Caroline Clements

The Islington Hotel

  • Where:
  • Why:A writers retreat while exploring the best places to swim in Tasmania for a book project.
  • When:March 2018
  • Who:Me and my co-author @helloscruffalo (the photographer).
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The Islington Hotel Incredible artworks hang on every wall. Explore them all. On the desk sits a camel lamp, an old radio and a guest book.

Incredible artworks hang on every wall. Explore them all. On the desk sits a camel lamp, an old radio and a guest book.

The Islington Hotel The Drawing Room – a grand, old long dining table for guests to enjoy. We spent a few hours here working on our book, while sipping on the previous tea and cakes.

The Drawing Room – a grand, old long dining table for guests to enjoy. We spent a few hours here working on our book, while sipping on the previous tea and cakes.

The Islington Hotel Get up close to some of the furnishings. You’ll find they have a life of their own.

Get up close to some of the furnishings. You’ll find they have a life of their own.

The Islington Hotel Peering around corners into other rooms filled with mismatched antique furniture and contemporary art.

Peering around corners into other rooms filled with mismatched antique furniture and contemporary art.

The Islington Hotel Chef in the open kitchen cooking breakfast, dinner, cakes and a delicious selection of jams. Much of his produce comes from the veggie garden and fruit trees on the property. Take home a jar of the lemon butter.

Chef in the open kitchen cooking breakfast, dinner, cakes and a delicious selection of jams. Much of his produce comes from the veggie garden and fruit trees on the property. Take home a jar of the lemon butter.

The Islington Hotel Me blushing in The Rose Room.

Me blushing in The Rose Room.

The Islington Hotel Peering around corners into other rooms filled with mismatched antique furniture and contemporary art.

Peering around corners into other rooms filled with mismatched antique furniture and contemporary art.

The Islington Hotel The grand chandelier in the stairwell.

The grand chandelier in the stairwell.

The Islington Hotel Comfortable rooms downstairs are less impressive than the public spaces.

Comfortable rooms downstairs are less impressive than the public spaces.

The Islington Hotel Heading down to the room. Surrounded by art at every turn.

Heading down to the room. Surrounded by art at every turn.

The Islington Hotel Chef in the open kitchen cooking breakfast, dinner, cakes and a delicious selection of jams. Much of his produce comes from the veggie garden and fruit trees on the property. Take home a jar of the lemon butter.

Chef in the open kitchen cooking breakfast, dinner, cakes and a delicious selection of jams. Much of his produce comes from the veggie garden and fruit trees on the property. Take home a jar of the lemon butter.

The Islington Hotel Cakes and tea are always available from the dining room/kitchen area. The selection changes daily but often includes friands, cookies and a cake using fruit from the garden.

Cakes and tea are always available from the dining room/kitchen area. The selection changes daily but often includes friands, cookies and a cake using fruit from the garden.

Highs & Lows

  • This place is basically a museum. There are hundred of antique pieces from Europe and Asia all over the house. Take a self-guided tour from room to room with the art guide to find etchings by David Hockney, lithographs by Brett Whiteley and a painting by Matisse, among hundreds of other incredible pieces.

  • Homemade cakes and biscuits available in the Conservatory throughout the day - the hazelnut brownie is TDF.

  • The small kitchen garden out back and the delicious jams and chutneys they make with this. You can also buy them to take home.

  • The minibar is a bit sad.

The Barometer

  • Design

  • Website

  • Plastic Free

  • Night's Sleep

  • Service

  • Amenities

  • Takeable Treats

  • Refer a Friend

  • Overall Value

  • Life Changing

Total: 47/50

Important Bits

  • Type

    Stately home turned luxury urban lodge.

  • Vibe

    Stately luxury meets art gallery.

  • Location

    Tucked up into residential South Hobart, but close enough to walk right into the thick of things around Salamanca.

  • Rooms

    11

  • Music

    A dull hum of Vivaldi.

  • Year Opened

    2005

  • Designed By

    Circa Morris Nunn Architects

  • Health & Wellness

    Neither, but we suggest hiking Mt Wellington if you’d like to stretch you legs.

  • Restaurant

    Yes, a beautiful glasshouse conservatory for guests only, using seasonal organic produce and some things grown in their own kitchen garden.

  • Bar

    Sort of, an honesty system in the Conservatory serving a selection of Tasmania booze including 666 Pure Vodka and Milton Wines.

  • Minibar

    A little too basic.

  • Children

    Over 15 only.

  • Price

    Mid-range.

  • Website

    Visit website

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