Empire Hotel, Fortitude Valley

The Empire Hotel is a three-story brick building in Fortitude Valley featuring ornate verandahs and cast-iron columns. Across its three levels sit a public bar, bistro, lounge areas, and multiple dining spaces with decorative timber details.

This building was constructed in 1888 to replace an earlier hotel from 1865 that once stood on the same site. It emerged during a growth period for Brisbane's hospitality sector and has shaped the neighborhood since.

The hotel represents how important drinking establishments were to Brisbane's social and business life in the late 1800s. You can sense this role when you walk through the spaces, which still feel like places where the city's life unfolded.

The hotel sits at the corner of Brunswick and Ann Streets, making it easy to locate and enter from the street. Access to the different levels is straightforward, and you can explore the rooms at your own pace.

The original wooden joinery from 1889 remains intact, and a vintage lift from the 1930s still operates within the building. These crafted and mechanical details from different eras show how the structure evolved over time.