The Islington is a luxury boutique hotel in central Hobart in beautiful Tasmania. We stayed here during our recent Luscious Takes a Trip holiday to celebrate Mr Luscious’s 50th birthday…
It is always a relief when I book a hotel that we haven’t visited before and it turns out to be just as nice as the website suggests. In this case, the Islington in Hobart was even nicer – it ticked every box for us and I’m so glad we discovered this gem of a hotel.
Our thanks to front-of-house team Selina, Tara, Sarah and Ashley, chefs Jonathan and Natalie, and the unseen members of this most professional and friendly crew, for giving us such a memorable experience. It was just what we both wanted and needed, from the comfortable bed, fluffy towels to the fireside lounge and incredible food and service.
About the Islington hotel
Being a boutique hotel, there are only a few rooms but they are all perfectly appointed with 5-star amenities. See more details on the Islington Hotel website.
We had a Garden room with views over the back garden in all its autumnal glory, looking up to Mt Wellington. Perfect. Every need had been attended to, from the books, games, CDs and DVDs which we could choose to enjoy from their collection, to the good-sized bath and Aesop toiletries. And we always appreciate fresh milk for cups of tea (in this case, supplied by premier Australian brand, T2).
Luscious food at the Islington
Islington Kitchen is a small but exquisitely set up kitchen-dining-lounge experience which makes you feel like you’re in your own home, but with someone else doing all the work.
We arrived from Hobart airport in the evening so were glad to be able to settle into our room and then enjoy supper by the fire with some delicious supper of Tasmanian seafood chowder, fresh bread, locals wines and a selection of local artisan cheeses, fresh fruit and Islington preserves. This meal was so fab that we cancelled our plans the following night and ate in-house again, something we never do.
Breakfast on both mornings was just as great, thanks to Chef Natalie, with a combination of Continental style and a hot offering, of which we had the full, “we’ll try it all” option, as well as juice and coffee. Yum.
Dinner on the second night included fresh white fish on chick pea, fennel and chorizo stew with spring bay mussels and saffron mayonnaise (Mr Luscious) and confit of free range chicken with herb roasted bintjes, warm red cabbage slaw and caper butter (me).
For dessert we shared two delicious offerings: a quince and brioche butter pudding, with chocolate orange sauce and hazelnut praline, as well as a vanilla bean panna cotta with caramelised pear and fairy floss. Whilst everything was divine, the panna cotta was to-die-for.
During our visit, we enjoyed a variety of Tasmanian wines, including Clover Hill, Frogmore Creek, Spring Vale and Stefano Lubiana.
Luscious living
The hotel is part-historic house, part-modern extension, intersected by an airy double-height atrium which comprises the kitchen-living space, overlooking a large courtyard, reflecting room with modern sculpture, formal hedging, and a rustic garden with lawn and willow trees. A lovely combination.
The reception rooms in the older part include three beautiful lounge/library spaces with fireplaces and a superb array of art and rare books. We felt like we had been personally invited by the owners to share in their private collection – it was all rather lovely and I worried that they really ought to have security guards on hand to keep a firm eye on it all!
Read about the history of this 1847 property, which includes a look at the overall history of Hobart too.
Location
The Islington Hotel is at 321 Davey Street, Hobart, Tasmania, just 4 mins drive from the Hobart CBD.
We had a hire car, which is sensible for enjoying Hobart properly, and they have secure gates so you can park within the property without any trouble. Many of the places we wanted to visit were just a few minutes away by car, so it was perfectly situated for us.
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Learn more about The Islington Hotel:
Check out our posts about what to do in Hobart and our Gourmania food tour:
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Cheers, Natasha
www.myLusciousLife.com
