A review of New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star Hotel
Step into calm at The Hotel Britomart, New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star hotel.
Anew 10-storey brick high-rise now punctuates the skyline in downtown Auckland – The Hotel Britomart. Here the eyes can’t help but be drawn skyward and, though it’s hardly a skyscraper, it makes a stand while also managing to be at one with the existing cityscape.
Stepping into the foyer this feeling of balance remains, evoking that ‘ahhh’ feeling as every cell in the body lets out a collective contented sigh. You know, that moment when you find yourself in a beautiful place and your body gives you permission to relax.
The hotel’s 5 Green Star status definitely correlates. It’s a place where you can rest easy in your compostable hotel slippers knowing that the environmental heavy lifting is being done for you, says The Hotel Britomart general manager Clinton Farley.
And it really does feel like that when you slip between the organic cotton sheets or raid the mini-bar filled with local produce.
The Hotel Britomart’s commitment to sustainability isn’t just about making the building efficient, it’s also about supporting local and showcasing the work of local artisans, businesses, designers and regional producers.
The rooms are compact yet thoughtfully designed. Everything has a purpose and is placed in such a way that is seamless, resulting in a clean and calm space.
There’s a mini library of New Zealand literature in each of the hotel’s 99 rooms and five suites. Artwork of tui drinking nectar decorate the walls of the mini-bar if you draw the connection.
Floor-to-ceiling windows in the corridors bring the outside in, while also inviting you outside to feel part of everything.
Stepping into the lift to the sound of gentle chimes also makes transiting the space relaxing and the fact that the hotel doesn’t have a pool or spa yet still exudes “zen-ness” is a tribute to the work of Cheshire Architects.
The contemporary building blends old and new – 90 per cent of the building materials were recycled from the buildings that previously stood here.
The hotel is set among a collection of refurbished historic warehouses connected by an intimate cobbled laneway that leads to new sustainable seafood restaurant Kingi and established eatery Café Hanoi.
Eating out is king in this area, beginning with Kingi, which is connected to The Hotel Britomart – you can also charge your meal to your room.
It’s a beautiful space dominated by the bar – a massive piece of 40,000-year-old Northland swamp kauri – and a magnificent chandelier of 1300 pieces of recycled glass.
Old meets the new in this heritage part of the complex (formerly Masonic House), complete with its original arched doorways.
And there are fresh oysters waiting to be shucked, bespoke pinot gris from The Landing is on tap, the outdoor area has a cosy fireplace to relax in front of and the adjacent Kingi kitchen’s wood-stoked oven imparts the most delicious flavours to the food.
The Britomart Precinct is also rich with good eateries (see right) and shopping.
We explored the area by bike (the hotel provides them for guest use) and on foot. Everything is a short stroll or ride away. On Saturday the Britomart Market is literally on your doorstep offering fresh produce and artisan crafts.
A block away the bustling metropolis that is the new Commercial Bay precinct offers an outstanding shopping experience with more top-class restaurants and eateries.
Auckland Art Gallery is also a short walk away and we packed all of this into a day before heading back to The Hotel Britomart lobby for some complimentary kawakawa tea and to breathe in more of the calm.