Fragrant smoke fills the air as flames dance higher over the warayaki grill at newly-opened Izakaya Publico. Located in the Hotel Indigo Brisbane, this Japanese restaurant is one of the few places in Australia where you can sample food grilled over a flaming nest of straw. Fanning the blaze, the chef uses a pair of tongs to turn cuts of seasoned tuna. This traditional cooking method hails from Kochi prefecture and imparts an earthy, smoky flavour to the food.
You don’t need to be staying overnight to dine here. Nonetheless, it’s the sort of dramatic, theatrical flourish which fits in perfectly with the ethos of boutique luxury and lifestyle brand, Hotel Indigo, and its first Queensland hotel, located on Turbot Street in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD. The focus at Hotel Indigo Brisbane is on colourful storytelling, from the murals gracing the walls, to the bite-sized stories printed on glass side tables in the hotel rooms.
The sense of anticipation starts to build at the entrance, where two six-metre-high red doors greet ground-level arrivals. Up a flight of stairs, you’ll reach the reception area, which in turn flows onto the speakeasy style 1603 Bar, and then downstairs to Izakaya Publico.
First glance Built on the bones of an old Ibis Hotel, Hotel Indigo Brisbane opened in July 2022 after extensive renovations. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, it’s one of many new hotels springing up in Brisbane in preparation for the 2032 Olympic Games. All of the 212 guest rooms have been thoroughly overhauled to feature moody colour palettes, quirky artworks, and little-known local stories. For example, a mural hidden behind one of two sliding wooden doors opposite the reception area reveals the tale of a prominent lawyer who was born just around the corner in 1867. He brought the ‘snail in a bottle’ case which helped to establish the modern law of negligence.
Design Hotel developers had to work with the skeleton of what was already on the site. This provenance presented a range of design challenges, but such limitations, as they often do, inspired creative, refreshing solutions. For instance, I was intrigued by Hotel Indigo Brisbane’s ‘secret’ but sublime 16th floor, which can only be reached via stairs, rather than the elevator. Artistic touches grace every surface, from the butterfly motifs on the walls, representing transformation, to the meandering blue dots in the hallways, which mimic the flow of the Brisbane River. Some rooms connect via adjoining doors, making them good for families.
The room My King Bed City View High Floor on the fifteenth floor (published rate $379) overlooked busy Ann Street and neighbouring properties voco Brisbane City Centre and W Brisbane hotels, with some river glimpses. With pale laminate flooring, a king bed set with crisp white linen, and a beige chaise longue located under the window, the overall effect is light and uplifting. The bathroom area (comprising a toilet, rainwater shower, and basin) is cast in a darker, moodier palette. The set-up is pure practicality, with an open wardrobe containing an ironing board and torch, and tea- and coffee-making facilities above the mini-fridge. A fold-out desk can double as a make-up station thanks to the built-in mirror. No bath, I’m afraid.
Food and drink Casual, relaxed Izakaya Publico, with Australia’s only warayaki grill, is worth a visit even if you’re not staying at the hotel. The menu effortlessly spans sashimi, skewers, salads, noodles, sandos (sandwiches) and coal-grilled meat, fish and tofu. The coal-grilled wagyu and the mushroom skewers were among my favourites. Round-the-clock room service is accessible via a QR code on the flatscreen TV menu but I found what turned up a little disappointing. The yakisoba noodles with vegetables ($22) featured slivers of cabbage but not much else. Izakaya Publico also serves a standard hotel buffet breakfast. Sample a Tokyo Mule at 1603 Bar.
Personal favourite There’s a coffee machine in the bar so you can always grab a barista-made brew. The graffiti-covered Tuk Nook coffee cart in the lobby is also charming.
Gripe The parking here is nothing short of nightmarish. The minimally-signposted public carpark is located a block away – and the staff members I encountered were vague on directions. You’ll need drop off your luggage, navigate one-way streets to park your car, then schlep it back on foot to the hotel. Getting out of the carpark then requires a hotel-generated code – which didn’t work for me, leading to a horn-tooting build-up behind me at the exit. On the plus side, this significant friction point unwittingly encourages guests to make use of the ample public transport nearby.
What’s with all the … ARTWORKS? Hotel Indigo Brisbane takes delicious delight in the big reveal. What look like walls at the entrance to the 1603 Bar slide back – ta da! – to reveal artworks which hint at similarly hidden Brisbane stories. Another large-scale artwork by an artist known only as Blends features a blue wren on a mysterious black portal positioned 16 storeys high on the side of the hotel’s exterior façade – a nod to Boy Swallows Universe by Brisbane author Trent Dalton.
Neighbourhood You’re right in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD, with access to a host of retail, cultural and artistic treasures. Queen Street Mall, Edward Street and the colourful Brisbane Arcade are a mere sashay away. The Museum of Brisbane is also easily accessed on foot – explore the current exhibitions or sign up for one of their fascinating walking tours.
Sustainability IHG One Reward members can save water and energy (and earn 500 points per night) by opting out of housekeeping services. More broadly, the chain is tracking consumption data, setting up a property green team and installing energy efficient lighting in guest rooms.
To book visit the Hotel Indigo Brisbane website.
