In 1852 Arthur Hardy, a politician, lawyer, and businessman built Mount Lofty House as a summer residence to escape the sweltering heat of Adelaide city. Hardy was a sort of Great Gatsby of his time and known for hosting splendid dinner parties and opulent events where the area’s high-society would dance, drink and party until the wee hours of the morning.  The spirit of that lavish lifestyle and opulent galas still echoes through the hotel’s hallways today.

There are 33 rooms and suites which range from heritage-style décor to ultra-modern.  The Arthur Murry Suite is plush and spacious with a lovely sitting area with antique furnishings and large windows that flood the room with natural sunlight. There’s a lovely wrap-around balcony where guests sit outside with a morning coffee to take in the beautiful landscapes and watch the sun ascend over the misted valleys below.

The Tower Suite is spacious with over 500 sq ft of living space set over two levels. The well-appointed living room is on the first floor with large windows overlooking the pool and manicured gardens. The furnishings are contemporary as well in the bedroom with is in the loft on the second floor with a spa bath and separate shower.  The Tower Suite comes with a complimentary mini-bar as well.

The dining experience at Mount Lofty House is one of the finest in Australia as voted by Gourmet Traveler and a cadre of other fine-dining awards. The setting is exquisite on the veranda of the mansion with crackling fireplaces, leather chairs, and crisp white linen table cloth. This is occasional dining with couples there to celebrate a birthday or anniversary or groups of friends celebrating life.

After the setting, the next standout is the passion and professionalism of the team responsible for the dining experience. The waiters are dressed as if they are walking into a board room in suit and tie and are just as knowledgeable about each dish’s ingredients and preparation as most chefs. The sommelier is a key part of the dining experience and oversees an extensive wine list from their dungeon-like wine cellar below. Adelaide Hills is wine country so the top wines from the region are featured along with extensive offerings of fine wines from around the world.

The degustation menu features an exceptional menu of locally sourced ingredients prepared by the talented culinary team lead by the talented and innovated Head Chef, Jin Choi.  This haute cuisine with short and long story tasting menus or a la carte. According to 2017 Gourmet Traveller National Restaurant Awards:   Degustations are carefully measured journeys with significant Japanese inspiration, but the chef adds original touches. Air-dried wagyu topped with cultured cream and caviar is an elegant snack, leading to the winning union of confit ocean trout with peas in a soup of beetroot and fermented blueberry. The far-reaching international wine list and cellar developed by sommelier Patrick White is a key attraction, his careful recommendations perfectly in tune with the kitchen offerings. This extends to a dessert of soured plum dusted with popping citrus candy. A rhapsody from start to finish.

Before dinner, guests often congregate at their storied bar, the. Arthur Waterhouse Lounge.  This is a proper British bar salon with a fireplace and high back leather chairs overlooking the long bar with bottles of elixir stocked up to the top room’s 20’ ceiling.  The seasoned barman is there to make the traditional drinks as well as some savory creations of his own.

Adelaide is one of the world’s top wine destinations with vineyards nearby. In fact, the hotel bottles its own wines which are commendable. The nearby appellations s of the Barossa and Clare Valley and their top wineries are a must-do experience for any oenophile visiting the hotel.