Back when I was growing up in Brisbane in the late 80s and early 90s, Fortitude Valley (or The Valley as it’s more commonly known) was so rough that even walking around in broad daylight could be dangerous. These days the only thing in danger is my credit card due to the area’s tempting boutiques, bars and restaurants. Thanks to a multibillion-dollar urban renewal project in the mid-1990s, Fortitude Valley is now a fashionable hub and Ovolo The Valley is its most desirable place to stay. I know I’m going to love this hotel as soon as I walk in. There is funky art throughout the lobby, the colours are bright, the staff are friendly, and there’s even a candy bar. And the good stuff keeps coming.
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Ovolo The Valley has a rooftop swimming pool, a gym, sauna and standard Ovolo Hotels inclusions like high speed WiFi, plus continental breakfast and a complimentary evening drink for every guest who books direct. When you’re travelling on a budget – or even if you’re not – little extras like these make a difference. It is always lovely being able to treat yourself to extras like a drink at the bar and breakfast without having to worry about how much it costs!
Not surprisingly, the Ovolo Apero Hour (i.e. happy hour) gets our stay off to a great start downstairs in the hotel’s trendy bar, Kazba. We each get to choose a house wine, beer or soft drink on the house and get a complimentary plate of nuts and delicious dips. We perch at a high seat, enjoy a (complimentary) drink each, and take in the action. The staff are friendly and the crowd is sophisticated and fun. Décor is best described as a 1940s cocktail soiree meets mid century Parisian glamour with a dash of traditional Queenslander architecture thrown in. It might sound a bit eclectic – and it is – but it works.
With patrons ranging from 20-year olds to funky 60-somethings, the crowd is sophisticated yet fun and goes to show there is no cut off age for a great night out. It was great to enjoy a drink at a trendy Fortitude Valley bar without feeling ancient, unwelcome or uncool (or all three at once!). Before we know it, it is time to order dinner at the bar which also does double duty as the hotel’s restaurant. Dishes are designed to be shared and highlight Middle Eastern flavours and Queensland’s local produce.
We order another drink (they’re 20% off during Apero Hour) and kick off dinner with two halloumi doughnuts and a plate of crispy salt and pepper tofu. Turns out we aren’t major tofu fans unless the stuff is smothered in stir fry sauce but we would come back here for the halloumi doughnuts alone as they were outstanding! The Jerusalem spiced grilled chicken served with tahini yogurt, pomegranate and parsley is extremely well priced at $29 and big enough for two with a side of charred broccolini and smoked feta, and a bowl of fries dusted with Middle Eastern spice. Dessert is a creamy baklava ice cream sandwich but if you don’t have room for something big, you can order some Turkish delight for a sweet finish to your meal without having to get through a whole dessert.
Our room upstairs is equally impressive, with rich colours, lush furnishings and designer wallpaper that makes for a very pleasant change from the usual bland hotel wall art. Welcome tech savvy touches such as a large flat screen television with Google Chromecast, charging ports throughout the room, and Amazon’s Alexa cloud-based voice service add to our accommodation’s appeal. There is a bathroom with a large walk in shower and twin sinks, plus essentials such as cotton buds, a shower cap and the option to call reception for extra complimentary items such as razors. Storage throughout the room is plentiful and there’s a guest laundry downstairs. The (free) hotel wi-fi is the fastest I’ve come across in my travels with all these pics uploaded to cloud storage in a few seconds.
The next morning we head downstairs for breakfast where we are invited to select an item from the a la carte menu together with a drink. Ovolo The Valley’s Spotify playlist is so good that I add it to my Spotify account before we leave the table and head back upstairs. That 80s Depeche Mode song “Just Can’t Get Enough” says it all. One night at this irresistible Brisbane hotel is simply not enough!
Disclosure: The writer stayed as a guest of Ovolo The Valley and wouldn’t hesitate to return to this hotel or dine there at her own expense.
If you’re looking for accommodation in Brisbane, we have reviewed the Treasury Hotel, The Calile, Ovolo The Valley, W Brisbane, Capri by Fraser Brisbane, Hilton Brisbane, The Johnson, NEXT Hotel Brisbane, Sage Hotel James Street, The Westin Brisbane, Oaks Brisbane Festival Suites, Royal on the Park, Ibis Styles Elizabeth Street, Sofitel Brisbane, Crystalbrook Vincent, The Inchcolm, Alex Perry Hotel & Apartments, and Pullman Brisbane Airport.
