Over the September 2025 school holidays, I, along with my niece (14) and nephew (16) stayed as guests at Rydges Hotel South Bank, Brisbane to get a feel for the rooms and facilities and report back to you. As always, my review is a genuine description of our experience to help you make a choice that is right for your family.
If you saw my Instagram post, you will know that I was seriously trying to work out how I could live in the hotel permanently! It was such a lovely break from the every day. I felt so looked after and just a little bit posh! I will tell you why…
Rydges South Bank is family friendly
Rydges is so very family friendly! From the concierge on arrival who helps you carry your (428) bags, to the efficient check in staff, to the kind barman who handed me a glass of bubbles on my way to the lift…. everything felt effortless and I truly felt like I was on holiday!
During our 2 night stay, we were able to enjoy the huge Two Bedroom Family Suite with their balconies and their gorgeous views of South Bank, the pool and poolside bar, the restaurants (both of them!), the gym and sauna and the proximity to South Bank. It is a hotel that really does have it all!
Here is everything you need to know about staying at the hotel (including the awesome Kids Eat and Stay Free package!)
Where is Rydges South Bank?
Located on Glenelg St in South Brisbane, you cannot get a hotel closer to the South Bank Parklands. It is literally a 6 minute walk!
The Brisbane CBD is a 15-minute walk away across the Victoria Bridge or you can walk through the parklands and over the new Neville Bonner Bridge to get into the city via the new casino. The hotel is connected to Brisbane’s transport network (trains, buses and ferries) so you can explore even further afield if you want to look around our beautiful city!
Address: 9 Glenelg St, South Brisbane, 4101 Brisbane
Tel: (07) 3364 0800
Web: Visit the hotel website here.
Why is this a great hotel for families in South Bank?
There are so many things to love about a family stay at Rydges.
The rooms
As I said above, we stayed in a Two Bedroom Family Suite. I highly recommend this configuration for families. The photos above show you the layout – from left to right.
The kids get their own bedroom with their own bathroom. There is an interconnecting door to the living room with a sofa (bed) and on the other side (with another interconnecting door) is the parents’ bedroom and ensuite. It’s LUSH! All the room have balconies. If you want to replicate our booking – we had room 521.
The pool and poolside bar
What I love about the pool and poolside bar is that the hotel has again thought about busy families with their QR to table ordering. You can watch the kids in the pool and order snacks and drinks to your table using the QR code. Super easy and means you don’t need to haul the kids out of the pool while you go order… I mean the bar isn’t far from the pool, but depending on the age of your kids, it is better to be safe around water – right!?
The pool isn’t huge, but when you have the multiple pools of South Bank right on your doorstep, you don’t need it to be. The South Bank pools don’t have QR code beside the pool ordering though… 😉
Restaurants & dining
Bacchus restaurant
The other reason I would like to live permanently at the hotel is for the buffet breakfast. You guys KNOW I am a fan of a good buffet breakfast and as I have (taste) tested a few, I can say that this is one of the best in Brisbane. Bacchus is an elegant dining room that makes you feel like you are dining somewhere special! The staff are so attentive and friendly. I genuinely could eat here every day. The buffet offers a large selection of hot and cold breakfast favourites and the chef will make your eggs ‘your way’ – just ask!
Room service
The kids were hungry mid afternoon, so we tried out the room service. We ordered two sandwiches (Classic Cheeseburger and Triple Decker Club) which were from the CBD restaurant menu. They were huge and came with a side of fries. I was worried that the kids would be full and not want dinner… but they’re teenagers, I need not have worried!
CBD restaurant
CBD stands for Cafe, Bar, Dining. This restaurant, located on the ground floor of the hotel, is more casual than Bacchus and offers a la carte dining from 7am to 10pm daily.
This is the second time we have had dinner at this restaurant and we like the range of options on the menu – from pizza to burgers to salads and mains, there is something for everyone here. The food came quickly and the staff were attentive. Our food was tasty and we enjoyed the atmosphere.
Gym and sauna
Pack your swimmers families! Even if you don’t fancy the pool, the spa is warm all year round and can be found inside the gym. It was divine and right next to the sauna. And I am not going to lie, I only went into the gym to take this photo!
Families Magazine tip: Kids must be supervised in the gym, spa and sauna.
Offers at Rydges South Bank
We stayed as guests to trial the Kids Eat and Stay Free package. But the hotel has great deals on all the time – do jump on their website to find the best offer for your family today!
What’s on near Rydges South Bank?
This hotel is ideally located near the following Brisbane attractions suitable for families:
South Bank
- Queensland Museum
- GOMA
- Sciencentre
- State Library
- QPAC
- Riverside Green Playground
- Streets Beach
Brisbane City
- City Hall & Clock Tower
- Museum of Brisbane
- Brisbane Botanical Gardens and Playground
- QUT Gardens Theatre
- Fairy Lights at Goodwill Bridge
- Roma Street Parklands & much more
Rydges Hotel South Bank
This is a great choice for families looking to stay at a gorgeous, family friendly hotel right in South Bank. The rooms are large, fully equipped and clean and we love the interconnected doors! The staff are super friendly and the location is ideal for exploring South Bank and the city.
When doing your research on the best hotel for families in Brisbane, I guarantee you this hotel will come up over and over again! It is a fantastic place to stay to create some wonderful memories with your family!
If you stay, let us know your thoughts too!
If you are looking for things to do over the school break, check out these school holiday activities in Brisbane, outlining all the best things to do with kids over the break.
