As the smoke fills the room, guests start to peer over at your table. It doesn’t take long for the bubble of grey vapor to lift, unveiling your cocktail of choice for the night. As you take the first sip of this spicy concoction, everyone gradually gets back to their private conversations. The Midnight Bar ties in well with the overall atmosphere of the hotel. In fact, it is difficult not to admire the continuous attention to detail in the Midnight Hotel’s decor choices. It is bittersweet when you realize you’re about to finish the cocktail. On the one hand, it was so good you hesitate on whether you should order another one. On the other hand, a hot bath with signature scented candles is waiting just upstairs. 

The Midnight Hotel, Autograph Collection is situated in the up-and-coming Braddon neighborhood in Canberra. It therefore is no surprise that trendy cafes, vibey restaurants and gorgeous shopping centers are mere minutes away from the hotel. It’s prime location, however, pales in comparison to the reasons why the Midnight Hotel needs to be on your list for your Canberra itinerary. Their fine dining restaurant, performance-style cocktails, complimentary minibar and overall luxurious feel to the rooms are just some of the other prominent features of this Marriott International brand.

In 2019, Marriott International decided to make a historic appearance in Australia’s capital. Midnight Hotel became the first Marriott hotel in Canberra. Figuring out the location of where to position this luxury establishment was a no-brainer. Braddon is mere footsteps away from the Central Business District and is a neighborhood known to be overflowing with local shops, authentic micro-breweries and hip eateries. While under Marriott’s portfolio, the hotel itself is owned and operated by Iconic Hotels through their Autograph Collection. These interconnecting details showcase just how much thought went into establishing the hotel, making a trip to the nation’s capital that much more memorable.

The Midnight Junior Suite reflects the luxury of the Marriott International brand to a T. Each of these suites feature a king bed, full lounge area, rain shower and large bathtub. While the bed is comfortable enough to lay in for a week straight, it is hard to avoid making eye contact with the beverage amenities at the front of the room. The coffee machine on its own is enough to make you roll out of bed to pop a capsule in. Yet the complimentary mini-bar — which gets restocked daily — is the cherry on top. 

It is a hard to decision to make: melt into the sofa whilst taking advantage of the in-room entertainment or soak in the bath for a couple of hours? Of course, no one is stopping you from doing both. The hotel is all about encompassing the sensory experience. From their collaboration with Hutwoods to create their signature fragrance, HUTWOODS x Midnight Hotel, to the range of Hunter LAB products, Midnight Hotel provides you with everything you need to indulge in an aroma-esque lazy day. 

The interior design of the hotel follows a clean-cut palette of dark and light shades. With that being said, the moody tones dotted around the room create the perfect dusky ambience to relieve all stress. It may seem like a simple and minimalistic result but the sheer amount of detail that went into the design element of Midnight Hotel is one for the books. 

Fender Katsalidis Architects took it upon themselves to realize the hotel’s design and decor from the inside-out. From sculptural features to contemporary sections and blending contrasting materials — such as glass, wood and concrete — the architects manage to pull of an ethereal yet bold style. 

The attention to interior design doesn’t stop there, however. Each room features a custom-made piece from artist, Thomas Bucich. More specifically, the artworks are part of his Relic series in which he repurposes natural materials such as wood, copper and nickel. Tom Adair is another artist who is prominently featured in the hotel’s common areas from his collection, Uncovering Braddon. 

The artsy element continues throughout the hotel’s services. In fact, the team at Midnight Hotel don’t just dabble in the mundane artwork side of things but they also know a thing or two about the performance arts. Just left of the main lobby, guests can find the Midnight Bar and lounge area. From small nibbles to extensive cocktail choices and ordinary beverages, it is a timeless spot to start the evening affair.

Whilst you can order the classic cocktails which requires little-to-no stage experience, other cocktails are served in a manner which will create significant head-turns. One of their signature cocktails, the Smoke Show, does exactly as it is called. The glass is served within a smoke-filled dome and slowly lifted in front of you to reveal a tangy-sweet mix of jalapeño-infused Reposado and whiskey. It is safe to say that everyone at the bar will be asking what you ordered as they peer over to watch the show.

The Midnight Hotel, Autograph Collection is not only in a prime inner-city location but gives guests the opportunity to fully unwind with their sensory details. They’ve taken the time to collaborate with artists, aroma businesses and architects to make the experience truly unique. As part of the Marriott International brand, it is normal to go into this stay with high expectations. It is safe to say that the bar is effortlessly met with an admiration for how they manage to take advantage of the small things.