Welcome to Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels and share what makes them worthy of your wishlist.
For a city with as impressive a coastline as Sydney, it might be surprising to learn that beachfront hotels are thin on the ground, particularly on the luxurious end of the spectrum. In Sydney’s east, you’ll find the newly opened InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach. In the south, The Brighton Hotel Sydney. And on the Northern Beaches, Manly Pacific Hotel, Sydney. It’s the latter that has caught my attention for my next Hotel Addict stay.
The hotel faces Manly Beach.
My sister and my car rolls down the Norfolk pine-lined street, pulling up to the white building. It’s busy – which might deter some – but it feels like the place to be on a Friday evening. The beachfront location and restaurant spilling onto the street explain everything. We hand the car to the valet and walk into the breezy foyer that brings instant holiday vibes with whitewashed walls and coastal-inspired artworks.
Coco Republic transformed the hotel in 2023, infusing it with luxe beachy charm reflective of the surrounding neighbourhood. Natural textures, a light coastal palette and modern furnishings decorate the space, while a signature fragrance derived from Australian botanicals local to the North Head, delicately perfumes the air.
The hotel is awash with light tones. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)
The lobby is chic and minimal in style.
213 stylishly appointed rooms ranging from cosy Village Superior Rooms and dog-friendly rooms to Ocean-facing rooms and beachfront villas flank the wide hallways. But the one to book is the Infinity Residence. This is the hotel’s most premium room and it overdelivers in more ways than one. At 60 square metres – plus an 81 square metre terrace – the neutral-toned retreat lives up to the name. There’s a full-size kitchen, a separate living area with a curved bouclé sofa and fireplace, a large bedroom and a bathroom with a freestanding bath and LaGaia beauty products. I check the mini bar as I find this is always a good marker of how much a hotel considers its guests and it becomes evident that this room is made for those who want to entertain. There are two Vintec wine fridges stocked with a dozen Australian and international bottles and a range of spirits – Louis Roederer Cristal Brut and Manly Spirits among them.
The Infinity Residence feels more like a high-end apartment than a hotel room.
I reach for the Maison Saint Aix, AIX Rosé and head to the private terrace that brings the real ‘wow’ factor. I estimate that it could comfortably fit 50 people, and am told it gets used for small weddings. There’s an outdoor dining setting and sun loungers to relax on while taking in the spectacular Manly Beach views. As we languidly sip, part of me regrets our dinner reservation because I want to spend as much time using this ridiculously sized space as possible. But I’ve eaten at onsite restaurant Cibaria Manly a couple of times and know better than to skip a meal there (though room service is available).
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AI Prompt
The mini bars are thoughtfully curated.
The villas boast ocean views.
Popular with locals, this Italian eatery serves reliably tasty food and punchy drinks. Not taking that Euro summer holiday this year? The setting transports you to the Mediterranean thanks to Luchretti Krelle’s richly layered, warm design, which features stucco walls and arches. We kickstart the meal with a Paloma Sea Breeze – a tequila, apricot brandy, lime juice, hibiscus syrup, salt and soda concoction – which goes down a treat alongside kingfish crudo with citrus, fennel, pickled cucumber and garlic flowers and fritto misto. But it’s the main dish I order that I won’t forget anytime soon – Moreton Bay bug pasta with spicy vodka sauce. Dessert is a tiramisu with macadamia mascarpone cream, coffee, savoiardi biscuits and cacao.
The hotel’s bar, 55 North, sits next door in the lobby and serves a selection of bites from Cibaria’s menu while a DJ spins tunes Thursday to Sunday evenings.
Cibaria Manly is a local favourite. (Credit: Steven Woodburn)
Moreton Bay bug pasta with spicy vodka sauce.
The next morning – after a restorative sleep – we’re awakened by the most spectacular sunrise, which backdrops volleyballers and runners as they seize the day. It immediately puts us in the right mood to start ours.
Wellness is central to a stay at the Manly Pacific Hotel, Sydney. I head to the rooftop for a quick dip in the swimming pool that overlooks the beach. Wellness enthusiasts are also catered for with the infrared sauna and The Beach Club team, who are on-hand to create personalised wellness experiences and packages, from surfing lessons, kayaking, boot camps, beach yoga, facials, massages and cryotherapy.
Sunrise views from the Infinity Residence terrace. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)
Breakfast is served in the accommodation’s more casual dining venue, Bistro Manly. The buffet is generous, with all of the usual suspects, plus a fresh juice maker. We pick from the à la carte menu that features elevated breakfast bites such as lobster benedict, house-made granola and French toast with ricotta and bacon.
Those looking to travel closer to home are in for a treat with Manly Pacific Hotel, Sydney. It offers an idyllic staycation spot that makes you feel like you’ve escaped the city, and my only regret with this stay is that I’m not here another night.
The rooftop features a swimming pool and striped sun loungers.
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Details
Best for: Staycationers, wellness enthusiasts and couples
Address: 55 North Steyne, Manly, New South Wales 2095
Room rate: From $350 per night (at the time of writing)
Accessibility: Manly Pacific Hotel, Sydney, is an accessibility-friendly hotel. Accessible rooms feature walk-in showers and toilets with handrails, lowered peep holes and light switches. Facilities include lift access to meeting and event spaces, large entry doors, accessible parking spaces near lifts, entry ramps into the hotel lobby and a disabled bathroom with handrails in the hotel lobby, and braille on lift buttons.
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and a self-proclaimed cheese and Chablis connoisseur. In her role, she creates and manages online content that remains relevant and valuable over time. With a background in publishing and e-commerce in both interior design and travel, Rachael is dedicated to curating engaging content that informs and inspires. She began her career at Belle magazine, then went on to become Senior Content Producer at Homes to Love focusing on Australian House & Garden and Belle, followed by Editor at Bed Threads. Her work has also appeared in Qantas Travel Insider. When she's not writing, editing, or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars, and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list are Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Lord Howe Island.
With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.
It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.
Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.
Where the vines tell a story
Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)
The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.
Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.
Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.
Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.
At the table
Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)
If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.
Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.
Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotelis a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.
And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.
Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.
From the source
Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)
Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.
Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.
Mark your calendar
Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)
For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.
Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.
