A lunchtime oasis offers top value in Sydney CBD

 

Anyone looking for a value lunch option close to Sydney CBD might want to have Jackalberry Bar & Restaurant on their radar.

In a city where food prices can range between expensive and stratospheric, the cosy restaurant at the front of the Hyatt Regency hotel is offering something a little bit different. A little oasis of calm and conviviality.

The new lunch menu showcases a wide array of flavours with a one course and one drink package for just $29.

Perfect if you want to know exactly what you are going to spend.

Dishes include charred lamb cutlets, crispy skin barramundi with laksa broth and noodles, or Mexican chicken salad that can all be be paired with your choice of house beer, wine, soft drink, or juice.

I opted for a very impressive Truffle Steakhouse burger with cheese, truffle aoli, balsamic onions, crispy pickle and delicious crispy fries (above), paired with a chilled glass of Tyrrell's semillon sauvignon blanc. I could easily have opted for a pad Thai, or a creamy mushroom fettucine.

My wife chose the healthy option of the prawn poke bowl (below), paired with a pot of jasmine tea.

We opted against adding a dessert ($9) - both mains were substantial - but could have chosen a mango crème brûlée, or an old-fashioned chocolate cake.

The vibe is English country tea house with service from some grizzled hospitality veterans keeping a keen eye on proceedings. It's not haute cuisine, but it is good food, freshly cooked in congenial surroundings.

It's an ideal venue for a quick break from the office, or a relaxed catch up. And with a set price per person you don't have to worry about someone ordering Champagne and lobster and then want to split the bill evenly.

The one course and one drink for $29 deal is available daily, 11:30am-3pm. There is also a $22 make your own salad option. 

# The writer was hosted by Jackalberry Bar and Restaurant 

How to combine Auckland city chic with Waiheke Island spirits

Fancy sampling a two-day experience that showcases some of the best of Auckland?

voco Auckland City Centre, an urban hotel in the heart of New Zealand's biggest city, recently launched its 'Sip, Stay & Sail' Package, a two-night experience that combines city style with the artisan flavours of lovely Waiheke Island.

The package includes ferry and bus transfers, world-class distillery dining, and gin tastings including the new and exclusive Bar Albert Gin, crafted in partnership with Waiheke Distilling Co.

Voco Auckland City Centre’s Sip, Stay & Sail package includes: 

# Two nights of contemporary comfort at voco Auckland City Centre.
# Return reserve ferry transfers with Fullers360 to Waiheke Island.
# Eastern Explorer Lunch Package for two at Waiheke Distilling Co., including coach/bus transport and culinary experience featuring a signature gin tasting board, choice of G&T or vodka soda welcome drink, starter, shared Napoli-style pizza, seasonal salad, and a signature cocktail.
# $50 Bar Albert voucher to enjoy two Bar Albert x Waiheke Distilling signature cocktails at the hotel's vaunted rooftop destination.
# Breakfast for two at the hotel’s Mozzarella & Co. trattoria both mornings.

The package is available Wednesday through Sunday until March 31 with a minimum two-night stay required.

The experience is priced from $599. Rooms are subject to availability and blackout dates apply.

For bookings and more information, visit auckland.vocohotels.com.

Wine and cheese offering is a lure for potential hotel guests

Hotels are always looking to stand out from the crowd and the The Porter House Hotel Sydney MGallery has chosen a potent allure: wine. 

The Porter House has just unveiled a city stay for lovers of wine, cheese and luxury, with its Chardon-yay Stay package, which includes a curated chardonnay wine flight and cheese pairing with an overnight stay. 

The package is a collaboration with Handpicked Wines with the five-star boutique hotel offering guests the opportunity to explore the subtle differences in styles of the chardonnay grape from their Tasmanian, Mornington Peninsula, and Yarra Valley vineyards, alongside selected cheeses. 

The hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Sydney, constructed of sandstone bricks, its exquisite façade has been restored, while the modernised interiors feature century-old artefacts displayed in its corridors on every level. 

Commissioned in 1876 by philanthropist and horticulturist, Hugh Dixson, The Porter House Hotel started its life as a grand tobacco factory and was later a furniture and leather merchants.

“We are very lucky at The Porter House Hotel to be able to offer our guests exceptional wine experiences alongside a passion for showcasing Australia’s finest produce,” said Mitchell Turner, the hotel general manager. 

“MGallery hotels are all about storytelling and this is our way to share the story of Australia’s wine culture through an immersive tasting of some of the best wines in the country.”

The Chardon-Yay package is available from $359 per night for one or $419 for two guests.

Just steps away from George Street, the hotel is within walking distance of the Sydney Opera House, The Royal Botanic Garden and Hyde Park. I stayed here shortly after it opened and the location is excellent. 

See mgallery.com or all.accor.com

How staying at Ovolo Woolloomooloo can be an electrified experience

Ever wondered what it might be like to drive an electric/hybrid vehicle?

Ovolo Woolloomooloo Hotel and Peugeot have collaborated for an ‘Electrified Escape’, which will see guests able to enjoy complimentary use of one of the car company’s plug-in hybrids to explore Sydney.

Hotel guests will be able to get behind the wheel of the Peugeot 408, in line with Ovolo’s ‘Do Good. Feel Good’ slogant.

The hotel company’s senior marketing manager, Toby Franklin, described partnering with Peugeot to offer its guests an unparalleled driving experience as a “masterstroke”.

Which is hyperbole at its best.

“We're incredibly excited to enable Ovolo Hotels, a leader in designer accommodation in Australia, to provide guests with access to the alluring Peugeot 408," says Kate Gillis, managing director of Puegeot Australia really milking the superlatives.

Franklin carries on in the same style, adding: "It's definitely going to be an electrifying stay!"

For details see Electrified Escape | Peugeot x Ovolo Hotels 

A special deal at one of Tasmania's tourism gems

I am constantly being asked where travellers to Tasmania should spend time when they visit. 

I have two "go to" destinations that offer a real taste of Tasmania: splendid wilderness, excellent accommodation and access to local wine and food experiences without breaking the bank. 

One is Cradle Mountain Lodge (somewhere I have stayed regularly for over two decades) and the other is Freycinet Lodge with its fabulous views. 

Think white sandy beaches, walking to Wineglass Bay and watching the Hazards mountains at sunset. And all those great East Coast cellar doors just a short drive away. 

RACT members are being offered a very special deal for a night at Freycinet Lodge - but only until November 4.

Spend the night nestled in coastal bushland luxury while savouring local cuisine with the "East Coast Indulgence Package" from $399 for two people. 

The package includes one night’s accommodation for two adults; a $100 food and beverage voucher to spend at The Bay Restaurant, Hazards Bar & Lounge or Richardson’s Bistro; à la carte breakfasts for two and an afternoon sampling the region’s wine and canapés at the hosted Flavours of the East Coast wine tasting (valued at $160).

When I dined recently at The Bay, the food was as good as it has ever been. 

But be quick, the deal expires at 5pm on Thursday and is only available for travel until December 24. Smart cookies might also consider upgrading to one of the luxury Pavilions (above). 

You can book here: https://reservations.freycinetlodge.com.au/11370?ProdID=729411&LanguageID=1#/guestsandrooms