HALCYON HOUSE
Some hotels only come to life in at night, but the
halcyon hour at this remarkable property is the morning.
Wander over the dunes for a surf or a stroll along the
beach and saunter back, splashed with salt, rinse of by
the pool and jump into one of the world’s great hotel
breakfast experiences. The Slim Aarons aesthetic is
invoked up and down the east coast but no one nails it
with anything like the savvy and verve of Halcyon House.
It combines the Ace idea of refitting an old surf motel with
a level of plush comfort and bold but finely judged detail
that recalls the luxe UK and US properties of Firmdale
Hotels. If only they could muster food this sunny and
brilliant in London and New York.21 Cypress Cres,
Cabarita Beach, (02) 6676 1444, halcyonhouse.com.au
WHERE119kmsouth
of Brisbane CBD,
30 minutes’ drive from
Gold Coast Airport.
COSTFrom $600, with
breakfast; minimum
two-night stay Fri-Sat.
AT A GLANCE21 rooms
and suites; bar,
restaurant, pool, day
spa, steam room, free
bike hire, free parking.
IN ROOMFree WiFi,
smart TV, balcony or
courtyard, some baths,
free minibar, cofee
machine, pillow menu,
Evo toiletries.BEST
ROOMClocking in at
81 square metres, corner
room 308 has its own
terrace and possibly the
best view of the ocean.A poolside experience framed
bypandanus palms and
white-painted fences, trimmed
with playlists that are en pointe,
a magazine rack that gives equal
weight to surfing, fashion and travel,
a stunning drinks list, plus prawn
sandwiches? We’re in love.
Coldandhot outdoor showers
for those fresh of the beach.
Hands down one of the best
hotel restaurants in the country.
Fresh fare that’s inventive without ever
becoming taxing to the diner, with a
focus on the local that translates as
flavour rather than earnest ideology.
Even the club sandwich is reimagined
with flair: crisp chicken skin with
mortadella on milk bread.
The ordinariness of the drinks
ofer that the hotel opened with
has been thoroughly remedied with
the ofer of Provençal rosé, chilled
Beaujolais, Ochota Barrels chardonnay
and bottles of Dom with some
reasonable age on them. And that’s
just from what’s on ofer at the pool.
Halcyon House
pool. Left: Classic
Room. Below, from
left: Master Room;
free bikes.GOURMET TRAVELLER 167NSW