Markus Ravik
With a beige-is-banned approach to design and programming, detailed customer service and impressive dining options, W Brisbane goes beyond frames on the walls, embedding the arts and culture across its luxury lifestyle offering.
A genuine connection to creativity runs throughout the central Brisbane hotel, with views over the river from every guest room to the city’s main cultural precinct (with The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, and Queensland Performing Arts Centre). W Brisbane was recently announced as the official hotel partner of Queensland Ballet, joining its commitment to bringing ballet to new audiences — on and off stage.
To celebrate the arts of performance and hospitality, W Brisbane held a Chef Series dinner on 1 August bringing ballet to the dining room with a private staging of a sequence from Queensland Ballet’s recent production of Hamlet. Designed to offer multi-sensory, imaginative dining experiences, the ongoing Chef Series pairs the worlds of food, wine, performance and more in W Brisbane’s signature riverfront restaurant The Lex. Delivered by executive chef John Kennedy (ex-Qualia) and the creative team led by director of marketing and communications Hannah Park, the Chef Series features menus of never-repeated dishes and accompanying flourishes that go beyond live music and wine pairings.
Past events in the Chef Series include Taste the Storm (an electric journey through a Queensland storm, with Perrier-Jouët Champagne) and The Underground Exchange, delving into the history and production of truffle in Australia with themes of symbiosis and the ancient environment.
At the Hamlet-inspired dinner, A Poisoned Court, our evening began with Champagne before a bell-ringing funeral procession — mourning the death of the king of Elsinore — led us to our tables, dressed with candles and deep red florals. We were even encouraged to dress in dramatic dark colours in the spirit of the tragic tale.
The meal began with smoked venison with pickled blueberries, candied walnuts and red wine jus, which arrived in a theatrical smoke-filled cloche, coral trout with a saffron emulsion and citrus-fed Sir Harry Wagyu with black truffle, all paired with wines from New Zealand’s Mora Wines. Set against the backdrop of the Brisbane skyline, perfectly framed through The Lex’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows, we were seated at long, communal tables to evoke a Renaissance banquet.
The Hamlet and Ophelia pas de deux by Queensland Ballet dancers Lucy Green and Joshua Ostermann was a spectacle of physical and artistic prowess, equalled only by the “poisoned apple” dessert with flavours of yuzu and green apple, made in The Lex’s dedicated pastry kitchen. “Through our partnership with W Brisbane, we are bringing together performance, hospitality and storytelling in ways that surprise and celebrate Brisbane as a vibrant cultural destination,” said Queensland Ballet’s recently appointed artistic director Ivan Gil-Ortega of the partnership.
At the conclusion of A Poisoned Court, W Brisbane general manager Haldon Philp brought every member of the kitchen and service teams to the stage — a gesture that spoke to me of the genuine collaboration that brought the event to life, and showcased how many from the hotel’s creative, culinary, beverage and events teams it takes to bring an experience like the Chef Series to life.
If the Chef Series is the main event drawing you in to a visit to the W Brisbane, consider the award-winning AWAY Spa (I enjoyed a hot-and-cold contrast Chakra facial that left my skin glowy for days), curated cocktail menus in the Living Room Bar, and swimming (or sipping) at The WET Deck and pool as the supporting acts.
Vibrant murals by First Nations artists in communal spaces, walls splashed with Australiana slogans and three-dimensional sculptures of quintessential Aussie snacks are just some of the charming artworks throughout the property, speaking to its overall design scheme, A River Dreaming, alongside custom textiles and architectural forms. From floating movie nights to the recently launched private listening lounge (with a significant vinyl collection and private bar) and conceptual high tea towers, W Brisbane’s invitations to experience culture and creativity always offer something new to explore.
See what’s coming up at W Brisbane and explore dining and accommodation offers online.
Brisbane’s largest, five-star luxury hotel, the W Brisbane offers views over the river and South Bank out to Mt. Coot-Tha from every one of its 312 guest rooms. The New York City-born brand brings always-on activities and programs to every location — and Brisbane invites you to Live the Sunshine State of Mind.
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