BASQ House puts Byron Bay on MICHELIN’s hotel map
BASQ House has just put Byron Bay on MICHELIN’s hotel map, snagging the only MICHELIN Key in the Northern Rivers as part of the French guide’s newly launched accommodation awards — the hotel-world equivalent of a MICHELIN Star.
Set on Marvell Street, the 32-room, design-forward stay opened in 2024 and leans into the romance of Moroccan riads. Think a magnesium pool, library with open fireplace, rooftop terrace, and custom furniture and art — pitched squarely at couples and solo travellers.
The five-star project comes from David Jones and Jeremy Holmes, who met at Elements of Byron before launching hotel management outfit Jeremy & Jones in 2020. They teamed up with Melbourne developers Matt Walsh and Shane Wilkinson to bring BASQ House to life.
Jones says the recognition — one of just 35 Australian hotels in the guide — arrived sooner than expected. “We were surprised to be honest, as our hotel’s type of luxury isn’t ‘loud’,” he said. “It’s designed to compound quietly over time, so it was really nice be recognised so early in our journey.
“Our operating model is heavily influenced by my experiences working in hotels throughout Europe, so it’s personally so nice to be recognised by the European authority on restaurants and hotels.”
He credits a sharp launch campaign and the property’s distinct positioning, which has delivered above-market occupancy in year one. “The hotel and its branding are designed to resonate with travellers seeking belonging over escape, and experience over excess,” he said.
“This runs counter to the current lifestyle hotel boom, whose offerings lean into escapism and excess.
“That’s how the ‘House’ model came to life. It’s all about quality, not quantity — timeless design instead of fleeting trends, and real depth over distraction. It’s about giving guests something genuine, distinctive and effortless.”
On the back of BASQ House, Jeremy & Jones has a second ‘House’ under construction in Brisbane and more projects in the pipeline for the Gold Coast and Melbourne.
BASQ House joins other one-key names like qualia on Hamilton Island, Capella Sydney and Ritz-Carlton Melbourne. Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island and Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania picked up two keys, while Lizard Island Resort in Tropical North Queensland landed the rare three-key status.
Jonathan Jackson, 4th November 2025
