Spicers Balfour Brisbane

Spicers Balfour Brisbane is a boutique heritage hotel at 37 Balfour Street in New Farm, a few minutes' walk from the Brisbane River and New Farm Park, with a dedicated Pooch Package for guests travelling with a dog. It is one of the few genuinely upscale Brisbane hotels that puts a dog bed in the room rather than just tolerating one at the door.

Dogs at Spicers Balfour

Dogs up to 25kg are accommodated in two designated rooms only, Balfour Suites 10 and 11, so availability is genuinely limited and advance notice is essential. The Pooch Package adds roughly $100 per night on top of the room rate, depending on season, and includes a plush dog bed with mattress and blanket, a dedicated dog bowl, a lead with waste bags, and a treat on arrival. Dogs cannot be left unattended in the suite, so plan meals and outings around it. Rates and inclusions shift between seasons, so confirm the package inclusions when you book.

Max: book the suite by number, not just by rate. Only Balfour Suites 10 and 11 take dogs, and a standard booking will not be swapped into one at check-in during a busy weekend.

The vibe

The hotel is an intimate, heritage-listed property with a rooftop bar looking towards the Story Bridge and the on-site Balfour Kitchen, known for French-Vietnamese share plates. It suits a smaller, well-behaved dog and owners after a quiet luxury stay rather than a big-business hotel; dogs over the 25kg limit will need to look elsewhere. The courtyard restaurant area is the relaxed end of the property, though confirm current dog rules for the dining spaces directly with the hotel.

Getting there and parking

New Farm sits about two kilometres east of the Brisbane CBD along the river. Free self-parking is available on site, which is a real advantage in this pocket of the city. James Street's shops and cafes are about fifteen minutes on foot, and the CityCat stops along the river put the South Bank side within an easy ride.

Close by with the dogs

New Farm Park, a few minutes from the door, has riverside fig lawns with designated off-leash areas, and connects onto the paved Brisbane Riverwalk towards Howard Smith Wharves, a flat four to six kilometre return with skyline views. The cafes around the park and along Brunswick Street set outdoor tables that welcome dogs. If you would rather stay in an apartment-style base, Miss Midgley's is around the corner in New Farm, and Common Vice Wine Bar is one of the neighbourhood's dog-friendly dinner options.

More options are on the Queensland dog-friendly stays guide and the New Farm destination page.