fruit). Alongside these were yoghurts, cereals, sweet pastries, donuts, and hot options such as scrambled eggs, bacon, chipolata sausages, waffles and pancakes. More than enough to set you up for the whole day.