Our family recently stayed at The Rydges South Bank Brisbane on their Stay & Play Package, which included attending Luzia by Cirque du Soleil, accommodation, valet parking, buffet breakfast, and late check-out. For this trip, we handed over the reviewing duties to our harshest critic, our teen! Here is her review.
When I first walked into the hotel, it looked nice and welcoming. The reception area was clean and bright, and the staff were friendly and helped us check-in. I kept asking myself if I was too underdressed because it felt too fancy for me. But it was still comfortable overall. Overall, the hotel staff were friendly and attentive. They made sure we had everything we needed and were always polite.
The Rydges South Bank Lobby
We stayed in a King Suite, which was extremely well appointed and located in the corner of the hotel. It had a private bedroom, balcony, king-size bed and a separate lounge room with a convertible queen sofa bed. A lovely touch was the chocolates and sparkling water as a welcome gift.
I had a beautiful view of the river and The Wheel of Brisbane from the sofa. It lit up with all sorts of colours at night, and I watched it go around and around until I fell asleep. It was such a calming sight to end the day. The sofa bed was probably one of the comfiest pop-out beds I’ve ever slept on. I wasn’t expecting it to be that comfortable, so I was surprised!
The Rydges Southbank
For dinner, we ate at one of the hotel’s restaurants, Bacchus. Again, the staff were super friendly, and it was my first time dining at a fancy restaurant. I was nervous about the etiquette, so I kept asking everyone questions, and it was a bit overwhelming at first. I tried Coke with lemon and sparkling water with lime, which was new for me. It was also surprising when the staff placed a white cloth on my lap. For dinner, I had a delicious steak that I really enjoyed.
The Rydges Southbank – Breakfast Buffet
The next morning, we had the buffet breakfast which was delicious! I had bacon, hash browns, scrambled eggs, Nutella on toast, pancakes and apple juice. It was a big breakfast, and everything tasted great.
Although I didn’t get a chance to use the pool, it looked lovely. We also visited the gym and sauna, and both were the perfect size—not too big but enough for a good workout or a relaxing session.
Southbank, Brisbane
The hotel is located in Southbank, Brisbane, which is a great area. It’s close to a lot of fun things to do, like shops, restaurants, and attractions. Everything was within walking distance, making exploring the area easy. It was located next to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and behind the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. The Ferris wheel was also very easy to access from the hotel.
The Rydges South Bank has several packages, including Kids Stay & Eat free and shows.
The Rydges Southbank – Pool
Review by Taylor Nissen (15 Years)
Helpful links:
Things to do with kids in Brisbane
Free kids activities
What’s on for kids in Brisbane
School holiday activities in Brisbane
Vacation Care in Brisbane
