Brisbane Manor Hotel

The room and shared bathroom were mostly clean, but the bed cover was really grubby. For both days we were there, the room and the rest of the hotel smelled like old body odour. We’d arranged a late check-in by email, but still had to stand outside in the rain, ring the after-hours bell, and wait for the manager to confirm payment and give us the lockbox code. It took 10 minutes for anyone to answer. We’d paid 24 hours earlier, so I don’t understand why they couldn’t have checked the payment the night before and sent the code ahead of time.

I’d read some awful reviews, but my stay was the complete opposite. The room was clean, quiet, and had a huge double bed, a TV, coffee-making facilities, and my own bathroom. Staff were friendly and really helpful. I paid $260 for two nights and thought it was fantastic for the price. I’ve already booked another stay and plan to keep coming back. Well done, team 👏 👍

The best part for me was the hotel’s old character. I’d guess it dates from the 1930s, and there’s still plenty of original woodwork inside and out. The timber has held up remarkably well, and the place has a real sense of history. I didn’t get around to exploring all the upstairs and downstairs nooks and corridors, but I’d have liked to. There’s a snack bar, drinks at reception, and a couple of vending machines. I also spotted a well-equipped commercial kitchen downstairs and shared seating, which I assume is for guests. The hotel is old, but it was well maintained and in good order. My triple room was comfortable and cost less than a single elsewhere. The facilities were sparse, and the room smelled as if the previous occupants had, er, expired in there, but running the aircon cleared it. It’s a four minute walk to Brisbane Showgrounds, where I’d watched a show the night before, so I could have a few quiet drinks there and walk back without worrying about driving. I didn’t have time to eat at the hotel. For the price, and if you enjoy historic places, it worked really well for me. Recommended.

It’s a cheap place in a central spot, about a 10 minute walk from a main train station, with plenty of nearby food options. The staff were lovely when we arrived and left. But we were woken repeatedly by loud noise from above our room that carried on for hours. We’re used to hostels and don’t mind some noise, but this was a lot. When we called the support number, they just told us to call the police, which wasn’t helpful. The room also felt dated and in need of a refresh, and we found lots of bugs. The noise really let us down despite the good location and price.