Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach – Hotel Review

Can you distinguish one Gold Coast high rise from another? At Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach, the luxury skyscraper has set itself apart from its neighbours with its sleek and elegant design, exceptional on-site dining and incredible views that reach as far as the hinterland. Read on for the full review.

From the minute you step under the soaring lobby ceilings, the energy of the buzzy strip outside begins to fade. That sense of calm follows you to dinner at fine diner Room81, out to the cabana-lined outdoor pool and into your marble bathroom. In the heart of the Gold Coast, you’ve found a little slice of luxury at Sofitel.

Where is Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach?

Sandwiched between the river and the sea, Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach soars above the busy strips of the suburb. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Gold Coast Airport and a 90-minute drive south of Brisbane Airport.

What’s near Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach?

If you’ve come to this part of town for the beach, you’re in luck: the sands of Kurrawa Beach are just seven minutes away by foot. The Star complex (and all its eateries, activities and entertainment) is less than a 10-minute walk, as is Pacific Fair, the area’s largest shopping centre.

Room types

One side of the building faces the river and hinterland and the other faces the ocean; all rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows — which open onto a balcony — to maximise these far-reaching views. The best use of said balcony is draping yourself in the provided bathrobe and slippers (post-bath with the Balmain amenities in the marble surrounds) and heading out to watch the sunset.

Restaurants and bars 

At the refined Room81, each plate is as pretty as the next. The menu leans French (chicken liver parfait, duck á l’orange, beef bourguignon) with little local twists, such as the barramundi and black mussels on a bisque reduction.

Bistro On3 is the hotel’s buffet venue, with grand columns and delicious pastries, while TC’s Bar and Gaming Lounge is the place for burgers, piles of crispy chips and saucy wings.

Travel for work 

Remote working is a cinch for business travellers, with generous in-room desks and free wi-fi. There’s also an array of meeting and conference spaces, catering to groups of all sizes. The Boardroom, perched on the highest floor of the hotel, is a gleaming space seating 12 with spectacular views of surrounding Surfers Paradise.

Gym and pool

The Gold Coast does occasionally experience a change in season. Not that you’d notice it at Sofitel, where one of the hotel’s two pools is heated to an almost balmy 24 degrees when the temp drops. There’s also an on-site gym with all the requisite tools, if you prefer sweating it out.

What you need to know

Look closer at the art hanging in the lobby: it’s a roving, ever-changing collection featuring works from Desert Art Centre, an Aboriginal art centre focusing on talent from the central and western deserts (across parts of the Northern Territory, South and Western Australia).

SEE ALSO: 12 Luxury Gold Coast Hotels for a 5-Star Stay