Spicers Balfour Brisbane
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Fast facts
Check in from: | 14:00 |
|---|---|
Check out before: | 11:00 |
Pets | Pets allowed with an extra charge |
Amenities
Wi-Fi
Parking
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Non-smoking
Laundry
More about Spicers Balfour Brisbane
Spicers Balfour Brisbane
Located in the fashionable suburb of New Farm, Spicers Balfour Brisbane is an award-winning boutique hotel just 7 minutes’ from the Brisbane city centre.
Reviews from 
Anonymous traveller
Comment: 25 Jun 2026
Stayed in: Jun 2026
We had a short but very enjoyable stay in a cozy atmosphere. We also enjoyed a great dinner on site.
Couple
Comment: 13 Aug 2026
Stayed in: Aug 2026
Excellent staff and food, but the room doesn’t justify the price.
Five-star staff, but the hotel needs investment
Let me start with the positives: the staff were exceptional and the food was excellent. Both were genuinely five-star.
We came to Spicers Balfour after two nights at the Emporium and deliberately chose it because we wanted something different — smaller, more intimate and with the character of a boutique hotel. We weren’t expecting another Emporium, nor did we want one.
But our riverside room at the Emporium cost roughly the same as Suite 12 at Spicers, and there was a gulf between the two experiences.
At the Emporium we had a spectacular view across the river and Brisbane skyline, a jacuzzi bath and some genuinely luxurious touches, including switchable privacy glass, as well as access to the pool, sauna and gym. Suite 12 at Spicers is a ground-floor room with no outlook at all.
They’re obviously very different hotels offering very different experiences, but boutique shouldn’t be shorthand for lower standards of upkeep, particularly when you’re charging essentially the same money.
Spicers feels tired and in need of investment. Visible mildew on shower grout in a premium hotel is an absolute fail. We also found marked and dirty walls, chipped paintwork and stained carpets. Poor ambient lighting and the lack of modern charging facilities added to the sense that the room has fallen well behind the standard its price suggests.
The older building brings other compromises. In Suite 12 we could clearly hear TV and video noise from the room above.
That’s what makes the experience frustrating. The staff and food deliver at the level you’d expect from a premium boutique hotel. The accommodation doesn’t.
We left wishing we’d simply stayed another two nights at the Emporium.
Let me start with the positives: the staff were exceptional and the food was excellent. Both were genuinely five-star.
We came to Spicers Balfour after two nights at the Emporium and deliberately chose it because we wanted something different — smaller, more intimate and with the character of a boutique hotel. We weren’t expecting another Emporium, nor did we want one.
But our riverside room at the Emporium cost roughly the same as Suite 12 at Spicers, and there was a gulf between the two experiences.
At the Emporium we had a spectacular view across the river and Brisbane skyline, a jacuzzi bath and some genuinely luxurious touches, including switchable privacy glass, as well as access to the pool, sauna and gym. Suite 12 at Spicers is a ground-floor room with no outlook at all.
They’re obviously very different hotels offering very different experiences, but boutique shouldn’t be shorthand for lower standards of upkeep, particularly when you’re charging essentially the same money.
Spicers feels tired and in need of investment. Visible mildew on shower grout in a premium hotel is an absolute fail. We also found marked and dirty walls, chipped paintwork and stained carpets. Poor ambient lighting and the lack of modern charging facilities added to the sense that the room has fallen well behind the standard its price suggests.
The older building brings other compromises. In Suite 12 we could clearly hear TV and video noise from the room above.
That’s what makes the experience frustrating. The staff and food deliver at the level you’d expect from a premium boutique hotel. The accommodation doesn’t.
We left wishing we’d simply stayed another two nights at the Emporium.
Hotel response
Comment: 14 Aug 2026
Thank you, David & Verity, for taking the time to share your feedback. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed the food and the service provided by our team. Your kind words will be shared with them.
We also appreciate your honest comments regarding the accommodation. As a heritage boutique hotel, Spicers Balfour offers a very different experience to larger luxury properties such as Emporium, with a focus on character, intimacy and personalised service. We have noted your feedback regarding Suite 12 and will review the areas highlighted with our team.
While it sounds as though our boutique offering was not quite what you were looking for on this occasion, we sincerely appreciate you choosing to stay with us and for sharing your balanced feedback. We are pleased that our team and dining experience were highlights of your visit, and we thank you for giving Spicers Balfour a try.
Cathy
Assistant General Manager
Spicers Balfour Hotel Brisbane
We also appreciate your honest comments regarding the accommodation. As a heritage boutique hotel, Spicers Balfour offers a very different experience to larger luxury properties such as Emporium, with a focus on character, intimacy and personalised service. We have noted your feedback regarding Suite 12 and will review the areas highlighted with our team.
While it sounds as though our boutique offering was not quite what you were looking for on this occasion, we sincerely appreciate you choosing to stay with us and for sharing your balanced feedback. We are pleased that our team and dining experience were highlights of your visit, and we thank you for giving Spicers Balfour a try.
Cathy
Assistant General Manager
Spicers Balfour Hotel Brisbane
Anonymous traveller
Comment: 14 Apr 2026
Stayed in: Apr 2026
From the minute you walk in the welcome from all the staff is genuine, friendly and professional. The property itself has a lovely cosy laid back vibe and you’d never know it was a short walk from all the best entertainment that Brisbane has to offer. If you’re looking for the perfect venue for a romantic weekend break this is it. We will definitely be going back.
Anonymous traveller
Comment: 15 Mar 2026
Stayed in: Mar 2026
A delightful blend of a new and modern hotel with an old traditional Queenslander house. The staff are fantastic and you are an easy walk to the very active New Farm riverside area.
Couple
Comment: 4 Feb 2026
Stayed in: Dec 2025
Absolutely amazing
We were thrilled right from the minute we drove up. Then we met the lovely Sara, she is a treasure and a valuable asset to the property. After we were checked in she schlepped our bags up to our room on the second floor. There is no elevator. My hubby didn’t want her to based on the size of the bags so they each took one. We loved our room, it faced the frangipani garden and the smell coming into the room from them was so great. We loved the Nespresso machine and the tea in the room, plus we had nice bottles of water in glass bottles there for our consumption. The soaps, shampoo and hand crème were excellent. The sheets on the bed were the best.
Breakfast- our room price included breakfast. Wow! It was amazing, we could order from the regular menu and everything we had was absolutely delicious. We can’t begin to say enough good things about the food.
Sara greeted us entering the restaurant by name, made us the best coffee and chatted with us about what we were going to do around Brisbane that day.
We had dinner there one night and the food again…was great.
The location is fantastic the walk to the river and all the activities there.
We had an early check out and it was suggested in order to take advantage of breakfast to preorder. So we did, and when we sat down our food was served.
Loved this place. You have to stay here if in Brisbane. It’s the best!!!!
Breakfast- our room price included breakfast. Wow! It was amazing, we could order from the regular menu and everything we had was absolutely delicious. We can’t begin to say enough good things about the food.
Sara greeted us entering the restaurant by name, made us the best coffee and chatted with us about what we were going to do around Brisbane that day.
We had dinner there one night and the food again…was great.
The location is fantastic the walk to the river and all the activities there.
We had an early check out and it was suggested in order to take advantage of breakfast to preorder. So we did, and when we sat down our food was served.
Loved this place. You have to stay here if in Brisbane. It’s the best!!!!
Hotel response
Comment: 14 Aug 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear you loved your stay and that Sara helped make it such a memorable experience. She is a valued member of our team, and we will be sure to share your kind words with her.
It's fantastic to hear you enjoyed your room, our dining experiences, and the convenient location. We are especially pleased that breakfast was such a highlight of your stay.
Thank you for choosing Spicers Balfour and for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back to Brisbane again soon.
Cathy
Assistant General Manager
Spicers Balfour Hotel Brisbane
It's fantastic to hear you enjoyed your room, our dining experiences, and the convenient location. We are especially pleased that breakfast was such a highlight of your stay.
Thank you for choosing Spicers Balfour and for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back to Brisbane again soon.
Cathy
Assistant General Manager
Spicers Balfour Hotel Brisbane
Excellent location
37 Balfour St, New Farm, New Farm, Brisbane, 4005, Australia|1.74 km from city centre
Check in and check out
Check in from:
14:00
Check out before:
11:00
Good to know
Pets allowed with an extra charge
Please contact the hotel for details about adding extra beds.
Spicers Balfour Brisbane: FAQs
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