Best New Hotels 2008:Emporium Hotel, Brisbane

With funky Fortitude Valley nearby and prime dining and smart shopping options right alongside, Emporium Hotel – the city’s first truly luxurious boutique retreat – is a cool alternative to Brisbane’s big-name city hotels. Most suites feature luxurious king-size beds, plus a choice of eight pillow options. Twenty-four hour in-suite dining is prepared by chefs from house restaurant La Belle Epoque, but for those who prefer to cook there are clever marble-topped kitchenettes which can be banished quickly behind folding doors. 

We love The petite but glam rooftop lap pool and terrace, with its white day-beds and views of Story Bridge and the CBD.

Rooms from $295, www.emporiumhotel.com.au.
FIONA DONNELLY