Gourmet stays – 13 of Australia’s tastiest accommodation

Nikki Wallman Nikki Wallman
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A slew of city hotels are now offering sweetly stylish experiences in slick new surrounds, says Nikki Wallman. Here’s our appetite-whetting guide to the stays you can’t miss.

Soggy club sandwiches. Poorly chosen wine lists. The buffet. Our hotel industry has hardly been the place of culinary genius in recent decades – but a few game changers have begun turning that around of late. Result: a new gourmet scene that’s really starting to cook with gas.

 

“I think hotel guests really appreciate the convenience of having a great restaurant right in the hotel – we find that many of them visit us more than once during their stay," says Brent Savage of Bentley Restaurant + Bar, which last year made the move from a seven-year winning streak in Sydney’s Surry Hills to the city’s Radisson Blu hotel.

 

Matthew Rubie, Frasers Hospitality general manager, says partnering with celeb chef Pete Evans to create healthy menus for thePerth hotel’s new Heirloom restaurant “makes us an ‘urban wellness hub’ offering guests options for nutritious and unpretentious food in the heart of the city."

 

Meanwhile,Melbourne’s Langham Hotel now serves up to 4,000 high teas a month, with almost 12,000 ‘likes’ on Facebook. Their popularity lies with “those who always read the dessert menu first," says the hotel’s managing director, Ben Sington.

 

We’ve found something for everyone – go on, tuck in!

The Shangri-La sweet life, Sydney

Sydney’s Shangri-La hotel already boasts arguably the best views in town, from its spectacular 36th-floor Blu Bar and themed degustation dinners at Altitude Restaurant. But the food here recently climbed to new heights with the recruitment of highly awarded (and brilliant) executive pastry chef Anna Polyviou, who wasted no time introducing a regular ‘Dessert Degustation’ event. The hotel also recently hosted their first ‘Sweet Street’, a heady sugar rush of a food festival, which drew over 500 guests to meet dessert idols like Adriano Zumbo and sample delights including fizzy spider cocktails, dessert ‘hot dogs’ and scrummy gelato. Future similar events are planned, as is the November unveiling of a plush refurbishment of the top five floors, so stay tuned.

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Chef by the harbour, Pier One Sydney Harbour

Pier One Sydney Harbour  is set to ramp up its embrace of the stunning Sydney Harbour locale it so elegantly occupies. Bang under the bridge, the hotel was preparing to unveil a big-name international chef and brand-new restaurant (opening in November) – and with that iconic water lapping beneath its foundations, you can bet seafood will be a specialty. We’re told a sustainable, farm (ocean?)-to-table ethos will prevail, with an avant-garde approach to classic dishes. Plans are also afoot to make the most of the stunning pier, including long outdoor lunches, a fab Melbourne Cup event and everything from sunrise Tai Chi to sunset cocktails.

Bentley + Bar, Radisson Blu Hotel,Sydney

For years, local foodies and savvy visitors flocked to Surry Hill’s Bentley Restaurant + Bar, for a slice of the elusive magic that happens when superb wine knowledge and elegantly creative food converge. Now, Bentley has packed up and checked into a slick new ground-floor space at Sydney’s Radisson Blu hotel . We say go for the ‘Bentley Package’: one night in a premier room, a seven-course (yep, seven) tasting menu in Bentley Restaurant + Bar, and breakfast for two the next day. The scallop and foie gras starter dish had us at hello: decadent and disarming, it’s the Bentley on a plate.

Poolside Luxe, Crown Metropol, Perth

Crown Perth’s dazzling array of five-star dining (Bistro Guillaume, Nobu, Rockpool Bar & Grill, Silks…) and up-the-ante additions like Jimmy Wong’s (a new pop-up bar, serving goodies like pulled pork steamed buns and Shanghai dumplings) create an almost overwhelming gourmet playground. And then, there’s the exclusive Enclave: a guests-only plunge pool boasting just six luxurious cabanas complete with huge sofas, sun loungers, plasma TV, karaoke systems, iPod connectivity, robes and slippers and a private butler. Book your patch of paradise, order a poolside spa treatment and, depending on the season, tuck into cocktails and some posh nosh from the Guillaume Brahimi-designed in-room menu: salad nicoise with rare yellow fin tuna; freshly shucked oysters with shallots and red wine vinegar… sigh…

Fattening the duck with Heston, Crown Hotel, Melbourne

Luxury behemoth Crown announced earlier that its Melbourne outpost had secured the dream: a six-month tenure (announced to start 3 February 2015) of one of the world’s most lauded restaurants, UK’s The Fat Duck – along with Heston no-surname-needed himself. The famous tasting menu, the same staff, even parts of the building will be transplanted right here, as well as a kitchen-side Chef’s Table for four lucky diners per service. Bookings will be allocated by ballot; registrations open 9am, Monday 8 October. When Fat Duck returns home, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will take up a permanent residence – the first of his outside of Britain.

Old-school cool in brand new surrounds, Mayfair Hotel, Adelaide

Within the next few months, Adelaide’s city centre will become home to the brand new five-star Mayfair Hotel . The beds may be new, but the setting is a heritage-listed Colonial Mutual Life building; the food in Mayflower Restaurant and Bar will take cues from that past, pairing local produce with a nod to (the best bits of) the ’70s. Lunch will feature a vintage carving trolley with diehard favourites like quilted leg of ham, slow-cooked porchetta or standing rib of beef carved tableside, and there’ll also be a roving dessert trolley (the stuff of hotel dreams, surely?) laden with sentimental sweet treats from the pastry chef: think chocolate mousse, crème caramel, and trifle.

Sweet relief with a Langham high tea, The Langham, Melbourne

The Langham, Melbourne, has become a sweet superstar thanks to its decadent, elegant and imaginative high teas, hosting special themed events as well as its ‘regular’ (seems the wrong word, somehow) afternoon delights. This year’s wildly popular Burch & Purchese teas – a monthly collaboration with famed pastry chef (and Masterchef regular) Darren Purchese – are set to continue, featuring goodies such as lamington eclairs, salted caramel tarts with smoked vanilla salt, a banana split ‘tube’, and mini strawberry, mint and white chocolate cakes, alongside classic fluffy scones and sandwiches. A special new Wedgwood high tea is also planned for late 2014.

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Sip at a champagne stay, TRYP Wyndham hotel, Brisbane

The youthful, urban ‘TRYP by Wyndham ’ hotel brand opened its first Australian outpost in Brisbane this September, featuring artworks from acclaimed street artists and a rooftop bar, Up (licensed till 2am). Thanks to special collaborations with Moët Hennessy and Diageo, the bar will feature Veuve Clicquot as its first-pour champagne and trendy-as-they-come brand Cîroc as its vodka partner. The top-notch drinks will also feature at Chur, the hotel’s outpost of the Sydney gourmet burger joint from former Assiette chef Warren Turnbull. Sounds like quite the party to us – but if you’d prefer to stay in your room, the Veuve is available in half-bottles from the minibar, too.

DIY Barossa, The Intercontinental, Adelaide

You may as well take home some new cooking skills with those extra holiday kilos, right? The InterContinental Adelaide’s monthly masterclasses begin with a tour of the famous Central Market, where executive chef Tony Hart shares the secrets of picking the best seasonal produce before heading back to the hotel to prepare top-notch dishes along a specific theme. The best bit? Chilling out, relaxing and enjoying the results of your hard work – along with some award-winning wine (local, of course). Recent classes have included the art of mastering homemade pasta, seafood, sushi, and superfoods, with a ‘best of South Australian regions’ and a special Christmas masterclass still to come.

Eat, drink and seal a deal, QT, Canberra

QT Canberra’s pop-art politician portraits, spy kits in the minibar and emphasis on upmarket food and drink all help cement its must-stay status. But the (hush-hush) jewel in the crown may well be the members-only, 15th-floor QT Lounge, complete with secret meeting rooms; plush, high-backed furnishings to encourage discretion; well-stocked bar (to help seal the deal) and menu featuring embassy-inspired club sandwiches (we like the sound of the Turkey Club with lemon aioli, raclette cheese, tomatoes, free range egg and crispy pancetta). Perfect for politic heavyweights to kick back or kick on, safe from prying eyes.

Seafood so good you’ll stay all night, Gamboro Hotel, Brisbane

Brisbane’s Gambaro family built the luxurious new Gambaro Hotel right next to their award-winning seafood restaurant in the buzzing Paddington precinct, combining sleek, plush rooms of warm chocolate and caramel tones with the gourmet dining downstairs. Try the signature Queenslandbrown-belly mud crab or tableside flambéed prawns at Gambaro seafood restaurant; or head across the road to Gambaro’s Black Hide Steakhouse for the 1.2-kilogram grain-fed, 120 day wet-aged tomahawk steak. Of course, you could go all-out for the in-room butler service with balcony dining.

Guilt-free gourmet with a side of celebrity, Heirloom restaurant, Fraser Suites, Perth

TV superstar Pete Evans has lent his Midas touch to the newly revamped Heirloom restaurant at the five-star Fraser Suites Perth, designing a menu of seasonal, local and largely good-for-you dishes to leave you holiday-happy. Non-kale-fans, never fear: while there’s a ‘paleo’ influence (that’s low-carb, high-protein for those who don’t speak quinoa) and gluten-free options, the menu features hearty WA sirloin with roasted bone marrow and includes a tiramisu for dessert, alongside lighter offerings like steamed wild barra with sweet potato, lime and coconut sauce and chia; and delish raw cheesecake to finish.

Take a piece of providore, Hobart

Hobart’s two hottest properties (aside from its hotels) would have to be its gorgeous local produce scene and abundant art, and the luxury Henry Jones Art Hotel offers both. We’re particularly taken with the genius idea of the on-site providore at the Jam Packed Café, where 95 per cent of the produce is locally sourced. Take a seat in the atrium and order from the way-above-your-average hotel café menu: pork and fennel croquettes with poached eggs, HuonValleymushrooms, provolone and wild rocket; or IXL jam jaffles with Henry Jones berry jam, lemon sugar and vanilla cream. Then pick up some hazelnut cream (that would be their local version of Nutella) or confit whisky relish to take some delicious memories home.

Nikki Wallman
Nikki is a freelance writer constantly in search of moments that illuminate the bigger picture: those travel experiences that plug you in to the very best of the natural world, and the best of people; of what they can create and share with curious minds. She also really, really loves food and wine and beautiful design, and discovering how we can all contribute to a more sustainable and fulfilling way of travelling.
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Taking the route less travelled along the Great Ocean Road

    Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
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    The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns. 

    It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach , the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.  

    Bells Beach
    Bells Beach is known for its epic surf break and is at the start of the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet 

    Split Point Lighthouse
    The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road . Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.  

    Split point lookout
    The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.  

    This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities. 

    Lorne to Birregurra 

    Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park , which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.  

    Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.  

    From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.  

    Erskine Falls
    Erskine Falls is one of many falls within a day trip of Lorne. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae , helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.  

    Brae restaurant
    Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Apollo Bay to The Otways 

    Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.  

    A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.  

    Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles 

    Twelve Apostles
    One of the famous Twelve Apostles, limestone sea stacks that rise from the Southern Ocean. (Image: Ben Savage)

    The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.    

    It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.  

    The Grotto
    The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

    Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.  

    Port Campbell to Timboon 

    Timboon Fine Ice Cream
    Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

    Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream , Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.  

    Warrnambool to Port Fairy 

    Warrnambool building
    A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

    In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.  

    Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.  

    The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.    

    A traveller’s checklist 

    Staying there

    Oak & Anchor
    The Oak & Anchor in Port Fairy.

    The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit. 

    The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip. 

    Eating there

    The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.  

    Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.