Forget your standard hotel with an ensuite, room service and lobby bar.
These nifty Australian hotels offer that little bit more.
From the country’s trendiest breakfast menu to the comfiest bed, Gourmet Traveller has dished out the Australian Hotel Guide Awards for 2018.
Here, FEMAIL looks at the best of what the hotels have to offer their guest.
Jackalope located in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula was named Boutique Hotel of the Year
Paramount House Hotel in Sydney’s inner-city has been named Australia’s Hotel of the Year
‘We’re seeing more hotels championing local makers and produce, and thinking hard about how to connect guests with the neighbourhood,’ GT’s editor Sarah Oakes said.
‘We’re excited to showcase the new ideas and achievements of a dynamic industry that’s central to the lives of gourmet travellers.’
HOTEL OF THE YEAR
A new boutique hotel located in the heart of Sydney’s inner-city in Surry Hills has been named Australia’s Hotel of the Year.
Built in a 1940s warehouse, Paramount House Hotel shares space in the former Australian headquarters of Paramount Picture Studios with a well-established café, an art-house cinema, a health club, co-working space and, coming soon, a highly anticipated restaurant and bar.
Co-owner Russell Beard said the 29-room hotel was designed to give guests ‘a sense of place’ and ‘something that doesn’t feel generic and offers a real slice of the area’.
‘It takes a village to make a great hotel,’ GT’s panel of expert reviewers wrote.
‘Paramount House Hotel’s unique appeal lies in the strength of the building’s creative community and the immediate neighbourhood.’
Arguably one of the most important and prestigious awards, the Best Service award went to Spicers Clovelly Estate in Queensland’s Montville
BEST SERVICE
Arguably one of the most important and prestigious awards, the Best Service award went to Spicers Clovelly Estate in Queensland’s Montville.
Described as ‘European inspired’, the luxurious suites offer a tranquil escape on the Sunshine Coast like no other.
‘It is all too rare that you find a place that has mastered the combination of beautiful surrounds, relaxed luxury, exceptional service, fine dining and all those unexpected little touches that delight,’ one guest wrote.
Another said: ‘We had our small wedding/elopement with immediate family. Our day could not have been more perfect! We were blessed with amazing weather and all the staff were exceptional at putting together every aspect of our special day.
And another guest posted: ‘ Five stars just isn’t enough!!! This is my third time back staying here and you are literally treated like Royalty.’
Located in Mornington Peninsula, Jackalope took home the ‘Boutique Hotel of the Year’ award
BEST CLUB SANDWICH
The coveted Best Club Sandwich went to Jackalope, Mornington Peninsula in Victoria for its ‘Drunk in Da Club’.
The delicious club at the hotel is served with a ‘moreish marriage of drunken chicken’, crisp chicken skin, pickled green tomatoes, and fresh lettuce on white bread with no crust.
And while the classic club sandwich includes bacon – the hotel’s version comes with ‘bacon jam’ instead.
One guest wrote: ‘We just had an amazing two nights where the room, service, food, wine, pool, spa and facilities were simply amazing. Couldn’t recommend it highly enough.’
Another said: ‘We enjoyed an eight course detestation experience for luncheon on Thursday and what a wonderful experience it was. The food was superb, and beautifully presented by lovely friendly and knowledgeable staff.’
And another posted: ‘What a beautiful venue. We spent a sat night at Jackalope for an event and the entire experience was amazing! The food was incredible, service amazing and facilities were just perfect!’
The hotel also took home the ‘Boutique Hotel of the Year’ award.
The coveted Best Club Sandwich went to Jackalope for its ‘Drunk in Da Club’
The Best Breakfast award went to Halcyon House in Cabarita Beach in New South Wales
BEST BREAKFAST
The Best Breakfast award went to Halcyon House in Cabarita Beach, NSW.
Run by one of Australia’s most promising chefs Ben Devlin, the dining experience at the boutique hotel’s Paper Daisy restaurant offers coastal cuisines.
The breakfast menu features seasonal fruits, nutritious superfood bowls such as coconut and chia pudding with honey, mint and berries or wholewheat crumpets with grilled banana, ricotta, honey and peanuts – and a selection of savoury meals.
Enjoy a hot smoked fish with scrambled eggs, rye bread and cultured cream or kefir pancakes with macadamia cream, passionfruit and berries.
One guest wrote: ‘A sensational spot, the staff were very friendly and went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable, the food in the restaurant was just divine. We would go back in a heart beat.’
Another said: ‘We had an amazing stay at this beautiful place – service, food, accommodation and everything in between, just exquisite, five star all the way.’
The breakfast menu features seasonal fruits, nutritious superfood bowls and savoury dishes
BEST POOL
Likely one of the most competitive categories, this year’s Best Pool award went to Elements of Byron in Byron Bay, NSW.
The lavish resort offers a ‘barefoot luxury at every step’, including hanging day beds, heated spas, relaxation deck and daily poolside service.
There’s also an ‘exclusive adults-only pool’, which features private cabanas, swim-up bar and full poolside service, as well as temperature controlled water all year round.
One guest said: ‘We have just spent four nights for our Honeymoon and we didn’t want to leave. Everything was beyond perfect. The accommodation was gorgeous, the adult pool area and bar was so relaxing, the food was incredible and the biggest stand out for us was the attentive, happy and friendly staff.’
Another wrote: ‘From the minute we arrived we started to unwind and relax. The cocktails were divine, the pools were so beautiful, the room was our little oasis, and the service was amazing from your friendly staff.’
And another posted: ‘Our recent stay was the very best experience, wonderful and friendly staff, excellent villa and a great adults only pool with a swim up bar.’
This year’s Best Pool award went to Elements of Byron in Byron Bay in New South Wales
BEST BAR
Also a fiercely competitive category, the Best Bar award went to TWR at Crown Towers in Perth.
Exuding glamour and style, The Waiting Room has been known for its most sophisticated bar in the city.
‘From the moment you step in, you’ll receive attentive care from the impeccable bar staff,’ its website said.
‘Discover unique sumptuous signature cocktails, become reacquainted with bar room classics, explore TWR’s extensive range of superior wines or the suite of local and imported premium beers.’
One guest said: ‘Great place to sit down and relax, have a cocktail or coffee. The menu was good and on the occasion we were there the service was very attentive and professional. Definitely a place to visit and the bar is amazing.’
Another wrote: ‘Beautiful venue with immaculate bar tenders and fabulous cocktails.’
Exuding glamour and style, the Best Bar award went to TWR at Crown Towers in Perth
BEST BED
A new category this year – the Best Bed award went to Mayfair Hotel in Adelaide.
‘We want your stay at the Mayfair to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible,’ the city’s newest five star boutique hotel said on its website.
‘Our rooms have been created to reflect our total dedication to guest comfort which starts with our exclusive, custom-designed, locally made beds.’
One guest wrote: ‘It’s a beautiful hotel, with amazing decor and attention to detail. Loved our room, the fit out, the bed was super comfortable, and my daughter loved the ‘complimentary minibar’ items as we had upgraded to a special room.’
Another said: ‘The bed was very comfortable and offered two different styles of pillow. As we find hotel quilts are often too hot, they provided a lighter blanket, which was perfect.’
And another guest posted: ‘Beautifully presented hotel; excellent service from reception through to the restaurant staff; loved the free minibar and bed amazingly comfortable.’
A new category this year – the Best Bed award went to Mayfair Hotel in Adelaide. The rooms offer guests comfort – with ‘exclusive, custom-designed, locally made beds’
Newcomer, the wharfside Macq01in Hobart, has won the Best Minibar award for its ‘maxibar’ of proudly Tasmanian products
BEST MINIBAR
Newcomer, the wharfside Macq01in Hobart, has won the Best Minibar award for its ‘maxibar’ of proudly Tasmanian products. The hotel also took home the Large Hotel of the Year.
The minibars are stocked with a range of the city’s premium beverages and snacks.
Each of the rooms has been inspired by a Tasmanian character whose story is not been told, but radiates through individual room design.
One guest wrote: ‘The room was absolutely amazing, with fantastic views of the river from one side and the Tasman Bridge from the other. Everything you could possibly need was supplied in the room from fully stocked mini bar, to coffee table books, to bathroom floor heating and a fireplace.
Another said: ‘So many added extras that are so fantastic and make you feel like you have had value for money. The room was incredible! Spacious, clean, heated flooring in bathrooms, comfy bed, fresh towels daily, great mini bar.’
Located in Hobart, the stunning hotel also took home the Large Hotel of the Year
Each of the rooms has been inspired by a Tasmanian character whose story is not been told, but radiates through individual room design
Lake House in Victoria’s Daylesford has been named the Regional Hotel of the Year
Gourmet Traveller and the complete Australian Hotel Guide are available for sale now