131 -141 Esplanade, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Australia
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About
#12 of 70 hotels in Cairns
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Crystalbrook Riley is a sophisticated character with a playful outlook on life. Guests can expect understated elegance, contemporary design and a splash of fun. At Crystalbrook Riley, we enjoy modern living through attitude, design, technology and a passion for a better world – or what we call #responsibleluxury. That means no plastic straws, water bottles or guest-room key cards, using technology to reduce paper, providing large-pump amenities bottles (saving more than 250,000 plastic bottles each year) and partnering with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, TerraCycle, OzHarvest and Containers for Change. Residing in a prime location on Cairns Esplanade, Crystalbrook Riley features 311 stylish rooms and suites. Each room features its own Apple iPad control centre complete with healthy-living apps, a 55-inch Smart TV, Staycast by Google for video streaming and access to an extensive range of complimentary recent release movies. Add to this a lagoon swimming pool spanning over 1,000 square metres with a private man-made beach, Eléme Day Spa, a 24-hour fitness centre and fast and free wifi, and you’re on your way to a truly great stay. When it comes to restaurants and bars, Crystalbrook Riley thinks differently. You’ll find engaging, social, vibrant spaces and a passion for innovation – all day, every day. Pop into Greenfields for a freshly made cold-pressed juice or head to the theatrical Paper Crane for wok-fried seafood or the perfect steak. For sweeping views and an atmosphere not to be missed, head to Rocco. Perfect for balmy nights, Rocco is perched 42 metres above sea level and offers share style food inspired by the Mediterranean along with a stellar Champagne menu, second to none. The property is an easy five-minute water-front stroll from the shopping, entertainment and business centre of Cairns.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Bicycle rental
Children's television networks
Highchairs available
Electric vehicle charging station
Valet parking
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Swimming pool toys
Outdoor pool
Shallow end in pool
Fence around pool
Fitness / spa changing rooms
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Happy hour
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Wine / champagne
Poolside bar
Rooftop bar
Taxi service
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Full body massage
Head massage
Manicure
Massage
Neck massage
Pedicure
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Sun umbrellas
Doorperson
Umbrella
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Express check-in / check-out
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Soundproof rooms
Air conditioning
Desk
Private balcony
Room service
Coffee / tea maker
Flatscreen TV
Bathrobes
Safe
Telephone
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Iron
Laptop safe
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Minibar
Refrigerator
Electric kettle
Radio
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Room types
Mountain view
Ocean view
Pool view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Trendy
Hotel links
Location
94Great for walkers
Grade: 94 out of 100
54Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
10Attractionswithin 0.5 km
131 -141 Esplanade, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Australia
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766Reviews16Q+A100Room tips
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Most stunning hotel we’ve ever stayed at. And we’ve stayed at lots of hotels during our travels. From the moment you step in the hotel, you are greeted and checked in. The room keys are cool, wood medallions! The pools were great, the views were beyond beautiful. I didn’t want to leave!! Definitely moved up the standard for any future hotel ratings for us.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Jaydev Walia, Guest Services / Front Office at Crystalbrook Riley
Responded 5 days ago
Hi Amr3210, Thanks for such a great review. I'm glad that you enjoyed your stay from the moment you arrived. We hope to welcome you back soon. Kind Regards,
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hotel's Favourite
Such an amazing place to stay! Fresh, new and clean. The Staff are most helpful and nothing is too much trouble. Paper Crane serves a lovely Buffet Breakfast as well as Poolside Service for Snacks and Cocktails/Drinks etc. location perfect
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Just bring your swimmers, hat and Sarong 😜
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Jaydev Walia, Guest Services / Front Office at Crystalbrook Riley
Responded 22 Nov 2022
Hi Wonderwoman60, Thank you for such an amazing review. It is great to hear that the helpfullness and staff willingness to help was a highlight. We take great pride in the service we provide and it is rewarding to see it recognised. I will pass your feedback on to the team. Kind Regards,
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
The views from this hotel are unmatched in Cairns. The floor to ceiling windows make the price of the rooms 100% worth it. First off, the location is perfect for a Cairns home base as it’s completely walking distance from the main hub of restaurants and the night market. There is also an amazing breakfast spot right across the street called “Muddy’s” that we regularly walked to. The check in process was seamless and enjoyable. Very spacious lobby area with beautiful decor. Our room was located in the tower and had breathtaking views. It was quite humid in the rooms during our stay in March so that is something to note (although Cairns is generally humid everywhere). Our first room did not have a bathtub, but we were able to switch rooms on the second night upon request. If you are booking and this is important, make sure to leave a note! The floor to ceiling windows were AMAZING and we loved waking up to the sunrise every morning. Rooms have usb chargers so if you are internationally traveling you can easily charge all of your electronics without having to worry about a converter. The pool area was lovely. They provided large unicorn floaties that we really enjoyed lounging on. There is an entire section with real sand which made us feel like we were at the beach! The pool bar was fun, had great cocktails, and live music regularly. The cocktail bar on the rooftop was alright at best. The service wasn’t great for people walking in without a reservation and there is not a lot of seating. Our drinks were ok, but I would recommend going to another establishment closer to the harbor. Overall, highly recommend. We would 100% return to Cairns and stay here again!…
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
We stayed at both the Crystalbrook Riley and Flynn during our FNQ trip, and I would have to say that the Crystalbrook Flynn is the better option. The Crystalbrook Riley, while nice, didn't really feel like a 5 star resort. The pros: - Modern decor/fixtures (hotel was only built in 2018) - Central location, only 10-15 min walk from main streets/restaurants and shops (but the Flynn hotel is closer to town centre) - 5 min walk to esplanade, which has a lovely boardwalk along the water, and Muddy's cafe (which is good for breakfast) - Paper Crane restaurant had nice food, and provide poolside service (you order from a QR code at the pool chairs) The cons: - Service was only okay. No one was overly polite or welcoming, just meeting the bare minimum of their job criteria. One morning, one of the staff members threw beach towels at my partner which he felt was a bit needlessly aggressive. We also tried to call down to reception at one point to ask for more towels, but no one answered after multiple calls over a 10 minute period, so we gave up and went down to reception ourselves. There was no 5-star customer service. - The hotel already has significant wear and tear for only being 4.5 years old. The bathroom door didn't close fully (got jammed about three-quarters along) - this didn't bother us as a couple enough to notify management, but it is an issue that needs fixing (room 409). The room also had a slightly damp smell to it, which is probably because it was carpetted and the hotel has a pool, which gets a lot of use. The lift also broke down at one point during our stay (but admittedly was fixed within 6-8 hours). The lobby furniture (which is across from the pool) is quite stained and dirty in appearance (which is a shame, because it is really lovely Uniqwa collection). - Housekeeping was inconsistent. One day they cleaned the room before we got back from being out (so before 3pm), but the next day they knocked at 5pm when we were getting ready for dinner, which was inconvenient. We had the impression that they were likely short-staffed, which seems to be a common theme for a lot of hotels post-pandemic. - Pool - not very closely supervised. There were lots of children (whose parents were not interested in parenting) who were diving, running, splashing, and even throwing sand into the pool. There were no staff monitoring this, and it was disruptive to other guests. It was also very difficult to find a seat at the pool area as lots of them were "reserved" with towels, although there were more reserved seats than people actually in the pool. Again, no staff member was monitoring this or freeing up chairs for other hotel guests. Ultimately, for the price paid, we were a bit disappointed with the Crystalbrook Riley. It seemed more like a 4 star hotel, rather than a luxury 5 star experience. If you are travelling as a couple, I would recommend Crystalbrook Flynn instead, as the Riley seems to attract more families and young children (who, by definition, are not luxurious to be around). …
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: You'll need to get a spot at the pool early in the day if you want a seat.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Germophobes nightmare. There isn’t a piece of linen or upholstery in this hotel that doesn’t have a stain on it. If you’re into sand in your room, soiled carpets and stained bed linen then this is the hotel for you. The lobby is strewn with empty glasses and the most helpful staff onsite are the pigeons who will help clear the plates of food by the pool. While the location is central and the staff are pleasant and the rooms are aesthetically nice enough, this would have to be the least hygienic “5-star” hotel I’ve ever stayed at.
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Date of stay: April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
Amazing. Place exudes luxury. Panoramic room highly recommended. Just dont forget to close the curtains at night . Haha. Love spending the time in the massive pool area. And staff are very welcoming. Thanks again for an amazing quick break
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Terrible….we pre booked and paid in advance for a 4 night stay. After checkout we weee charged an additional $369 usd. Luckily Uber hadn’t arrived to pickup us for airport and I went back in to inquire about charge. Staff had no idea why I was charged and after 20mins still no idea but said the charges would be reversed by the time I am back in USA. A week on and several emails later they have managed to return a portion of the money and now for the remaining amount they are saying it’s surcharges. Friends booked a stay sane time as us and they were no such surcharges. BE CAREFUL IF U END UP BOOKING! Plenty of other choices long that strip closer to restaurants and bars.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Great location easy flat walking distance to restaurants, heliport and boats, hotel. We arrived at 9.20pm it was pouring with rain, no hotel restaurants were open and room service stops at 9.00pm, our tour started at 7.00am the following morning, so missed breakfast as well, as breakfast restaurant opens at 7.00am. ( no facility for quickie breakfast) Pool area dirty and there is nobody apparent to check up on cleaning, pool side tables filthy and birds mess on sun bed cushions, extremely poor breakfast if you don’t like melon you are out of luck! croissants very stodgy. On the positive Reception staff are friendly and personable, and the staff in Roccos are lovely! - [ ]
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Riley is a great addition to Cairns, clean, modern, well staffed, and terrific rooms. Our Ocean View Room had an amazing view of the water and nearby mountains. The Pools are large and sun-decks plentiful, perhaps a few more umbrellas might help. Ordering F&B by the Pool was quick and seamless. Small gripe, they offer a 10% discount if you sign-up to their Crowd Club. We signed-up but the verification email never arrived and the Front Desk advised this is typical, but weren’t able to offer the discount when we checked-out.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
The recent reviews on TripAdvisor do not reflect my experience. This is a solid 4 star hotel suitable for a weekend break or extended tropical holiday. The decor is ‘tropical neutral’ (think white walls, blonde wood and relaxed, sandy coloured fabrics), the ambience is fun but not boisterous, and the service is welcoming and attentive. As mentioned in many reviews the large pools at the centre of the hotel are the main attraction. We stayed on a Saturday night, arriving around 3pm. Poolside deck chairs were available, although the coveted ones in the shade or with umbrellas were in short supply. After a dip we headed to the rooftop bar (and restaurant) for a few pre-dinner drinks. It’s not mandatory to book for dinner, but pretty much essential on weekends. You may need to book a week or so prior to your stay for a north facing outdoor table. The service was very welcoming; the drinks arrived promptly and the prices quite reasonable. As we were not able to make a dinner reservation for a time that suited us, we ate at a nearby Crystalbrook property restaurant - Flynn’s Italian. See separate review. Our Panoramic Sea View room in the ‘tower’ was compact, with the requisite view, a large King size bed (not two single King size beds placed together as mentioned in other reviews), Nespresso coffee machine, safe, and various other amenities (slippers, dressing gown, selection of toiletries). Despite the prime Esplanade location and late trading rooftop bar I slept like a log, so the soundproofing that’s specifically mentioned in the room amenities must be effective. Breakfast at the Paper Crane restaurant on site was adequate. Hot foods consisted of the usual - sausages, bacon, scrambled and boiled eggs, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, pancakes, with omelettes made to order. A small selection of cold meats and cheese, 3 types of cake/pastry, cereals and 6 types of bread for self service toast (with a selection of toppings) rounded out the selection. A single coffee machine was available for a standard selection of coffees - espresso, latte, etc. A variety of teas were available - self service tea bags. A small selection of gluten free foods were offered. Service was welcoming, almost effusive, and the chef was responsive to the various omelette requests. Regrettably my apple muffin was inedible - dry, tasteless and probably the worst muffin I’ve ever eaten. On the other hand the scrambled eggs were surprisingly tasty, not soggy and bland as you can often find in hotel breakfast buffets. At $38 per person it’s of questionable value - but it’s quick, convenient, has sufficient options for a passable, standard breakfast and the view from the restaurant to the Coral Sea makes for a pleasant start to any day. SUMMARY - If you’re looking for an elegant, luxurious, 5 star hotel with a Michelin potential restaurant on site, this hotel is not for you. If you want a relaxed, carefree, happy holiday vibe, you should consider Riley. Average value for money. Outstanding location and glorious pool. A drink on the rooftop bar is a must.…
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Enjoy the view from the rooftop bar after 4 pm
Gym has treadmills x2, elliptical x2, rower x2,...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
US$176 - US$233 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
AustraliaQueenslandCairns RegionCairns
NUMBER OF ROOMS
311
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Frequently Asked Questions about Crystalbrook Riley
Which popular attractions are close to Crystalbrook Riley?
Nearby attractions include Cairns Aquarium (0.3 km), Muddy's Playground (0.1 km), and St Monica's Cathedral (0.1 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Crystalbrook Riley?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a rooftop bar, free wifi, and a pool.
Which room amenities are available at Crystalbrook Riley?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Crystalbrook Riley?
Guests can enjoy a rooftop bar, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Crystalbrook Riley?
Yes, free parking, a parking garage, and valet parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Crystalbrook Riley?
Conveniently located restaurants include Gelocchio, Devine Gelato, and Dundee's at the Cairns Aquarium.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Crystalbrook Riley?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness centre, and locker rooms available in the fitness centre during their stay.
Is Crystalbrook Riley located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.3 km away from the centre of Cairns.
Are any cleaning services offered at Crystalbrook Riley?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Crystalbrook Riley offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Does Crystalbrook Riley have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.