From five-star to functional: Adelaide's best accommodation

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This was published 8 years ago

From five-star to functional: Adelaide's best accommodation

By Mark Chipperfield
The Mayfair Hotel.

The Mayfair Hotel.Credit: Adam Bruzzone

For almost two decades choosing a hotel in Adelaide was a pretty straightforward affair. Do I choose an international five-star property, a functional city hotel or a friendly guesthouse?

But the accommodation landscape has changed dramatically over the past 18 months with the opening of four new city properties and the refurbishment of several luxury hotels.

Rather than just providing a comfortable bed for the night, today's hotelier is actively embracing Adelaide's vibrant food and wine scene by offering fine dining, rooftop bars and pavement cafes.

Opened in January 2015, the Mayfair Hotel perfectly captures this new spirit. Housed in a converted 1930s art deco building on King William Street the 170-room hotel offers two cocktail bars, a formal restaurant (Mayflower) and a coffee shop (Café 55). Hotel guests can enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in the Hennessy Lounge – there are two indoor lounges and a small outdoor terrace with fine views across the Adelaide skyline.

Lunch and dinner is served in the Mayflower, a corporate space in the basement. Executive chef Bethany Finn (ex-Hilton Adelaide) has injected a little culinary flamboyance into this rather neutral basement space – her menu offers some old-school French classics, such as lobster bisque, plus some lighter, more contemporary dishes. Just save some room for Finn's indulgent European sweets, which arrive on a traditional dessert trolley. The restaurant has an impressive walk-in wine cellar which diners are invited to inspect.

Hilton Adelaide has been a bastion of gastronomy since it first opened and this tradition continues at its much-loved restaurant, The Brasserie, a modern dining room which showcases the best local produce and interesting boutique wines. A new addition is its Mad Men-style cocktail bar, The Collins, on the ground floor. The long illuminated bar stocks a good range of gins, vodkas, rums, bourbon, whiskies and tequilas, plus a selection of wines by the glass, imported and local beers and tasty bar snacks.

InterContinental Adelaide, scheduled for a major refurbishment in 2015, has hosted many visiting celebrities and VIPs over the past 26 years – The Rolling Stones stayed here during their recent tour – and remains the cornerstone of Adelaide's accommodation scene, with 367 rooms and suites. While the cocktail bar has a certain faded charm, the hotel's main drawcard is Shiki, an award-winning Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant. Diners can choose from the a la carte menu or opt for the carefully designed set menu; only the best local seafood, grain fed meat and other fresh produce is used.

Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury, a magnificent heritage property overlooking Victoria Square, is another established presence on the local hotel scene, offering 79 self-contained apartments, an intimate bar and bustling courtyard café. The impeccably run hotel is within easy walking distance of Gouger Street, the Central Market and the city's small bar precinct.

For something even more boutique consider The Franklin Boutique Hotel, a funky inner-city pad which contains just seven rooms, all equipped with Nespresso machines, iPod docking stations, bar fridges, flat screen televisions and free wifi.

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Expect some quirky design flourishes in your room, such as the black walls, hand-made furniture and arty light fittings – it's worth paying extra for a Superior Room with a larger bathroom and a deep-soaking bathtub.

For many people, however, the biggest attraction will be the downstairs bar which serves a good range of local wines, craft beers, artisan ciders and contemporary pub grub; the menu includes a good selection of share plates and hearty mains – the kitchen is famous for its home-made Hot Dogs.

Fancy escaping the hustle of the inner city? Mount Lofty House, just 20 minutes away in the Adelaide Hills, is an elegant rural retreat with 33 rooms and suites, a billiard room, tennis courts, swimming pool, day spa and its own neatly planted vineyards. The hotel enjoys fabulous views over the Piccadilly Valley and there are four private cottages which are ideal for family groups.

Complete your stay by booking dinner at the Piccadilly Restaurant, a tasteful dining room with sweeping views of the Adelaide Hills. Executive chef Girard Ramsay shows a deft hand with both traditional country fare and edgier modern dishes; the seven-course degustation with matching wines, including the hotel's own vintages, is excellent value.

Elsewhere in the Hills you'll find another quirky option called Sticky Rice. Part of a highly successful cooking school, the property contains three Asian style villas – each comes with its own gourmet kitchen, leather sofa, plunge bath and screened courtyard. The tariff includes a generous breakfast hamper and plenty of free snacks.

Although the villas can be booked simply for accommodation, it's worth considering the Short Cook and Stay Package, which includes one night's accommodation and a cooking class for two – the school employs top notch instructors and has hosted many celebrity chefs including Tetsuya Wakuda and Poh Ling Yeow. Classes include Thai Cooking, Indian Cuisine and Spanish Tapas.

Gourmet weekends, private classes and special guided food tours are also available.

Q&A: Emma Grierson, co-owner of the Red Door Bakery in Croydon and Hyde Park

a) Your favourite restaurant?

"I'd nominate ULC which is hidden in an alleyway off Rundle Mall. The complete name is United Latino Cocina and they do casual, flavoursome and great valued food. They will also made an awesome margarita if you ask!"

b) Best pub or bar in Adelaide?

"My favourite bar is Clever Little Tailor in Peel Street. I go there for its great selection of gins, the funky play list and absolutely gorgeous interior. A class act."

c) My hidden secret in Adelaide?

"Etica on Gilles Street in Adelaide. The restaurant is tucked away behind a brushed wooden fence – it's like visiting friends who happen to have amazing wood fired pizza oven and can make great salads and modern Italian style dishes. They also have the friendliest staff on the planet."

d) Best day trip from city?

"For me it has to be the historic Seppeltsfield winery in the Barossa. It's just a short drive from Adelaide, so you can relax for a long lunch in the garden at Fino, visit the artists in residence at the JamFactory and return home feeling like a tourist in your own town."

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