The Mayfair Hotel, Adelaide, South Australia

Let me tell you a secret; I am very partial to lemon meringue tarts. So imagine my delight when just after we check in to our beautiful room at the Mayfair Hotel in Adelaide, the doorbell rings and in strolls a plate with a magnificent lemon meringue tart drizzled with honey on it. Well, the plate was carried by someone but I only saw the tart. That sealed the sweetness of our too-short stay in this historic property right opposite the iconic Haighs Chocolate Shop at the entrance to Rundle Mall.

The Mayfair was built inside the beautiful bones of the old Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd building with its distinctive Romanesque style on the State Heritage Register. Inside, the blend of the old and the very new fits perfectly with our gorgeous Deluxe King Room one of 71 in the building. That evening, we stroll down the stately staircase to the Mayflower Restaurant and Bar, which is open for breakfast, high tea and dinner. Our meals are exceptional, paired with wines selected by the Sommelier – South Australian of course. As for the dessert? Oh my goodness. The trolley almost creaks with calories as it appears by our table. I resist the temptation to have the lemon tart again, and choose another delectable morsel that also uses honey from the hotel’s own rooftop hives. I can’t tell you what I had because my brain disappeared in some kind of bliss overload.

As if that wasn’t enough for one day, we head up to the 13th floor to indulge in some after dinner drinks at the Hennessy rooftop bar, which has plenty of nooks and crannies as well as an outdoor deck with views over the city in which to sit and sip. Absolutely splendid. mayfairhotel.com.au