You can’t miss Crystalbrook Kingsley even if you wanted to. Maybe if you had a blind fold on. And that’s not because of its ace location (though, found on King Street in the civic precinct, the hotel is smack-bang in the centre of the steel city’s action). It’s because Newcastle’s first five-star hotel is a towering, striking sight to behold, resembling a circular spaceship rather than a luxury hotel. Originally built in 1977, ‘the Roundhouse’ (as it was known then) spent most of its life as the City Administration Centre, until leading sustainable luxury hotel group Crystalbrook Collection snapped it up, renovating and breathing new life into the heritage building while respecting its historic bones. In 2021, Crystalbrook Kingsley opened, and Newcastle has never looked back.
It’s my second time staying at Kingsley, and it takes me less than three minutes upon walking in to remember why I never wanted to leave in the first place. And that’s because this hotel is really, really nice. The kind of place you feel at ease as soon as you step inside.
Suede Interior Design is behind the fit-out of the 130-room hotel, which channels an effortlessly elegant, sleek and chic look. Each room is decked out with soft curtains, hanging statement lights, herringbone flooring and cloud-like beds. The colour palette draws on canary yellows and splashes of charcoal as a nod to Newcastle’s mining past, as well as birds, footprints and feather motifs to celebrate the natural world. Be sure to take a peek inside the mini bar, which features locally sourced treats plus vino from the Hunter Valley greats. Guests can choose an urban, park or harbour view, making the most of the panoramic sweep of the building, overlooking the waters of the marina, the hustle and bustle of King Street or quaint terraces of the Hill district and Civic Park. And if you feel like going all out – book the Kingsley Master room, which comes with a dreamy king bed, freestanding bathtub, rainforest shower, and more than enough room for activities.
It’s not just the look of the hotel I love, but its sustainability credentials, too. Crystalbrook Kingsley uses locally sourced, upcycled and recycled materials wherever possible. Custom furniture made using reclaimed timber; undyed wool carpets requiring less harmful production methods; and Australia’s first waste-free hotel bathrooms featuring 100 per cent biodegradable or recyclable amenities are just a handful of the ways Kingsley walks the green walk.
And while I absolutely recommend you heading out in Newcastle to explore the cracking restaurants and bars – Alfie’s, Humbug, Arno, Flotilla and Vecina are some of my faves – be sure to also venture up to the jewel in the Kingsley’s crown, an impressive restaurant aptly named Roundhouse. The restaurant is perched on the hotel’s top floor with floor-to-ceiling windows to take in those Newcastle vistas. Executive chef Matthew Smith's menu is a celebration of local and seasonal produce – 80 per cent of the dishes on offer feature ingredients grown or sourced within a three-hour radius of the hotel. Pair your meal with a stellar Hunter Valley drop for a ripper of a night. Hot tip: make time for a pre-dinner cocktail at Roundhouse's granite-topped bar, Romberg’s.
If you haven’t heard by now, things are heating up in Newcastle. For years the coastal city has been a tourist hotspot thanks to its incredible surf and beaches, but over the past five or so years restaurants good enough to rival any city spots have been popping up all over the city. Plus, Newcastle is just a two-hour drive from Sydney, making it a perfect destination for a weekender. You’ll need somewhere to stay, of course. Kingsleys is where it’s at.
Time Out stayed as a guest of Crystalbrook Kingsley.