Source : the age
Adelaide loves a good party, and visitors flocking to experience the carnival atmosphere of events such as Fringe, Gather Round’s footy fiesta and the deliciously decadent Cabaret Festival have fuelled an explosion of hotel openings in recent years.
Whether you’re looking for a chic weekend stay in the heart of the action, a family-friendly beach retreat or an indulgent escape that leans heavily into luxury, the Festival City has your back.
Hotel Alba Adelaide
Perfect for: pool babies, cocktail connoisseurs
Life is sweet when you’re having cocktails delivered to a poolside sunlounge at breezy Hotel Alba, which feels more like an urban resort than a hotel. Airy rooms with spacious balconies overlook an asymmetric pool, and ground-floor restaurant Ela serves up Mediterranean dishes just metres from the water. Add in the location beside the green belt of the Parklands on the city’s southern fringe, and you have a surprisingly affordable stay that feels removed from the bustle of the city but is still conveniently close to the action.
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From $170 a night. 226 South Terrace, Adelaide. Phone: (08) 8223 2800. See hotelalba.com.au
EOS by SkyCity
Perfect for: luxury lovers, bar hoppers
Looming dramatically over the SkyCity casino precinct, Adelaide’s answer to the Guggenheim Bilbao trades in unadulterated luxury. A day spa and pool terrace encourage guests to start the day with a wellness kick, while the rooftop bar (one of 10 onsite bars and restaurants) encourages a more hedonistic approach. The 120 light-filled rooms combine the best of both worlds with plenty of local artworks and delightfully fluffy Hungarian white goose feather pillows.
From $359 a night. 1/1Festival Dr, Adelaide. Phone: (08) 7077 3588. See skycityadelaide.com.au
Discovery Parks – West Beach Parks
Perfect for: fun-loving families, beach bums
South Australia’s largest holiday park can accommodate up to 3000 guests – and keep every one of them entertained with a ropes course, go-kart hire, skate park, outdoor cinema and two mini-golf courses. Add in the splash zone that includes a jumping pillow, waterslides, poolside cabanas and a brand-new toddler pool, and it’s no surprise that many guests never make it across the road to the beach.
From $109 a night. 1 Military Road, West Beach. Phone: (08) 8355 7320. See discoveryholidayparks.com.au
Adelaide Marriott Hotel
Perfect for: heritage hunters, central staycayers
It’s hard to find a more central location than Adelaide’s newest five-star hotel, which sits smack bang in the middle of Adelaide’s square-mile CBD. The grand entry hall of the former GPO is filled with monumental stone and copper artworks, while a sleek tower housing 285 generously sized rooms rises from the centre of the heritage sandstone building. Ground-floor restaurant Penny Blue offers a similar fusion of old and new with contemporary takes on retro classics such as prawn cocktails and beef Wellington.
From $270 a night. 141 King William St, Adelaide. Phone: (08) 8451 3300. See marriott.com
Oval Hotel
Perfect for: football fanatics, gym junkies
Starting the day with breakfast beneath the iconic 115-year-old scoreboard is just one of the perks of staying at Oval Hotel, which is nestled discreetly inside the Adelaide Oval. The 138 guest rooms are far more modern and sport tastefully minimalist decor that nails the quiet-luxury brief. If the proximity to sporting greatness puts you in the mood for a workout, guests can also access the swimming pools, tennis courts and fitness classes alongside Adelaide A-listers at the neighbouring Next Gen gym.
From $315 a night. King William Rd, North Adelaide. Phone: (08) 8368 9900. See ovalhotel.com.au
Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets
Perfect for: trendy travellers, food fanatics
Pink banquettes that match the shade of former premier Don Dunstan’s short shorts hint at the level of detail in this personality filled hotel. The 145 rooms decorated with posters from past Adelaide festivals offer a glimpse into the city’s cultural life and gourmands will love the proximity of Adelaide’s beloved Central Market, where 70 stalls sell everything from bok choy to biltong. Indigo’s Market to Table package includes a guided tour with a chef who stocks up on produce before cooking lunch in front of guests.
From $200 a night. 23-29 Market St, Adelaide. Phone: (08) 8472 2400. See adelaide.hotelindigo.com
Sequoia Lodge
Perfect for: ritzy romantics, anniversary celebrators
Though it’s just half an hour from the Adelaide airport, this adults-only lodge in the Adelaide Hills feels like it exists in another world. The 14 ultra-luxe suites filled with local stone and timber look out over the vineyard-filled Piccadilly Valley, and the views are even better from the spring-fed hot pools. Guests can fill their days with included activities such as yoga, wine tastings and nature walks, or go all out and add a supercar driving experience and a degustation at the three-hatted onsite restaurant.
From $1999 a night. 1 Mawson Dr, Crafers. Phone: (08) 8130 9230. See sequoialodge.com.au
Crowne Plaza Adelaide
Perfect for: culture vultures, shopaholics
Housed in South Australia’s tallest building, Crowne Plaza Adelaide looms over the boutiques and wine bars of Adelaide’s artsy East End. Check-in is on level 10, where floor-to-ceiling windows maximise the views over the Adelaide Hills and several public spaces form the beating heart of the hotel. A free co-working space is handy during the day, but when sunset hits, it’s worth nabbing a good vantage point at modern Japanese restaurant Koomo or the all-season rooftop pool that juts out from the building.
From $250 a night. 27 Frome St, Adelaide. Phone: (08) 7077 2222. See adelaide.crowneplaza.com
YHA Adelaide Central
Perfect for: solo explorers, penny-pinchers
Even if your backpacking days are behind you, there’s an undeniable appeal to the communal atmosphere at Adelaide’s best hostel. Despite having room for 250 guests, manager Marjon somehow manages to greet just about everyone by name as she spruiks weekly activities such as yoga, trivia nights and barbecues. The enormous common spaces and kitchen mean there’s plenty of space at mealtimes, and early planners can nab one of the eight private rooms with a balcony overlooking Light Square.
From $90 a night. 135 Waymouth St, Adelaide, (08) 8414 3010. See yha.com.au
Sofitel Adelaide
Perfect for: Gallic gourmands, brunch buffs
Buttery breakfast croissants, a friendly “bonjour” from the concierge and free-flowing champagne in the Club Millesime lounge (available to anyone staying in a suite) set the Francophile tone at Adelaide CBD’s most sophisticated hotel. But it’s the unexpected touches like the blue-tinted chandeliers above the indoor pool that really wow. The 251 light-filled rooms are more restrained (with the notable exception of the marble-filled bathrooms), and the nonpareil breakfast buffet at ninth-floor restaurant Garcon Bleu leaves nothing to the imagination.
From $350 a night.108 Currie St, Adelaide. Phone: (08) 8432 1900. See sofiteladelaide.com.au
Majestic Old Lion Apartments
Perfect for: self-caterers, long-stayers
Tucked away in leafy North Adelaide, these self-catering apartments arrayed around a greenery-filled courtyard make a relaxed base for an extended city stay. If you’re bringing the family, the 58-square-metre three-bedroom apartments include a sofa bed and can accommodate seven people comfortably. Each of the 66 rooms includes a laundry and kitchen, but the proximity of cafe-lined Melbourne Street makes it tempting to let someone else do the cooking.
From $147 a night. 9 Jerningham St, North Adelaide. Phone: (08) 8334 7799. See majesticoldlionapartments.com.au
Atura Adelaide Airport
Perfect for: plane spotters, red-eye flyers
Plane spotters will go nuts for the south-facing rooms overlooking a runway that handles 250 flights a day. But anyone can enjoy the smug feeling of checking out and walking two minutes to the airport security gates. The 193 rooms are comfortable and unpretentious. Atura displays its personality in a lobby with a free pool table, pops of colour and a restaurant serving perfectly cooked steaks that are a serious upgrade from most airport food.
From $239 a night. 1 Atura Circuit, Adelaide Airport. Phone: (08) 7099 3300. See aturahotels.com
