A by Adina

Canberra, Australia

Our capital’s newest lodging delivers style and whimsy in equal measure.

Aby Adina Canberra could well add the alphabet letter ‘S’ to its name threefold: for stylish, sleek and slick. The shiny new lodging designed by Bates-Smart seamlessly combines a cosy residential and hotel feel, creating a bolthole of creative comfort.

From the minute you step through the revolving doors into the lobby, with its curved ribbon of travertine and eclectic art, you know this is far from run of the mill. What’s even more impressive about the 130-room hotel (including studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments) is the freedom to configure the rooms how you want; sliding panels allow you to open up your quarters or separate the living and bedroom areas.

The decor is subtle and soothing, from the plush loop carpet to statement precastconcrete feature walls and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city. The Dreamcatcher bed lives up to its name, and there are two Smart TVs, so no squabbles. The mini-bar features local treats, wine and Canberra Distillery Gin; the galley kitchen has a stovetop, dishwasher and microwave; and the dining table moonlights as a desk with hidden USB compartments.

A walk-through robe area leads to the spacious bathroom. It is a stunner, with Irish marble alongside soft moss-hued wall tiles and Hunter Lab amenities.

Front desk staff – aka, the ‘curators’ – are attentive and knowledgeable about our country’s capital, happy to point out attractions in the hotel’s vicinity including the nearby Parliamentary Triangle, Lake Burley Griffin, the National Gallery and top restaurants including ARC Cafe by Redbrick right next door. While the hotel itself doesn’t have an eatery, in-room dining is available and some stay packages include lobby drinks served from a ‘tea’ trolley for an hour nightly. You might even spot a politician strolling around – but don’t let that put you off staying here.

The TFE-owned A by Adina hotel brand is the centrepiece of the new $300-million mixed-use precinct, Constitution Place, where a lofty 4.8-metre statue of Andrew Inglis Clark – co-author of the Australian constitution – stands proud. While history is celebrated, the property itself is forward-thinking and funky, and the kind of hotel I’d love to bunker down in for longer.

Rates start from $259 per room, per night. abyadina.com