Room at the inn: Hotel Hotel, a slice of village life in Canberra

At the heart of NewActon is the Nishi Building, which was awarded International Project of the Year at London’s 2015 Building Awards, judged on design, sustainability and arts involvement. At the heart of the Nishi Building is Hotel Hotel, where all is spacious, sexy and comfortable. As you ascend the building’s vast stairway, the hotel opens like a magic flower in water. Hotel Hotel has street-level access at the opposite corner of its spreading ground floor, but “The Grand Stairway” is a stunner. The wide steps, ceiling and walls are layered with salvaged and restored timber in warm tones, like giant splinters, admitting filtered light as if in a rainforest. Below the stairs, at street level on this side of the building, are other Nishi elements, including a cinema complex and Max Brenner cafe.

The hotel’s ground floor, nearly matching the building’s footprint, is intimate but welcoming, with areas for cosying up. Flickering open gas fires are surrounded by deep lounges, there’s a bar area, a small “library”, and the excellent Monster Kitchen and Bar with its own internal spaces. Reception and concierge are tucked away and lift lobbies occupy side corners.

Natural materials — concrete, timber, cork, rendered clay and natural-fibre wallpapers — define public spaces and guestrooms. There are patchwork walls of ceramic tiles, fabric wall hangings, original art, restored vintage furniture, evocative found objects and an atrium lush with tree ferns.

Sixty-eight guestrooms (from 18sq m to 65sq m) move upwards in categories from Cosy or Original to Creative or Meandering, with a small range within each style. All have complimentary Wi-Fi, airconditioning, double-glazed opening windows, automatic blockout blinds, stylish furnishings, Aesop toiletries and views over lake, bushland or atrium. Top-of-the-range Meandering rooms have separate sleep and work areas and bathrooms made for two, including double rain showers, and egg-shaped polished concrete bath.

I sleep deeply in a Creative room, with its sumptuous bedding, and wake to enjoy my strong, hot rain shower and in-room plunger coffee. My windows are above Parkes Way, looking out on vast unobstructed skies and across to the lake in complete privacy. My only discomfort is the cold bathroom floor with no slippers provided. As all guestrooms have heated bathroom floors, I’m sure this is an issue easily addressed; front desk and housekeeping staff are warmly helpful, and when I ring about a small hanging night light that I can’t operate, the “houseman” explains the workings in a charming note that includes his blessings.

Monster Kitchen and Bar (with chef Sean McConnell and attentive F & B director Michael Gray) is central to my dream of holing up here. Think Moonlight Flat’s Clair de Lune oysters; duck with spiced quince, smoked walnuts and fennel soubise; and local Clonakilla wines. Then up to bed in the lift, or downstairs and two steps into the cinema, preferably with a glass of prosecco.

CHECKLIST:

Hotel Hotel, NewActon Nishi, 25 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra; (02) 6287 6287;www.hotel-hotel.com.au.

TARIFF

From $335.50 to $489.50, depending on room category.

GETTING THERE

An 8.8km drive from Canberra airport.

CHECKING IN

Canberra conference delegates, business fly-ins, stylish weekenders.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

Street entrance, main lounge and bar areas are level; wheelchair access to bathrooms in main spaces and Original category rooms. Some steps to Monster Kitchen and Bar.

BEDTIME READING

A History of Canberra (CUP, 2014) by ANU associate professor in history Nicholas Brown.

STEPPING OUT

In the Nishi complex: eight-screen Palace Electric Cinema (with prosecco and coffee bars); Max Brenner cafe; other good cafes and A Baker nearby. In the hotel: gym (24-hour access with room pass), twice-weekly yoga sessions (free for guests), bi-monthly life-drawing classes. Step out for a stroll to Questacon, National Library, National Gallery, Portrait Gallery. A few minutes’ drive to Italian & Sons (Braddon).

BRICKBATS

No slippers provided (but linen bathrobes are lightweight and lovely). With everything accessible on bedside touch screens, the less technically adept might appreciate explanatory paperwork.

BOUQUETS

You need never leave the building. And Wilson Parking is in the complex, with overnights from $25.

Judith Elen was a guest of Hotel Hotel.

Source: The Australian, Judith Elen, 22^th August 2015
Originally published as: Room at the inn: Hotel Hotel, a slice of village life in Canberra