Madison Hotel Tower Mill

The location is handy, but noise from construction was constant, and staff banged doors at 4am. The place felt hostile and unwelcoming, and I don’t think I’d return. Housekeepers sometimes came into the room while we were asleep, and the hotel seemed very understaffed. The few staff on hand were often dismissive. Check-in was fine, though the woman wasn’t especially friendly. Checkout was worse: you just drop the keys in a box, and when I asked the blonde woman where to leave them, she had an attitude for no reason. That’s what tipped this to one star. There was dust everywhere, so I don’t think the room had been cleaned properly. None of the soap had been refilled after the previous guests, and the toilet roll was nearly empty. There’s no phone to call reception. The shower is extremely small, and someone pregnant or heavyset might not fit without hurting themselves getting in. There’s hardly any space between the shower and sink either. Our “king” room had two singles pushed together, which was uncomfortable, and the bed was genuinely the worst I’ve slept in. It felt like you sank into it. There was only a sheet over the duvet, which was much too thin for winter. No ceiling lights or lights over the bed either, just lampshades that left the room far too dark at night.

The sliding balcony door was hard to open and shut, and the runner was dirty, which I assumed was the cause. It wasn’t a big deal. We were only there overnight, but I’d gladly stay again. The room was clean and had plenty of tea and coffee supplies, and the bed was fairly comfortable. The restaurant was great and reasonably priced, and both the hotel and restaurant staff were excellent and helpful. We were also able to check in early, which was great. We had a doctor’s appointment next door, so the location worked really well for us.

The restaurant had good food and service, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Parking was easy to access too. The location is hard to beat, with Roma street park right across the way and the city still an easy walk, even though you’re just outside it. I’ve stayed in a lot of Brisbane hotels, and I think I’ve found my favourite. The cylinder-shaped building looks pretty cool, and the rooms are lovely with beautiful views.

We enjoyed our stay and thought it was good value, with nice staff. The building’s round design means every guest gets a great balcony view, including one of the oldest structure in Queensland, the windmill. Our room was a little dark, maybe that was the mood lighting, with several small lights. It’s also up a hill and staircase from the city.