Located in the heart of Adelaide, this 251-room hotel occupies a 32 story mixed-use tower in Adelaide, bringing a new modern-luxury hospitality experience to the city.

Sofitel Adelaide brings an international flavour to the South Australian hospitality scene. Part of the French-owned Accor hotel group, when Sofitel Adelaide in 2021 it was the first new five-star, internationally branded hotel to open in Adelaide in 30 years. Opened by South Australian developer, Palumbo, and operated by Accor, the building is now owned by the Salter Brothers. One of the tallest residential developments to ever be unveiled in South Australia, it highlights the evolution of Adelaide into a business and growth-driven city. With an already thriving dining and bar scene in the city, Adelaide has unlimited potential for growth.

Walking distance to the famed Central Market and Rundle Mall, the main shopping high street, Sofitel Adelaide is conveniently located both for visitors staying in the city for business or for leisure. At Sofitel Adelaide, there are multiple room types and suites on offer (with the pièce de resistance is the Presidential Suite), two bars, a swimming pool, fitness centre and a range of meeting and private dining spaces. There is also the Sofitel members-only floor with a dedicated Club Millésime space with meeting space and dining.

CONNECTION TO ITS ROOTS

Each Sofitel around the world is assigned a guiding city or town in France, keeping the connection to its roots. In the lobby, a flowing burgundy-red ribbon sculpture occupies the ceiling above, representing Sofitel Adelaide’s connection to Bordeaux, Sofitel Adelaide’s sister city in France. Made entirely from glass at Jam Factory in Adelaide, the artisanal sculpture is handmade locally yet celebrates the flowing burdundy-red wines celebrated in both cities. Both Adelaide and Bordeaux represent the finest viniculture and gastronomic makers and cultures, and this connection makes a perfect match for Sofitel Adelaide.

Also highlighting art at the hotel, ten local and international artists are displayed, including photographers Emmaline Zanelli and Drew Lenman; painter and ceramicist Michael Carney and glassblower Nick Mount– who all hail from South Australia. An original piece by Newcastle-based fine-art photographer, Alexia Sinclair, titled Field of Dreams, forms the centrepiece of the hotel lobby.

ROOMS

Open-concept bathrooms with free standing bathtubs are amongst the room highlights at Sofitel Adelaide. The Luxury King suite features floor-to-ceiling-windows and room-long sofa tucked against it to provide the perfect viewing space of Adelaide CBD below. The architecture, buildings and city design are a delight to view from above, with the unique tapestry of Adelaide’s buildings creating a constantly intriguing and inspiring sight. 

Interiors in hotel rooms are all consistent – a classic black and white palate emphasised with burgundy details such as ‘chandeliers’ found in each guest room. The Presidential Suite is quite a unique offering at Sofitel Adelaide. With an extensive dining room and open-plan living room concept, walk-in wardrobe, private study and a grand bedroom with an additional ensuite bathroom. Balmain amenities are found in all rooms. 

Luxury Club rooms and suites all include access to complimentary facilities and services at Club Millésime located on level 10. The Club private lounge serves complimentary à la carte breakfast, afternoon tea and evening drinks and canapés, as well as offering personalised check in and check out.

DINING & BAR

A French re-imagined restaurant, Garçon Bleu is found on level 9 of the hotel, open to both guests and the public. Using local produce, the restaurant presents classic French dishes re-imagined with seasonal supply championing the best of what is in Adelaide. 

The 90-seat dining room presents an open-kitchen, brilliant interior design executed by P49Deesign in Singapore, with design practise Mash from Adelaide curating and conceptualising the artwork specifically for Garçon Bleu.

At street level, the Champagne bar Déjà Vu greets guests, whilst in the morning it presents a Parisian-style cafe both with great coffee, casual cafe bites and street-view cafe seats for people-watching. 

FINAL VERDICT

The hotel presents the Sofitel’s global reputation and flavour to Adelaide. Along with some personal additions from initial hotel owner and developer Daniel Palumbo (he selected the sourced marble from Carrara, Italy himself), the hotel feels personal once inside, also easy to navigate to and from through a private car concierge drop-off and pick-up area.

On the quieter side of Currie street in the city, yet extremely well-situated (walking distance to multiple key destinations), Sofitel Adelaide is an ideal stay for the discerning global traveller. 

Sofitel Adelaide
2/3 High St,
Adelaide, South Australia

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Text: Monique Kawecki
Images: Champ Magazine©