Just on the outskirts of Brisbane’s CBD in Paddington and minutes from Suncorp Stadium, Gambaro Hotel Brisbane is a boutique luxury hotel that offers couples the perfect romantic city break.
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Featuring the latest in-room technology, modern stone and marble bathrooms and all the comforts luxury travellers will love, it’s the perfect base from which to explore the hip Caxton Street precinct with its bars and restaurants, like the acclaimed Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall and Seymoure’s Cocktails & Oysters. Also within ten to fifteen minutes’ walk of the CBD and South Bank, this sumptuous, purpose-built hotel showcases stylish design (it was designed by the same talents behind the luxurious Jumeirah Vittaveli in the Maldives) plus plenty of glamorous furnishings.
Room for two
With 68 guest rooms to choose from, couples on a romantic weekend away should opt for one of the 49 with private terrace or balcony. The Petrie room is the hotel’s lead-in room at 20 square-metres, while the 36-square-metre Paddington Deluxe is a fabulous option for couples seeking romance. Whichever option you choose, you’re guaranteed a great night’s sleep thanks to Gambaro’s incredibly comfortable beds and the hotel’s acoustically-treated structure.
Taste temptations
Gambaro Seafood Restaurant is a Brisbane institution, having served fine gourmet cuisine for over 60 years. I fondly remember dining here with my family in my early teens as guests of an important business colleague of my father. Now, nearly 30 years later, I return to find a dining venue just as glamorous as I remember, with waiters dressed in suits with white shirts and ties, and the tables just as beautifully dressed in crisp white linen.
While the restaurant holds onto the aspects of its illustrious history, it’s by no means stuck in the past. A regular dining award winner, the restaurant’s menu is overseen by ex-Rockpool chef Lukas McEwan. And while it’s quite extensive, we couldn’t go past the classic Gambaro Seafood Platter. Brimming with a generous array of fresh local seafood, each and every morsel was testament to Australia’s reputation of harvesting some of the most delicious seafood in the world.
For the meat-lovers, Gambaro also offers another fantastic dining option. In 2013, the Gambaro family opened Black Hide Steakhouse across the road, the only restaurant in Queensland to serve an exclusive selection of world-class produce from Stanbroke Beef, one of Australia’s most exclusive beef breeders and producers.
For pre-dinner drinks, the hotel’s MG Bar is a sleek and contemporary setting with excellent tipples and stellar service.
Couples will love
The restaurants and bars available right at your doorstep make this a standout destination for foodies. Also located close to the CBD, Gambaro offers proximity to Brisbane’s best theatre, live music and sporting venues.
Venturing out
There is more than enough in Paddington’s famous Caxton Street area to keep you busy if you’re visiting for a one-night stay. For more options though, venture just across the road to the chic Barracks for the Palace Barracks cinemas and more fantastic restaurants and bars. For longer stays, the beautiful beaches and hinterland regions of the Gold and Sunshine Coasts are great spots for a day trip.
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