Islington Hotel – Hotel Review

The Islington Hotel is an 1847 Regency mansion transformed into a boutique hotel by sensitive modern additions. Decorated with an eclectic collection of contemporary artworks and fascinating antiques, the property retains the comfort of the original grand house, with a library, Morning and Rose rooms for guests to relax in, while providing state-of-the-art amenities, attentive service and a high-end onsite restaurant. It’s like staying in a friend’s home – albeit one with a great art collection. Despite being only minutes from the centre of Hobart, the Islington is in a quiet location, set in a large garden with views of Mount Wellington. Read on for the full review.

Where is The Islington Hotel?

The Islington is 18 minutes from Hobart Airport and five minutes from the CBD in the prestigious neighbourhood of South Hobart. The hotel is on a major road, which runs straight into the city, but is set well back from the street so its calm tranquillity is maintained.

What’s near The Islington Hotel?

The CBD is a just a few minutes away by car, should you want to explore the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or, after a ferry from Brooke Street Pier, the inimitable Mona art museum. Want to get out into nature? Lace your hiking boots on and take to the nature trails in Wellington Park, at the base of Mount Wellington, 25 minutes drive away.

Room types

Each of the Islington’s 11 guestrooms has a distinctive style but all are decorated with art and antiques, luxury fabrics and furnishings, including the custom-made Islington Dream king-sized bed, plus a marble bathroom and minibar with complimentary T2 tea and espresso coffee. There’s the Biedermeier-themed Signature Room, with its Austro-Hungarian Empire bed, the Attic Room, a cosy retreat, and the Garden Room, in a palette of chocolate, tan, sage and gold, with access to a terrace.

Restaurants and bars

The light-filled glass conservatory, which overlooks the garden, is where breakfast and dinner are served. Chef Anthony Illingworth creates menus utilising seasonal and organic produce from local suppliers or the hotel’s own garden. Begin the day with poached eggs, sourdough toast, just-squeezed juice and espresso coffee. Every night of the week, a delicious dinner is on offer, which might include confit duck leg, seared scallops with chilli jam and pear tartin with dehydrated strawberry. The wine cellar offers a wide selection with particular emphasis on Tasmanian vineyards.

Travel for work

If you want a peaceful retreat, the Islington offers a well-appointed bolthole with desks in the rooms, fast wi-fi and local and mobile calls included. The restaurant is perfect for entertaining and bookings of up to 14 people are catered for in the library, a unique setting for corporate events.

Sustainability

Sustainable touches are small but noticeable. The hotel buys green energy and carbon offsets, the restaurant features locally sourced and grows some produce on-site, food waste is composted and recycling is done where possible.

Accessibility

The hotel's accessible room is the Courtyard Suite, equipped with an accessible bathroom, on the same level as the restaurant and lobby.

What you need to know

The intriguing artworks and antiques collected by the owners over 30 years and arrayed in every room of the Islington.