COURTYARD SOUTH BANK in Brisbane - Hotel Review with Photos

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Updated: January 3, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Vulture Street, South Brisbane.
• Hotel website: marriott.com
• Hotel phone: +61 (0)7 3120 0800
• Check prices for Courtyard South Bank

Review of Courtyard Brisbane South Bank Hotel

Courtyard South Bank is a stylish hotel with very spacious and comfortable rooms steps from South Bank.

(Previously Swiss-Belhotel Brisbane.)

Courtyard South Bank – Chic, functional, and uniquely convenient to South Bank.

Beautifully located at a bend of the river meandering through the city, this hotel is particularly appealing and good-value. Even though it is in a neighborhood with offices, hospitals, and other care facilities, it is only a few minutes from the edge of South Bank, Maritime Museum, terminals for trains and boats, and a pedestrian bridge over the river to the majestic City Botanic Gardens. The Courtyard offers spacious rooms as well as very comfortable suites with kitchenettes (with dishwashers). Most accommodations feature double sofa-beds and balconies with pleasant views of the suburbs and river. Some rooms are specifically designed for guests with special needs.

Courtyard South Bank – The Location

Address: 218 Vulture Street, South Brisbane.
Area: Residential area with offices and hospitals along the main road. Lovely position near the river and a few minutes’ walk from the edge of the fantastic leisure/culture precinct, South Bank. The city is accessible (via the magnificent botanic gardens) along Goodwill Bridge, only 400m from the hotel.
How to Get There: The Brisbane international and domestic airports are 18 km away. Taxis take around 30 minutes and cost about A$55. Shuttlebuses ($20) direct to the hotel are available through Con-X-ion. Airtrain (20 minutes) connects both airports with South Bank station. (See Local Transport below for more information.)
Nearest Transport: Bus – Vulture St near Grey St (250m), Ferry – Maritime Museum Ferry Terminal (350m), Train – South Bank (500m).
Handy to: Queensland Maritime Museum. South Bank.

Courtyard South Bank – The Basics

Guests: Mix of tourists and business people, as well as those visiting nearby hospitals and other care facilities.
Pets: No pets allowed; only service animals (e.g. guide dogs).
Views: Many rooms and suites have balconies facing the river and offering lovely views across the water as far as the cliffs at Kangaroo Point, though only from the higher floors.
Kitchen: All suites feature kitchenettes.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Certainly not expected (or provided) at this sort of hotel.
Parking: Self-parking available under the hotel for a reasonable daily fee.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +61 (0)7 3120 0800
Email: Send a message through the website.
Website: marriott.com

Courtyard Brisbane South Bank – Amenities

Pool: Heated and indoors.
Spa: Not expected (or provided) at an inner-city hotel of this standard.
Fitness Center: Large and with all the latest gear.
For Families: Baby-sitting.

Courtyard Brisbane South Bank – Food and Drink

Restaurant & Bar: The hotel doesn’t provide anywhere to eat or drink onsite, but at the lobby level (and separately owned) is an outlet of the very popular Café63 (see below).
Breakfast: Neither included nor an option because the hotel doesn’t have a restaurant onsite.
Room Service: Available from 6 am to 8:30 pm daily through the separately owned café (see below).

Courtyard Brisbane South Bank – Rooms

Room Types: Superior King/Twin/Balcony • Premier River View King/Twin/King + Balcony • Superior Suite • Courtyard River View Suite • List of all Rooms
Smoking Rooms: No smoking allowed anywhere in the hotel.
Best Room: The suites feature spacious living areas with kitchenettes and unobstructed river views from the balconies with outdoor furniture.
For Families: With a sofa converting to an extra double bed, most suites can comfortably fit a family of 4. They also have kitchen and laundry facilities.

Courtyard Brisbane South Bank – Local Transport

Walking & Cycling: South Bank is a fabulous area to explore on foot and by bike. The riverside path, which is popular for strolling, jogging, and cycling, extends several kilometers through South Bank and as far as Kangaroo Point. Two companies – Lime and Neuron – rent out electric scooters. However, these seem randomly dumped, with a few usually outside The Ship Inn (see below).
Buses & Trains: Train and boat services are excellent, so buses are less useful for tourists. From South Brisbane station (600m), trains head to the airport (see above), and all over the city and state, including the Gold Coast via a connecting tram.
Taxis & Ride-shares: Most taxis belong to two companies: Black & White Cabs and 13cabs. These can be hailed from the streets or arranged through the respective websites. Uber also operates throughout Brisbane.
Ferries: Three companies operate boats along the river to the city and nearby suburbs: City Cat, the most extensive and frequent service; CityHopper, free and very useful for tourists; and Cross River Ferry, limited to Kangaroo Point. The nearest terminals are Maritime Museum and South Bank 3.

Courtyard Brisbane South Bank – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

Café63 – Well-priced and nicely prepared meals with fancy names such as ‘Liz Hurley’ (steak) and ‘Sound of Music’ (schnitzel). Open early for breakfast.
Stokehouse Q – Facing the river and just below the pedestrian bridge 400m from the hotel. Boasts the finest location along South Bank. Cocktails, silver service, and a Mediterranean-inspired menu.
The Ship Inn – 350m away, at the start of the path to South Bank. Delightful old building in a serene setting providing award-winning ‘pub grub’, beer garden, and cozy tables indoors.

Otherwise, stroll (about 1 km) through South Bank via Little Stanley Street and try The Spaghetti House Trattoria (hugely popular for Italian fare), Yellowfin Seafood and Grill (seafood and steaks cooked with flair), or Viet de Lites (cheerful setting and Vietnamese menu).

Nearby Shops

Not a great choice around the nearby streets. A few souvenir shops along Stanley Street Plaza at South Bank, about 850m from the hotel.

Nearby Attractions

Starting about 300m from the hotel is the redeveloped riverside precinct of South Bank, a genuine attraction and one of the finest of its kind in the world. South Bank is home to so many cafés and bars, cultural icons like the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and free must-dos and must-sees such as the rainforest with boardwalks, playground, massive lagoon-style swimming pool with ‘beaches’, and cycling/jogging tracks. Also, the gigantic Wheel of Brisbane.
Queensland Maritime Museum – Large museum with all sorts of ships and historical exhibits best explored with an informative guide. Just down the street from the hotel.

Courtyard South Bank – The Hotel

The hotel is located in a residential neighborhood.

The new and functional Courtyard South Bank hotel is in a residential area near the edge of the South Bank precinct.

There are several attractions and amenities nearby.

Formerly known as the Swiss-Belhotel, the Courtyard hotel is only a few minutes’ walk from many interesting attractions and useful amenities.

The guest lounge is bright and inviting.

Across from the reception desk is the inviting guest lounge.

The pool is indoors and bright.

The fitness center is large and should please gym-goers.

Rooms are pleasingly spacious and feature a chic décor.

Most rooms and suites contain a sofa that can convert to a double bed, making them ideal for families.

The spacious suites are family-friendly.

The suites are more spacious, offering plenty of space for families.

All suites feature decent kitchenettes.

Unlike most high-rise hotels in South Bank, many rooms and suites at the Courtyard offer extensive views.

On the ground floor of the hotel (but separately owned) is the excellent Café63.

Just beneath the pedestrian bridge to the city, Stokehouse Q boasts the finest position of any restaurant at South Bank.

Nearby, The Ship Inn has a lovely old-fashioned charm.

South Bank begins from The Ship Inn's location.

Next to The Ship Inn is the start of South Bank.

South Bank is a great leisure and culture precinct.

South Bank is a world-class area offering numerous leisure and cultural attractions.

Little Stanley Street features several places to eat and drink.

There are many places to eat and drink at South Bank, especially along Little Stanley Street.

South Bank is very attractive in the evenings.

This area in South Bank less than 1 km from the hotel is especially attractive after dark.

Incredibly, within South Bank and 800m from the hotel is this tropical-style ‘beach’.

South Bank has a rainforest with boardwalks.

Also within South Bank is a rainforest, best explored via boardwalks.

Queensland Performing Arts Centre is a great cultural attraction.

One of many cultural attractions within South Bank is the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

The Wheel of Brisbane is located in South Bank.

The Wheel of Brisbane is also loads of fun.

Stanley Street Plaza has a few souvenir shops.

There aren’t a lot of shops at South Bank, but a few places sell souvenirs along Stanley Street Plaza.

Cycling is particularly popular along the riverside paths at South Bank.

Another fabulous way to explore the area is by electric scooter.

The boat terminal nearby has several connections to downtown.

Boats to downtown and inner-city suburbs leave from the Maritime Museum terminal near the hotel.

City Cat operates a nice variety of boats.

The most extensive range of boats across the river is operated by City Cat.

The pedestrian-only Goodwill Bridge links the hotel with the city center via the botanic gardens.

City Botanic Gardens are a magnificent place to relax.

Just over the other side of Goodwill Bridge are the magnificent City Botanic Gardens.

The Queensland Maritime Museum is close by.

The Queensland Maritime Museum is a quick walk from the hotel. Check rates and availability: Courtyard South Bank

Courtyard Brisbane South Bank Hotel in Australia

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