New branding for popular Adelaide hotel

There's a big change coming in the new year for Adelaide's Mayfair Hotel.

The centrally located Mayfair has now joined the IHG Hotels & Resorts’ group. That means guests can earning and using their IHG One Rewards to stay in and explore one of Australia’s most charming cities.

Mayfair Hotel will continue to welcome guests under its current name until the end of April 2026 before undergoing a "creative transformation", emerging in the second half of the new year as as Kimpton Mayfair Adelaide - Australia’s second Kimpton-branded hotel, and South Australia’s first.

Constructed in 1934 and transformed into a luxury hotel in 2015, the much-loved 170-room property has long been admired for its grand façade, architecture and celebrated rooftop bar. It's been a comfortable place to stay.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Ark Capital for the first time and together reimagine one of Adelaide’s most famous hotels," said Matt Tripolone, managing director, Australasia & Pacific, for IHG Hotels & Resorts.

"The Mayfair Hotel will be transformed and elevated by the Kimpton brand to offer a boutique luxury lifestyle experience that celebrates Adelaide’s creativity, warmth and sophistication.

“IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio continues to expand rapidly across the country, and the addition of Kimpton Mayfair Adelaide perfectly complements our other hotels in South Australia, as well as the recently announced InterContinental Barossa Resort & Spa."

The Kimpton brand launched in Australia in 2022 with the opening of Kimpton Margot Sydney.

Mangan dishes up a pre-theatre dinner treat

Heading for the theatre, or maybe a concert, in downtown Sydney and looking for a decent meal?

Luke Mangan's Luke's Kitchen might be the answer. 

If you’re heading out to see a show Luke’s Kitchen boasts that it "offers one of the most seamless, delicious and great-value pre-theatre dining experiences in the CBD".

Located inside the heritage-listed Kimpton Margot Sydney, the restaurant starts dinner service from 5pm, giving diners plenty of time to enjoy their meal, and make it to their seat with time to spare.

Guests can choose from a quick one-course dinner for $35 per person, two courses for $55 per person, and three for $65 per person, each served with a glass of wine. 

Available Tuesday to Saturday, the menu features dishes like cured and seared hiramasa kingfish with nam jim and coconut yoghurt (above); roast chicken breast with pumpkin and coconut; and banana toffee pudding with ginger caramel and double crème.

“You don’t want to feel rushed before a show, but you also don’t want to be watching the clock," says chef Mangan.

"Our menu offers dishes that are light, flavour-packed and perfectly timed. You can enjoy two or three courses in under an hour and still feel like you’ve had a proper dining experience.” 

I haven't visited yet, so can't comment, but it is on my "to do" list. 

For info and bookings see www.kimptonmargotsydney.com/eat-and-drink/lukes-kitchen

High spirited: The tiniest bar pops up in Sydney

Five-star Kimpton Margot Sydney has unveiled The Vault, a hidden speakeasy pop-up, tucked inside the original strongroom of the hotel’s heritage-listed 1930s Art Deco Water Board Building.

But this is no ordinary bar. 

Measuring just eight-and-a-half square metres, with space for six guests and one bartender, The Vault is located underneath the hotel’s lobby, and features a whisky barrel table, soft lamp lighting and heritage shelves lined with bottles.

From now until July 31, The Vault pop-up will offer whisky tastings, with a menu of four drams from boutique Tasmanian distillery Lark, designed to sip back-to-back paired with seasonal canapés by Australian chef Luke Mangan of Luke’s Kitchen, for $110 per person.

The whiskies include the Chinotto Cask, Classic Cask, Peated Whisky and a limited- edition Dark Lark single malt whisky. 

Spirit lovers can upgrade their experience to also include the Japanese whisky-inspired Lark’s Mizunara Rare Oak Cask for an additional $60 per person.

Bookings are essential, with one-hour sessions Wednesday to Saturday at 6pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 4pm and 6pm. The Vault can be enjoyed as a standalone experience or added as a pre- or post-dinner pairing with a booking at Luke’s Kitchen, also located within Kimpton Margot Sydney.

For more information and bookings see www.kimptonmargotsydney.com/eat-and-drink/the-vault/

Sydney's new rooftop bar opens its doors

Sydney has a trendy new rooftop bar in time for summer.

Harper Rooftop Bar opened today for guests to enjoy cocktails al fresco style in the city centre.

It is being promoted as the largest open-air rooftop bar in the CBD and is located on Level 7 of the Kimpton Margot Sydney hotel. 

Harper has a rooftop pool, colourful pod seating, long dining tables and plenty of greenery.

Chef Luke Mangan has created a contemporary Mediterranean-inspired menu designed for sharing.

“Finally the cat’s out of the bag - Harper Rooftop Bar is open and we can’t wait to see Sydneysiders enjoying this amazing open-air rooftop bar with a rosé in hand,” Mangan said.

“We’ve created a delicious Mediterranean-inspired menu full of small, share-style plates using fresh, local produce and plenty of amazing seafood - the perfect combo to celebrate the warm summer days.”



The Harper drinks menu features bespoke cocktails, summer-inspired slushies, and award-winning wines, the press release says. There will also be a "build-your-own-Martini station".

“Harper Rooftop Bar is an immersive space that celebrates the finer things in life which is reflected in the F&B offering," says Jean-Baptiste Robert, Pro-invest Group’s regional director of food and beverage.

"The drinks menu has a fun, playful vibe with premium cocktails and delightful slushies complemented by an extensive range of wines available both by the glass and bottle.

“It’s a destination in its own right and the place for people to gather with amazing food, laidback tunes and energetic vibes in the pulsing heart of the CBD.”

Opening hours will be: Thursday 4pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday from noon until late, and Sundays from noon-10pm.

To kick off the party season, Harper Rooftop Bar will host a Melbourne Cup celebration from 12.30-3.30pm on Tuesday, November 7.

There will be race on big screens, three hours of free-flowing beer, wine and non-alcoholic options, roaming gourmet canapes and live DJs spinning tracks. You'll need to back a winner or two with the price at $195 per person.

For further information visit https://www.harperrooftopbar.com.au/

My big question: Who the hell is Harper?

Images: Dexter Kim