Adelaide’s Arkaba Hotel takes home Hotel of the Year at national awards

A number of South Australian hotels have shone on the national stage proving SA really does have it all. See the winners.

Jordarn Karpowicz, Peter Hurley, Jenny Hurley and Jack Jericho from the Arkaba Hotel celebrate their win at the Australian Hotel Association awards in Brisbane. Picture: Supplied.

The Arkaba Hotel took out a top gong at the national Australian Hotel Association Awards in Brisbane on Monday night.

Crowned the Overall Metropolitan Hotel of the Year, the iconic Fullarton establishment beat out hotels from across the country to snatch the top prize.

The Arkaba recently completed a $10 million renovation, upgrading their sports bar and restaurant.

In recognition of their successful upgrades, they also won prizes for best general redeveloped hotel and best sports and entertainment venue.

Arkaba Hotel's Sporty's Bar reopened in 2023 after a $10m renovation. Picture: Supplied.

The overall hotel of the year prize comes a month after they took home the corresponding prize at the Australian Hotel Association SA awards, capping a stellar run for the hotel.

It was a big night for South Australian hotels, with eight venues taking home prizes, including McLaren Vale Hotel, which took Overall Regional Hotel of the Year.

West Lakes restaurant TUNKI, part of the Lakes Hotel, won Best Restaurant in the accommodation deluxe category, beating out top restaurants from across the country.

TUNKI specialises in Nikkei, a fusion of wood-fired Japanese and Peruvian cuisine.

Lakes Hotel marketing manager Rachel Maddern attributed their success to executive chef Krish Dutt, saying the restaurant aims to create an “intimate and personalised connection” between the chef and customers, and that the award will only drive standards at TUNKI.

“Rather than sitting back now we are going to continue to raise the bar and exceed the expectations of everyone who comes to dine with us,” Ms Maddern said.

Originally published as Adelaide’s Arkaba Hotel takes home Hotel of the Year at national awards