Lux Penthouse, Private Rooftop

Look, I’ll be straight with you about this place – the Lux Penthouse on Edmondstone Street is one of those spots that sounds way fancier than it actually is, but honestly? That’s not necessarily a bad thing. When I first walked up to number 39, I was expecting some gleaming high-rise situation, but it’s actually tucked into this pretty normal residential street in South Brisbane. The building itself is nothing to write home about, but once you get up to the actual penthouse level, well – that’s where things get interesting.

The rooftop is genuinely the star here, and I mean that literally. You’ve got this private outdoor space that feels like your own little slice of Brisbane, with decent views toward the city (though don’t expect those postcard-perfect river vistas you see in the fancy hotels). What I loved was how quiet it gets up there in the evenings – South Brisbane can be pretty chill once you’re away from the main drags, and Edmondstone Street especially feels almost suburban. The space itself is… look, it’s got character, let’s put it that way. The interior feels a bit dated – think early 2000s “luxury” vibes – but everything works, and there’s something oddly charming about staying somewhere that doesn’t try too hard to be Instagram-perfect. The kitchen’s actually pretty well-equipped if you’re planning to cook (there’s a decent Woolworths about a ten-minute walk away on Grey Street), and the bed was comfortable enough, though the air conditioning can be a bit temperamental.

Here’s what you should know practically speaking: parking can be a bit of a nightmare around there, especially on weekends when people are heading to the South Bank area. I ended up street parking most nights, which was fine, but factor in some extra time for hunting down a spot. The whole South Brisbane location thing is actually pretty sweet though – you’re close enough to walk to the Gallery of Modern Art and all that South Bank action (maybe 15-20 minutes on foot), but you’re not dealing with the tourist crowds right outside your door. The nearest train station is South Brisbane, which is handy if you want to zip into the CBD without dealing with traffic. Check-in was straightforward, though I dealt with everything through messages rather than meeting anyone in person. One thing that surprised me was how well the place handles noise – even with the windows open on the rooftop level, you’re not getting much street noise, which is pretty rare for Brisbane. The 7.2 rating feels about right to me – it’s not going to blow you away, but for the price point and that private rooftop access, it delivers on what it promises. Just don’t expect hotel-level service or amenities, because this is definitely more of a “cool apartment rental” vibe than a traditional hotel experience.