Adelaide's slice of Soho

BY DIANA PLATER

From a glamorous old hotel that many South Australians see as their second home to a new funky boutique one, Adelaide's accommodation is upping the ante.

The latest addition is the Clarion Hotel Soho - named for the arty London suburb, and close to Adelaide's stylish East End.

The five-storey hotel opened in October, 2008, in a brand new building on 400sqm of land.

It's designed by award-winning Australian architects Loucas Zahos, with 30 rooms, including balcony and spa suites.

General Manager and fifth generation hotelier Stephanie Horlin-Smith says their vision was "to create a modern masterpiece on a small footprint".

Her family has always been in hotels and pubs and they now run two Quality hotels in Adelaide, which are also part of the Choice Hotels Australasia chain.

"We've travelled a lot and stayed in some of the best places in the world and I guess we drew on that ... for what we wanted to do here," she says.

"The name is saying a little bit of Soho in Adelaide ... I've been in Adelaide my whole life and I can't see myself leaving. I love it here."

They worked with the architects and interior designers to create something with the best sustainable building practices in mind.

The rooms feature bi-folding windows with electronic external louvre shutters admitting natural light and fresh air, and energy saving Eco-Green switches which control power to all in-room lights and appliances.

They also have king-size beds with Missoni linens, Australian-made Natio Spa products, 42-inch LCD televisions, iPod docking stations, cable broadband internet and 20th century designer furniture.

The hotel also has an extensive, ever-changing art collection showcasing emerging South Australian artists. Each guest room features an original artwork, available for sale.

"We have about five different artists (represented) at the moment. We move them around and bring new ones in ... we support the local art scene."

While the hotel in Flinders Street is still a little off the beaten track, it's a short walk to Rundle Street shopping, bars and restaurants as well as the Botanic Gardens and the Art Gallery of South Australia.

The area's also gradually becoming dotted with good breakfast places and Horlin-Smith hopes its Decant restaurant will capture outside diners for breakfast.

"Breakfast trade anywhere in Australia now is huge. In this east end of the city there's a couple of great breakfast places (Chianti and East Terrace Continental) ... we want to be part of that.

"It's a laidback area, a sophisticated area plus you've got the best shopping and the restaurants and cafes in walking distance."

It's also very close to arts festival venues and the Clipsal 500 race (warning if you're not a car racing fan).

"It's a fairly safe area too," she says.

While there are bed and breakfast packages most rates don't include the a la carte breakfast in Decant. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner with a modern Australian menu by chef Rocco Tedesco showcasing local and organic produce.

The hotel with its bright orange balconies has a small rooftop deck and equally small heated jet pool overlooking Adelaide's city skyline.

However passes are also available to the excellent Christian Brothers College gym and pool across the road, which is open to the public.

On the other side of town is The Mercure Grosvenor in North Terrace, which celebrates its 90th birthday this year.

In 1918, Adelaide had many licensed hotels but they provided only limited accommodation until a few local entrepreneurs got together and opened The Grosvenor opposite the then Railway Station (now the SkyCity Casino).

During the World War Two it housed civilian refugees from Pearl Harbour, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies and billeted about 150 American soldiers.

In 1942, the shortage of waitresses was so acute it looked as if guests would have to fetch their own meals on trays from the kitchen, according to a history of the hotel.

Quite a few people have lived at the hotel over the years - including Mrs Simon Harvey, who preferred a suite there to her suburban mansion, with her uniformed chauffeur driving in each day to bring her fruit and flowers and taking her on outings.

The Mercure Grosvenor, run by the Accor chain, is considered four-star. Its comfortable rooms were refurbished recently.

General Manager Grant Parnell says there are still people who come to stay every three weeks or so.

They enjoy the olde worldly charm and its convenient location.

(It's also next door to Hindley Street, Adelaide's Kings Cross and opposite the Adelaide Convention Centre.)

Then back on the east end there's the six-year-old Majestic Roof Garden Hotel in Frome Street, just around the corner from Rundle Street. It's named for the roof garden with views of the Adelaide Hills and city.

The elegant rooms are big, with a good-sized desk and broadband connection ($A26.95, or $NZ35.17, a day) with king size beds and marble bathrooms with deep baths.

The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly with complimentary breakfasts in Culshaw's Grill off the lobby.

The hotel was awarded best value hotel in Australia and number 24 in the world by expedia.com and the rates are very reasonable.

It was a perfect place to stay during the Adelaide Fringe in March, as it was so close to venues that you could pop in and out all day and evening. And it was easy to walk home from the nearby bars at night.

One note though is that it would be a great idea to give hotel receptions staff a course in Adelaide geography as, especially during the Fringe, pop-up venues are in all sorts of dark alleys and lanes. A map is essential.

IF YOU GO

The Clarion Hotel Soho, 264 Flinders Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000. Call Aust (08) 8412-5600.

The Mercure Grosvenor Hotel, 125 North Terrace, Adelaide. Call Aust (08) 8407-8888 or 1800-888-222.

The Majestic Roof Garden Hotel, 55 Frome St, Adelaide. The hotel has winter packages of bed and breakfast for $A165 ($NZ215) with an upgrade $A15 extra. Call Aust (08) 8100-4400.

* The writer was a guest of The Clarion Hotel Soho, the Mercure Grosvenor Hotel, the South Australian Tourism Commission and Virgin Blue

- AAP