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The biggest surprise of this boutique, Brooklyn-style hotel in Auckland is the bargain pricetag, writes Lorna Thornber.
The place
When you hear a “chic New York-style hotel” has opened with such features as a glass-roofed ‘Winter Garden’, a luxe lounge with a carefully curated library, and a co-working space that doubles as a gallery for local artworks, you expect you’d have to have to part with a fair chunk of your pay cheque to stay there.
Especially when the hotel in question, Abstract Auckland, also boasts a gym, restaurant, bar and day spa with some of the finest massage therapists in the city – if not New Zealand.
It’s not an out-of-the-way location that’s keeping room costs down either. Karangahape Road, arguably Auckland’s coolest street with its string of on-trend cafes, restaurants, bars, galleries and boutiques, is just a few steps away.
But Nigel McKenna, whose Templeton Group developed Abstract Auckland, appears determined to ensure that the Gen Zers this hotel is likely to appeal to will be able to afford to stay.
When checked the website, rooms started from just over $130 a night for two guests – a surefire bargain considering the location, amenities and overall vibe.
The catch is that rooms are smaller than many will be used to – the ‘Little
Lux Studio is just 14 square metres. There are larger rooms and one and two-bedroom apartments available, however, and the communal spaces are so inviting you’re bound to want to spend at least some time there.
The space
With its dark colour scheme, sleek decor and colourful contemporary wall art by Auckland artists such as Ross Liew, Hayley Brown and Fraser Clements, whose iconic photographic portrait of the late Graham Maunsel hangs in the lobby, Abstract has an edgy vibe entirely in keeping with the K’ Rd precinct.
The 290-bed, 11-storey complex also contains residences, so the communal spaces are designed to be places people are likely to hang out in for a while and keep returning to.
With sunlight streaming down through the glass roof, the Winter Garden enables you to get your nature fix whatever the weather. Strung with fairy lights and filled with plants, tables and chairs, it’s a lovely spot to eat breakfast, enjoy a
Staying there: Room rates start at around $131.75 a night for a Little Lux Studio and from $187 a night for a one-bedroom Metro Unit. See: abstracthotel.co.nz
drink in the evening and, on cooler days, cuddle up by the fire.
Adjacent, you’ll find a co-working space where you can feel a sense of communion as you tap away on your laptop, and the Library Lounge is just across the hall.
With plush crimson couches, two fireplaces, rather risque black-andwhite wall art and shelves stuffed with books on all manner of interesting subjects (some of which are quite risque themselves), it’ll make you feel like lord or lady of the manor as you enjoy your downtime.
The room
With its thick blackout curtains and midnight-blue walls, the one-bedroom apartment I check into seems perfect for those who’ll need a long sleep-in after a night on the town.
At 28sqm, it’s relatively small, but has everything I need for a weekend stay, including a kitchenette with a large fridge, stove-top and coffee machine, a TV with Netflix and a powerful hair dryer.
Located on the eighth floor, it overlooks the infamous Symonds Street Cemetery – an atmospheric place for a stroll by day but best avoided after dark.
The comfy bed has exceptionally plump pillows, the fan heaters warm up the space in a flash, and the yellow couch is a perfect place to curl up with a book from the library (just remember to return it afterwards).
The only drawback is the lack of space to put your toiletries near the kitchen sink, although there is a cabinet behind it you can store them in.
Food and drink
With dark wood panelling offset by appropriately abstract artworks, on-site restaurant Collage is a cosy spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and you can also opt to eat in the Winter Garden.
There’s a bit of a kerfuffle when I mention I am gluten and dairy-free, but staff soon come back with a menu highlighting exactly which dishes I can choose from, which is most of them.
The ceviche and snapper I opt for are both delicious, filling and fairly priced, although perhaps lack the X-factor of meals at some of K’ Rd’s better restaurants.
Abstract shines on the drinks front though. The small, speakeasy-style bar turns out quality cocktails with an Auckland twist (signature drinks include the Tāmaki Mojito and K’ Rd Old Fashioned, and mocktails that, unusually, taste just as good.
The highlight
The 150-minute signature massage at the Sa-Ni day spa with master therapist Jay. Her healing hands – and elbows and feet – left the old body feeling like it had been reborn.
The lowlight
There are limited options at breakfast for the gluten and dairy-free, but the chefs are happy to make modifications.
The verdict
One of the best-value new places to stay in Auckland City – with one of the best massages.
Forget glittering chandeliers, highthread-count linens, dining rooms decked out in gold leaf. What lifts a hotel into the top tier of luxury is the way it makes you feel. These properties all have their own style but each one creates a lasting impression (but you’ll need to say “to hell with the cost of living” if you want to stay in one).
Jackie Kennedy. Michael Jackson. Princess Diana. George Clooney. Celebrities have been flocking to The Carlyle for decades and this Upper East Side stalwart remains as alluring as ever.
The location, two blocks from Central Park, is excellent, but it’s the old-school service (where else will you find elevator operators wearing white gloves?) that really sets the mood.
The hotel is anything but stuffy – it is home to one of New York’s best cabarets, Café Carlyle, where the likes of Alan Cumming take to the stage.
Another highlight: the legendary Bemelmans Bar, which has a Mad Menstyle ambience and gorgeous murals by Ludwig Bemelman, creator of the Madeline children’s books.
See: rosewoodhotels.com
Wherever you go in India you will end up tripping over ornate palace hotels but
Flying generates carbon emissions. To reduce your impact, consider other ways of travelling, amalgamate your trips, and when you need to fly, consider offsetting emissions. if romance is on the menu, the Taj Lake Palace is top of the list.
Floating in Lake Pichola, the palace, built almost 300 years ago for the local Maharana, has 360-degree views and a sense of splendid isolation, yet a boat trip of just a few minutes puts you right in the heart of the historic city.
The rooms are sumptuous (opt for one of the heritage suites if your wallet is up to the task) and four restaurants give guests a choice of Indian, Asian, Italian and Western cuisine. For a night to remember, ask to have a private table set up in one of the palace’s picturesque corners.
See: tajhotels.com
Five-star hotels aren’t always about opulent lobbies and buzzing rooftop bars. Sometimes you want something that feels more low-key without dialling down the luxe.
J.K. Place Roma in Italy fits the bill. Arriving here feels like arriving at the home of a fabulously wealthy friend. Check-in is conducted over coffee (or Champagne, if you prefer) in the inviting lounge; a hidden lift takes you up to your room where the décor is lush yet restrained.
The location, in a quiet side street within walking distance of both the Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona, is convenient; the friendly service goes over and above.
See: jkroma.com
Having perfected the art of the tropical resort, Aman chose Tokyo as the location for its first urban retreat, creating the perfect hideaway in the buzzing Japanese capital.
Architect Kerry Hill used traditional Japanese design to turn designed Aman Tokyo, located on the top six levels of a skyscraper, into a haven of serenity.
The oversized rooms feature materials including stone, wood and washi paper, while the top floor spa – complete with a pool with a view – allows you to discover a deeper level of relaxation.
The restaurants are superb. Be sure to
book ahead to dine at Musashi, where eight diners take a seat at a hinoki wood counter to enjoy carefullycrafted sushi.
See: aman.com
With 14km of white-sand beaches and some of the most sweeping sunsets anywhere on the planet, Desroches Island is the tropical island of your dreams.
The only resort on the island, Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island is designed to let you drink in your surrounds.
Chill out in your sprawling villa, pay a visit to the resident population of the indigenous giant Aldabra tortoises, or enjoy the sensational diving or snorkelling. Sunset drinks on the rooftop followed by an al fresco dinner is the best way to end the day. During the nesting season, your dinner may be interrupted by a staffer inviting you to watch turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs.
See: fourseasons.com
London’s grand hotels do a nice line in old-school splendour but if you prefer something a little less predictable,
Soho’s Ham Yard Hotel offers a more contemporary take on luxury.
The village-style set-up of this Firmdale Hotels flagship gives guests a lot to discover, from a cinema and multiple restaurants to a bowling alley, as well as some delightful guests-only areas.
Best of all are Kit Kemp’s dazzling interiors.
An inspired jumble of colours and textures, there is something to catch your eye no matter where you look, from fabric wallpapers, to distressed wood cabinets, to an extraordinary array of artworks.
See: firmdalehotels.com
– traveller.com.au