Mantra on the Esplanade – Hotel Review

Balancing cost, comfort and convenience, Darwin’s Mantra on the Esplanade is a solid choice for visitors to the Top End capital’s CBD, with spacious, fully-equipped apartments, tour booking facilities and a relaxed outdoor pool. Read on for the full review.

Where is Mantra on the Esplanade? 

Straddling the CBD’s western edge, Mantra on the Esplanade sits above the Darwin Harbour and Bicentennial Park foreshore, with glimpses of both the water and the city. The arching route to Darwin Airport takes about 15 minutes by car.

What’s near Mantra on the Esplanade?

Locals pass warm days at the Darwin Waterfront where the lagoon pool is the place to cool off in the Top End heat (there’s also a little jetty dining scene catering for meals from brunch to dinner). Sunsets at Mindil Beach — a five-minute drive from the hotel — are a must for a visitor to Darwin. The food markets are famed for their variety, with a dizzying array of diverse cuisines on offer, from paella to poffertjes. Running routes, playgrounds and shaded parklands can also be found at Bicentennial Park, right across the road. 

Room types 

Utilitarian in design, rooms here forgo interior flair for function. The entry-level Hotel Rooms will suffice for singles, couples and business travellers, inclusive of Foxtel-equipped TVs, wi-fi and work stations. One Bedroom and above include fully-equipped kitchens with laundry facilities, as well balconies for catching a breeze. The Penthouse Apartment is, in keeping with its name, suitably generous, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and panoramic views of the Arafura Sea.

Travel for work

All rooms include sturdy, work-friendly desks and complimentary wi-fi.

Spa, gym and pool

You’ll be thankful for the outdoor pool, shaded by a wall of palms and punctuated by a Jacuzzi-style built in spa. Pampering can also be put on the itinerary: the on-site Caroline’s Nail and Beauty Salon offers everything from neck massages to eyelash tinting. 

What you need to know

If Darwin is a base for further NT exploration, check in with the hotel’s on-site tour desk to streamline your plans.

SEE ALSO: 13 Hotels For Every Kind of Darwin Adventure