Sky Deck: when to go up, and what to do once you are there

What is up there

The Star calls Sky Deck a public viewing platform. On its roof, at Level 23, three venues share the length of the deck: Aloria, a restaurant that cooks over woodfire and grill; Babblers, an all-day casual place at the eastern end; and Cicada Blu, an open-air bar in the middle. Between them is open deck, and that is the part we come for — the walk from one end to the other with the river turning below.

The operator's own figures: 100 metres above the CBD, a 250-metre run of deck, and a milestone of one million visitors since the staged opening in August 2024. On a clear evening the view runs from the city out towards Moreton Bay; the FAQ also mentions the hinterland on the other side. Aloria describes its outlook as 270 degrees.

Opening hours

These are the hours published on the Sky Deck page when we checked on 31 October 2026. The same page warns that poor weather can change them, and that the team will try to let guests know when it does. A rooftop with a glass balustrade is the first thing to close when a storm comes through, so check on the day.

The three venues, side by side

Two details from those pages shape our plan. Aloria is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so a long weekend that runs into Monday needs a different dinner. And Aloria's page lists 20 November 2026 as a night with no dinner service — if your weekend is that Friday, book somewhere else for the evening.

Getting into Aloria

Aloria has its own way in: the VIP entrance to the right of The Star Grand Hotel entrance on William Street. If you are staying in the hotel, that is a very short walk from the lobby. The Sky Deck executive chef is Shayne Mansfield, who grew up in Brisbane, trained under Philip Johnson at E'cco Bistro and spent more than a decade cooking interstate and in London before coming back.

Sunrise or sunset?

Most people go at sunset, which is exactly why we like the other end of the day as well. The deck opens at 6:30 am every day, Babblers starts serving at 7:00 am, and on a Sunday morning you will share the view with joggers' coffee orders rather than a Saturday crowd. Our plan uses both: the deck at sunset on Saturday, coffee up there on Sunday.

For the evening, aim to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the sun goes down. You get to walk the full length in daylight, pick a spot, and watch the city lights come on below. Cicada Blu does not take bookings for small groups, so on a Saturday the earlier you arrive, the better your chance of a table rather than a standing spot.

What it costs

We found no entry ticket for the platform itself on the official pages; you pay for what you eat and drink. All three venues state the same rule: a 10 per cent surcharge on Saturdays and Sundays, and 15 per cent on public holidays. We mention it because it is the most common surprise on a weekend bill up here.

Events on the deck

The Sky Deck page gives a capacity of up to 1,000 guests for private events; the general FAQ talks about rooftop events for up to 1,500. We pass on both and suggest you ask the events team (our page on events and groups has the contacts). Aloria also has a Sunset Table and a semi-private dining room for smaller celebrations.

A few practical notes

• Children are welcome on the deck and at Babblers and Aloria; Aloria publishes a dessert and kids' menu.
• The Star practises the responsible service of alcohol across its venues, the deck included.
• On Christmas Day only the platform and Aloria (with tickets) are open.
• If it rains, swap the deck for the hotel's lobby or The Terrace — see our rainy-day plan.