W Brisbane

W Brisbane is the design-forward riverside hotel on North Quay in the CBD, and it runs one of the more polished pet programs in the country under Marriott's PAW (Pets Are Welcome) banner. For a small-to-mid-size dog and a city-break budget, it is a proper full-service stay with the dog included rather than merely tolerated.

Dogs at the W

Pets must be booked in advance through the hotel's PAW package rather than a standard room rate, and the terms are specific: one pet per room, up to 18kg, with a non-refundable fee of AU$150 per stay. The package rolls out a pet bed, food and water bowls on loan, cleaning essentials, a local walking map and a small welcome gift to take home. Pets are only permitted in designated pet-friendly rooms and select common pathways, and they cannot be left unattended in the room at any time. Dogs are not allowed in food and beverage outlets or the WET Deck pool area, so meals happen with the dog elsewhere or on the footpath. If your dog is near the weight line or you want the exact room configuration, confirm with the hotel before booking.

Pepsi: a $150 fee gets me a bed, bowls, a walking map and a take-home gift. The bar of this hotel is higher than most motels' human breakfast.

The place itself

The W sits on the Brisbane River with bold styling throughout, river views, suites with wet bars, a lively WET Deck and a proper concierge. It is aimed at a polished city break: expect service that actually handles dogs as guests, from the welcome kit to the walking map. The trade-off is the price and the restrictions, so this is a splurge stay for a well-mannered dog rather than a working-dog road trip stop.

Getting there and nearby

The hotel is on North Quay beside the river, walkable to the Queen Street mall end of the CBD. The Margaret Street Fenced Dog Park is a short walk for a secure off-lead run, and the riverside paths plus the City Botanic Gardens cover the morning circuit. Felons Barrel Hall is nearby for a river-adjacent meal.

Another CBD option with a published pet package is the Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre. More options are on the Queensland pet friendly stays guide and the Brisbane City destination page.