The Louise.Mayfair Hotel King
Suite bathroom.ADELAIDE & SA
The hotel’s AH Beard custom-
designed beds ofer exceptional
comfort. Don’t set the alarm. You’ll
want to sleep longer. And if you
can’t bear to part with it, order a
custom-made mattress for home.
Champagne at sunset is
glorious among the stern
stone gargoyles flanking the rooftop
Hennessy Bar. On cooler nights,
enjoy the hotel’s signature Honey
Trap cocktail in the penthouse lounge.
Mayflower Restaurant’s à la
carte fare for lunch or dinner is
appealing, but breakfast is deliciously
extravagant. The bufet ($39) includes
superb eggs Florentine, excellent
baked treats and honey from the
Mayfair’s rooftop hive. Spend Saturday
and Sunday afternoons here with a
high tea of scones, finger sandwiches,
profiteroles and sparkling wine.
The Mayflower Bar, a gleaming
marble-lined cocktail bar in the
basement, features a pianist tinkling
the baby grand.WHERECBD.COST
From $229, without
breakfast.AT A GLANCE
170 rooms and suites,
adjoining rooms; bars,
restaurant, gym, paid
valet and self-parking.
IN ROOMFree WiFi,
smart TV, some cofee
machines, some baths,
pillow menu, free
minibar, L’Occitane
toiletries.BEST ROOMS
Corner suites have
reading nooks, baths
and plenty of space.MAYFAIR HOTEL
Though it sits at the centre of Adelaide’s burgeoning
downtown surrounded by laneway bars, art galleries and
eateries, this 13-storey hotel doesn’t overstate its position,
preferring typical Adelaide discretion in the way its stately
Romanesque-style façade opens to tasteful Art Deco
flourishes inside. A six-floor annex adds modern flourish,
its diamond-patterned metal cladding studded with small
windows. Many more nods to classic hotel style are evident- from carvery and dessert trolleys in the restaurant to
chandeliers in the bars. The heritage building’s rooms are
cleverly designed to maximise space. A striking palette of
black, white and grey adds dramatic flourish, framed by
crystal lampshades.45 King William St, Adelaide,
(08) 8210 8888, mayfairhotel.com.au
Bathroom rituals are taken
seriously, from spa baths
equipped with candles and rubber
ducks to outdoor rain showers in
private courtyards.
Small gestures matter.
There’s the welcoming scent
of lemongrass in the suites, and tables
are set with complimentary fruit, Anzac
biscuits and a decanter of tawny.
Chef Ryan Edwards frames
outstanding Barossa produce
in bold, creative dishes at Appellation.
For less formal delights, outstanding
burgers and club sandwiches can be
ordered in-room. The same kitchen
brigade prepares a Barossa-sourced
breakfast in your courtyard.
The sunset terrace is an idyllic
spot for a pre-dinner cocktail,
with the occasional sighting of
kangaroos bounding between vines.
Be sure to peruse the hotel’s huge
wine list, spanning local luminaries
and international stars. Minibars, too,
are well stocked with smart Barossa
wine choices.WHERE70kmnorth-east of Adelaide’s CBD, an hour’s drive.COSTFrom
$635, with breakfast.AT A GLANCE15 suites; bar, restaurant, pool, gym,
sauna, free parking, helipad, croquet lawn, boules.IN ROOMFree WiFi,
smart TV, courtyard and terrace, bath, cofee machine, walk-in wardrobe,
Appelles toiletries.BEST ROOMSSeppeltsfield Suites are furnished with
original artworks, sunloungers and fountains in their courtyards.THE LOUISE
The Barossa’s bucolic charm
easily seduces guests cocooned
at The Louise. Large, luxurious
suites open to private courtyards
with sweeping vineyard views.
And an illuminated stream lined
with glowing glass pebbles leads
to Appellation, a regional dining
showpiece with a 500-bottle wine
list. Helpful hotel staf can suggest
tours to nearby wineries but great
comforts can be enjoyed indoors,
in a well-stocked bar, a library
of food and wine titles, and in
guestrooms with Bemboka wool
throws, oversized armchairs and
king beds. There’s gentle fun to
be had just outside at a boules
court, giant chessboard and
infinity pool, though it’s tempting
to simply raise a glass and watch
the vines grow.375 Seppeltsfield
Rd, Marananga, Barossa Valley,
(08) 8562 2722, thelouise.com.auSlugGOURMET TRAVELLER 183PHOTOGRAPHY MARK MULLER (THE LOUISE)