You wouldn’t normally associate the word ‘hip’ with an ibis hotel. Part of the Accor group, ibis is usually a brand linked to value and affordability but ibis has three sub brands – ibis, ibis Budget and ibis Styles – and it’s the latter I experience in a recent stay at Tasmania’s largest hotel – the 296-room ibis Styles Hobart.
There are 642 ibis Styles hotels in 51 countries – 19 of them in Australia. From décor to cuisine, each of these hotels is uniquely themed, offering cost-conscious travellers an appealing blend of affordability and creativity. The theme of ibis Styles Hobart is ‘colour’. From green walls and bright murals in every guestroom and brightly hued furniture in lively shared spaces to vivid parasols in the hotel’s funky Asian restaurant, I see clearly that this theme is brought to life playfully in all areas of this surprisingly joyful, design-framed hotel.
About the Hotel
Huddled in the heart of Hobart close to historic Battery Point, the pretty waterfront and the ever-popular Salamanca Saturday markets and just a short stroll to the Airport Skybus, with the airport itself just a 20-min drive away – ibis Styles spans 10 floors and boasts a very cool bar and restaurant, beautiful indoor pool, two saunas and a gym. Which all means you can save money here but not miss out on the lifestyle assets you expect from pricier hotels.
The 24-hour reception foyer is colourful and bright, the welcoming staff cheery and there’s even a fun , little toddler’s play area to keep the little ones occupied if the adults are waiting – a feature I have not seen in other hotel foyers.
More about the rooms below but the standout of the ibis Styles Hobart is a toss-up between the sensational restaurant on the ground floor or the stunning, 25m indoor, heated, infinity lap pool on the third. In my view, a pool swim is a wonderful way to unravel, stretch out and get reinvigorated while travelling and this glossy pool, sided by panoramic windows framing Hobart scenery, enables all that. You can even try a little contrast therapy, all the rage today, by marinating in one of the dry saunas first and then jumping into the pool one metre away. The gym here is a little on the small side but has the basics and well lit by sunshine. These facilities are open 6.30am to 10pm (a late night swim supports a restful sleep in my experience).
The Rooms
The hotel offers 45 deluxe king/twin rooms and ours came with a bonus of harbour views. The room was compact but, colourfully styled (of course), smart, clean and fresh with a good volume of tea and coffee sachets, decent-sized cups, ironing equipment, small fridge, Samsung TV, free and fast Wi-Fi, USB charge ports and playfully named, refillable toiletries such as ‘Rock Your Body’ wash and ‘Put Your Hands up in Your Hair’ for your scalp.
There are no mini bar items as you need to order them via reception (eg chocolate bar $4.50, crisps $4, soft drink $4.50. Tasmanian still or sparkling water $8 and a bottle of cab sav or merlot $45). The air-conditioning was excellent and super quiet and, yes, the signature ‘Ibis Sweet Bed’ was comfy and delivered sweet dreams as promised! The bedside clock had the wrong time and date but we all use our phones for that these days anyway! The hotel also boasts sustainability certification from Eco Tourism Australia.
In addition to deluxe king rooms, the ibis Styles Hobart offers Standard Queens, Standard Kings and Superior Queens plus connecting rooms, special access rooms and twin-bedded rooms.
The Dining
Some hotel restaurants can be boringly bland but this hotel’s uber-cool restaurant, ‘Mr Good Guy’ is anything but. A ceiling festooned with upturned, multi-coloured parasols spans the buzzing bar and Asian-themed restaurant. The effervescent, fun-loving barman, Vinnie, greets us and intuitively guesses what cocktail would suit my wife and I and uncannily is spot on (lychee martini and Singapore sling – each $20).
The relaxed and friendly service, reflecting the vibe of the hotel, continues in the restaurant where head chef, Ted Lee, and the ever-smiling waitress, Miki, treated us to the sizzle and spices of south-east Asia as well as fine Tasmanian produce. The extensive menu canvasses freshly shucked Tasmanian oysters ($5 each) , curries ($29), noodle dishes ($27), steaks ($39) and fish ($29) but we indulged in the share-style, made-for-two ‘Trust Mr Good Guy Banquet’ for $74 per person which saw the culinary team trot out a seemingly never-ending stream of their favourite dishes, which were all delightfully flavoursome and danced delectably on the palate.
The sweet finish on the dinner was the decadent pandan white chocolate mousse with coconut and almond crumble – what a treat!
Breakfast next day is in the same restaurant and it’s a substantial spread with lots of choices of everything for just $29 for the full deal including a self-serve coffee machine. Espresso, barista-made coffee is an extra $5.50.
The restaurant also features long, high tables ideal for shared dining and solos who may not want to sit alone at a table. Even if you’re not staying at this hotel, the restaurant is still worth a visit when in Hobart.
Frequent Traveller
ALL – Accor Live Limitless – is Accor’s free loyalty program which allows you to earn and redeem points for stays and receive exclusive discounts and other benefits. Silver members and above are welcomed at the hotel with a special cocktail.
Meetings and Conferences
There’s a 61 sqm meeting space for a small group on the third floor, well lit by Hobart’s crisp, clean light.
Hot Tips
The view over the city and harbour from the indoor pool is gorgeous, especially at sunrise and sunset, with a myriad of colours filling the floor-to-ceiling windows – befitting the theme of the hotel. So take a dip and dawn and dusk and enjoy the sky show at the same time. Opt for harbour views and be sure to dine with Mr Good Guy! And because the gym is a little compact, choose a time outside peak hours if possible.
Bottom line – A fun, fresh and fabulous hotel offering all the essentials of a good hotel – with lashings of colour – while not breaking the bank.
* Rooms start at around $156 per night (check for latest rates).
Car parking on site is $25 per day but can’t be pre-booked. See reception on arrival. Offsite parking is $17 per day.
The Details
ADDRESS: 173 Macquarie St , Hobart
PHONE: + 61 3 6289 8500
EMAIL: ADDRESS: hb040@accor.com
WEBSITE: www.ibisstyleshobart.com.au
Disclaimer: The writer, Andrew Mevissen, stayed as a guest of the hotel.
