The Calile Hotel

The Calile, Brisbane’s highly anticipated new address, has opened its doors as Australia’s first urban resort. Located in the centre of the James Street precinct, the 175-room architecturally designed hotel draws on the enviable Queensland climate and tropical surrounds to deliver a resort experience in an urban setting.

Designed by leading architects Richards and Spence, recognised nationally and internationally for defining the look and feel of the James Street precinct — The Calile design embraces and advances this established tropical vernacular. With the elevated, centrally located pool and the surrounding pool deck area featuring outdoor dining, cabanas and sun lounges — all key to embracing the climate.

The rooms too invite the climate in, with 175 generous guest rooms, including nine suites and two premier suites — featuring a mix of individual Juliette, pool-side and terrace-style balconies and two private rooftop terraces. Designed with the guest experience in mind, open-air spaces and breezeways link to rooms appointed for comfort — cork floors and sisal matting give way to marble bathroom finishes, dedicated living areas with day bed and dining table, custom linen robes, Grown Alchemist bath amenities, a locally sourced mini bar, motorised blackout blinds and UHD television with Chromecast and sound bar.

Beyond the in-room amenities and leisure facilities designed to help guests embrace the authentic charm of the sub-tropical locale The Calile includes an award-winning restaurant, day spa, cocktail bar and fashion boutiques on the ground and pool deck levels. Guests are invited to experience all the ease and comfort of a resort stay with the convenience of an inner-city urban setting.

The History
The Calile is a hotel that wears its location and name with pride. The name Calile, is a nod to the owner’s family – a name that has been an enduring legacy for more than a century with every generation carrying the name, stemming from family patriarch Calile Malouf who arrived in Australia four generations ago.

In 1892, Calile (then spelt Khalil) Malouf and his wife, Ada, left their home in Lebanon in search of a new life. Calile invested in the first family property in South Brisbane in 1901, established Calile Malouf & Sons in 1919 and progressed rapidly with a number of developments and two big stores – a tribute to Calile’s business ability, ambition and character.

Second generation, Michael Calile Malouf started work in the business at 14, eventually becoming the governing director of Calile Malouf Pty Ltd and continued to expand the business real estate portfolio. Michael Calile’s eldest son Calile (current Calile Malouf Snr) took charge of the business and has continued the company’s legacy with 60 years of commitment.

His sons Calile (Cal) and Michael Calile joined the family business in their early 20’s and together established the James Street Market in 2002 and worked diligently in the continued development of the James Street retail properties extending from the Market through to The Calile. The Calile and surrounding development is a tribute to Calile and Ada and the family legacy.

The Design
The Calile marks the most recent addition of Richards and Spence designs to be unveiled in James Street. Already recognised for distinct developments in the precinct — The Calile continues to expand on the established white brick, breezy theme that has become their signature style and captured the essence of the street. “We looked to other hot weather cities with a resort focus to inform our design… Miami, Palm Springs, Rio De Janeiro and Mexico City,” said Richards and Spence Co-Director Adrian Spence. For Richards and Spence, embracing our climate and tropical surrounds became the foundation of what is Australia’s first urban resort.

“In our opinion there is no other city-based Australian hotel conceived as a resort. City-based hotels in our country are pitched to a corporate market, focussed on the conference, rather than on the pool and the hotel’s surrounds. The Calile will change that.” The Calile pool area with its associated outdoor dining cabanas and sun lounges are key to creating that feel.

So too are the external naturally-ventilated corridors and lift lobbies with ceiling fans and planters. Operable windows and balconies continue the resort theme in the rooms. “Our climate allows us to live outdoors most of the year. The naturally ventilated rooms allow guests to share our unique outdoor lifestyle again reinforcing a sense of place that is uniquely Brisbane.” “It is our greatest professional achievement to date.”

The Operator
Located in the heart of the James Street precinct, The Calile Hotel is managed and operated by TFE Hotels under the TFE Hotels Collection brand. TFE Hotels Collection represents beautiful hotels hallmarked by authenticity and provenance, each designed with individual character and charm. With a collection of properties that encompass striking design, customised service and attention to the individual, The Calile embodies these concepts whilst owning and celebrating its sub-tropical location.

TFE Hotels is directed on the ground by a strong leadership team, headed by General Manager of The Calile, Jeremy Nordkamp. With more than 10 years of experience in hospitality management from some of the finest hotels in the world, Nordkamp brings passion for quality guest service to The Calile.

Supporting Nordkamp in the delivery of exceptional service is Kristie Mancell, Sales and Marketing Manager of, The Calile. With 12 years of local five-star hotel experience in a sales and marketing capacity, Ms Mancell has the expertise and intimate knowledge of the city to ensure The Calile appeals to locals seeking a sophisticated locale, and interstate and international visitors alike.

Drink & Dine
Delivering a communal place for more than just guests but locals alike, The Calile welcomes a host of new dining venues. Including a sophisticated Lobby Bar, award winning modern Greek restaurant Hellenika by Simon Gloftis and a new laneway dining precinct adjoining the hotel, on Ada Lane. The hotel and its dining venues form a key part of the James Street lifestyle precinct, celebrating Brisbane’s sublime subtropical climate as Australia’s first urban resort.

The newly opened Lobby Bar owns a relaxed and sophisticated air — with light-filled spaces, an abundance of open air and pared back simplicity. This is reflected in a thoughtful, contemporary menu offering breakfast, dining, cocktails and everything in between as well as considered wine list showcasing Australia’s best with a strong salute to the great viticulture regions of the world.

The Calile’s flagship, Hellenika, sister venue to Gloftis’ eponymous Gold Coast venue of the same name — will serve authentic Greek fare in a sophisticated space that opens to a leafy terrace featuring alfresco dining and pool side cabanas.

Renowned for delivering the highest quality, freshly sourced produce, Hellenika champions authentic Greek hospitality and cuisine, with timeless recipes. Completing the dining experience for guests and locals is a new micro-precinct adjoining the hotel titled Ada Lane which will open later this year, and feature five new street level eateries and bars.

Meetings & Events
Combining memorable meeting and event spaces with leisure facilities and an enviable location in the heart of James Street, The Calile is an ideal location for formal, less-formal and conference events to be held. The hotel offers a Grand Room, which can be divided into four smaller rooms, plus two private rooms for more intimate events and dinners. The multi-functional spaces cater to everything from small meetings to conventions for over 500 people.

Catering for up to 300 guests banquet style, or 500 cocktail style, the Grand Room with its unique, pillar-less space, features plentiful natural light, state of the art built-in audio visual equipment, elegant design and the ability to be divided into four smaller spaces to cater for smaller events.

For intimate gatherings the Drawing Rooms provide versatile entertaining options or corporate meeting spaces. Able to accommodate 24 guests in total or divided into two smaller spaces for 12 and featuring plentiful natural light, in built screens and considered furnishings.

The facilities continue to include outdoor function spaces that allow guests to enjoy the true resort experience and climate. As unique as is it striking, the hotel’s outdoor Amphitheatre provides open air, alfresco entertaining, with direct access from the pool terrace, an outdoor projector and an aspect overlooking the expansive pool deck.

Wellness
The Calile wellness facilities will set a new benchmark for guests and visitors in Australia, with their architecturally designed spaces and ground-breaking treatments created with the intent of housing a genuine haven. KAILO Wellness Medispa and Forme Fitness located on the pool deck level, offer facilities designed to enhance the hotel’s unique subtropical style and sensibility.

KAILO is the creation of successful spa specialist Meaghan South, former creator and owner of The Dome Retreat and Dr. Edwina Morgan. Offering specialist treatment rooms KAILO will provide a curated holistic wellness experience that combines ancient wisdom with modern approaches to skin health, medical aesthetics and beauty essentials in a space designed for relaxation and the restoration of vitality.

The interior spaces synchronise these alternative streams of treatment, with lobby spaces designed as an outdoor room, softly vaulted corridors to transition from the outside world, and individually customised treatment rooms offering a contemplative private sanctuary for guests.

Rounding out the wellness proposition is Forme Fitness, which provides a host of sophisticated new gym equipment and personal training methods, in a boutique space with well-considered and luxurious facilities. Owner Tristian Forbes has been in the fitness industry for over 10 years – he and his team present a full service to hotel guests and local clients.

The Location
It’s not just about where you stay but how you stay and The Calile calls the celebrated James Street precinct home. A thriving vibrant urban streetscape that seamlessly blends home-grown creative talent and established premium brands — James Street has crafted a unique environment that celebrates the sub-tropical climate with vibrant outdoor retail and an annual schedule of fashionable and intelligent events.

More than a locale full of charm, character and characters, James Street boasts easy accessibility with the airport a brief 25 minute drive and even quicker, the CBD a short 5 minute commute. The Calile houses 12 retailers on the ground level which sit within the broader precinct — leading retailers reside comfortably beside more than 130 design shops, restaurants, bars, boutiques and galleries. Guests will have no shortage of memorable places to eat, drink, shop, relax and be entertained alongside the locals.

Richards & Spence