This was published 1 year ago
Manly Pacific, Sydney's first luxury seaside hotel, revived after $30 million facelift
The Manly Pacific is a beacon of the suburb's enduring attraction for visitors.Credit:
Is there a more iconic Australian tourism experience than a ride on the Manly ferry?
Since the mid-1800s, the route north of Circular Quay has enticed daytrippers to the tree-lined Manly Corso and the suburb's hospitality beyond the waterfront.
And also since the mid-1800s but over on the ocean side of the Manly Warringah Peninsula, a hotel has stood on the corner of Manly's North Steyne and Raglan Street, a beacon of the suburb's enduring attraction for visitors.
Inside, across eight floors, Australian furniture company Coco Republic has installed a textbook coastal living look.
No wonder, then, when the quaint original hotel was knocked down and Manly Pacific International opened on the site in 1982 as Sydney's first luxury seaside hotel, it was a big deal.
The Manly Pacific has since had its ups and downs including the terrible trajectory of its co-founder (found guilty in 1988 of murdering his wife). But the hotel has nonetheless remained a stalwart of Manly life, operating as a ParkRoyal for some years, then a Novotel-branded Accor hotel.
It's fair to say, despite its enviable location, it had not been a player in the increasingly glam contemporary cultural life of the desirable Northern Beaches enclave.
But after being closed for the past two years for a $30 million transformation, the Manly Pacific, now open again, has joined the fashionable side of its surrounds and its very-big-deal status has been well and truly reinstated.
The hotel has become part of Accor's MGallery group – qualifying characteristics include being a high-end boutique property and having a unique story.
The first tangible clue that change for the better is afoot is the hotel's facade, updated to make the property look contemporary and inviting.
Inside, across eight floors, Australian furniture company Coco Republic has installed a textbook coastal living look, luxurious though low-key and muted so the natural light and expansive views of the ocean through Manly's Norfolk pines are the heroes.
New spaces include the Infinity Residence, a 177-square-metre one-bedroom suite with kitchenette, living and dining room and its own 100-square-metre ocean view terrace among its menu of luxuries.
Also new: nine ocean-facing, two-bedroom, two-bathroom Coastal Suites with wellness goods and exercise equipment available on request. The 12 new Sun Lounger rooms feature ocean views and deck chairs on a private terrace.
All other accommodation across the 213-room property have been redone and include smart technology, Leif amenities and local-producer minibar goods, such as Manly Spirits, Seven Miles Coffee, Gumnut Chocolates and Beachfox Sunscreen.
There are also some dog-friendly rooms.
Adjoining the lobby find 55 North, a new bar. The two onsite restaurants, the Japanese fusion-serving Tokyo Joe and the French-inspired Bistro Manly, have gone from drab to fab.
And topping it all off, quite literally, a new rooftop pool and sundeck comes with quintessentially Sydney views.
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