We recently had a Friday night getaway in Brisbane to stay at the Riverview Hotel and see a live show at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
Craving a live performance post COVID, I booked Danielle tickets to “A Christmas Carol,” at QPAC. QPAC is adjacent to the South Bank precinct. We decided to stay in Brisbane the night but finding a hotel in the city or on South Bank on a Friday night can get pretty pricey. On WOTIF.com, I came across a deal for the Riverview Hotel for approximately $140.
The Riverview Hotel
Getting to the hotel was surprisingly easy by car. The hotel includes free parking which is a rarity in Brisbane. This was one of the reasons I picked this particular hotel.
That said, while the lobby is decent, the rooms are dated. The hallway had a weird smell and was quite warm and the bed spread had stains on it. I also couldn’t see the river from the hotel. So I am not sure we’d go back there, even though it is one of the cheaper options.
That said, the room was nice and cool when we arrived so we knew the air conditioner worked.
Once we checked in and got changed it was off to the show. It was less than a 15 minute walk to QPAC. We tried to find a place to grab a quick bite but everything was pretty booked out and we had less than an hour to show time. Instead we grabbed a beverage at Starbucks then headed to the theatre.
QPAC
QPAC lies at the centre of Brisbane’s arts & culture precinct on South Bank. Inside the theatre was abuzz with people going to different shows. We were headed to see A Christmas Carol, in the Lyric Theatre. There are plenty of bars inside QPAC where you can grab a snack or a beverage before the performance.
After a quick video with the “A Christmas Carol” Instagram filter, it was time to grab our seats.
Inside the theatre there wasn’t really much social distancing going on, but they did send an email prior to the performance suggesting we bring a mask.
The show was absolutely fantastic – apparently they put it on every Christmas. It had both Danielle and I in tears. Definitely recommend getting along to see it next year if you get a chance.
Dinner on South Bank
After the show we headed out in search of some dinner along South Bank. Danielle was wearing heals so was pretty keen on whatever we came across first.
We came across Next Door Kitchen & Bar. Danielle ordered the scallops (the starter) for her main. I was feeling a little hungrier so went with the Alfredo pasta. It filled the spot perfectly – then it was just a 15 minute walk back to the hotel for the night.
Breakfast at Denim Co Cafe
The next morning we woke up and had a little Christmas celebration in our hotel room complete with mini Christmas tree and presents. Then we checked out and went for a walk back to South Bank. In the lead up to Christmas they had a cool little Christmas market along South Bank. After having a bit of a browse, we stopped in at Denim Co Cafe for some breakfast.
I got a delicious eggs Benedict croissant with a hash brown and an iced chocolate. They also have a great assortment of freshly made juices and dining is in an alfresco setting. I definitely recommend Denim Co for your next brekkie on South Bank.
Have you been to see a show at QPAC? Where did you stay and what did you see?
