Byron Bay finally gets the five-star hotel it deserves

The hotel

Hotel Marvell, Byron Bay

Check-in

Marvell blends into its surrounds rather than standing out.

This new building literally rose from the ashes of an old burnt-down Queenslander in central Byron and takes it name from the street that it inhabits. Sitting back from the street’s strip of green lawn and gum tree, it occupies three floors that blend into the surroundings rather than standing out. The hotel is a new venture for Melbourne entrepreneurs Scott Didier and Scott Emery, who bought the town’s infamous art-deco Great Northern Hotel recently for a jaw-dropping $80 million.

The look

Byron Bay’s first rooftop pool, a great place to watch the sun set.

Marvell is being touted as Byron’s first and only centrally located five-star hotel, with just 18 rooms and six suites. The immediate stand-out feature of this hotel is its “laneway”, which stretches from Marvell Street to Keesing Lane behind it. This welcoming, open-air feature is three storeys high and draped with tropical plants that let through dappled sunlight during the day and create a lovely atmosphere for evening dining or drinks. A cooling concrete bench runs along the length of the lane, which is also dotted with dusty red, pink and green seating. Inside, restaurant Bonito has a bar and open kitchen, and on the third floor, Byron’s only rooftop pool and bar slings designer cocktails and simple snacks from a hibachi grill. It’s a great place to watch the sun set over the town and craggy mountaintops beyond.

The room

Modern, high-tech rooms feature Byron’s bohemian yet luxe aesthetic.

My room overlooks the rooftops from the second floor and has a cute balcony with glass bi-fold doors for fresh air; at night, blackout blinds block the light. It’s a modern, high-tech room with Byron’s bohemian yet luxe aesthetic: Edie bed linen and robes; Baina pool towels, Leif amenities, fluffy white Bemboka towels. The rooms are raw concrete, with timber floors, tiled bathrooms with gold-coloured fittings and subtle sculptures on the wall. While not free, the minibar is packed full of locally sourced goodies, and ceramics from local artist Brooke Clunie. You may notice the air conditioner cannot be set below 22 degrees – it’s all part of the drive to hit sustainability accreditations.

Food & drink

Designer cocktails served at Byron’s only rooftop bar.

Marvell’s restaurant fills a void in central Byron for great food, and Bonito’s thoughtful menu has also been created with sustainability in mind, using the fresh seafood found right on its doorstep. Chef Minh Le has helmed kitchens in some of the region’s best-known restaurants, including respected Harvest. The menu is mostly fresh Asian flavours and predominantly seafood, with lots of vegetarian and vegan options including dishes such as Hiramasa kingfish with Thai pesto, kaffir lime, orange and coconut; or Bangalow Farm beetroots, coconut yoghurt and hempseed. The cocktails at the rooftop bar feature alcohol from local distillers, such as Winding Road Distillery’s impressive gins and rums. In the mornings, “better than Lune” pastries and bread from close-by bakery Sunday Sustainable form part of the breakfast menu and coffee is supplied by Zentveld’s in the hills behind Byron, who also make the compostable pods for the room’s pod machines. The restaurant is also open for lunch.

Stepping out

Hotel Marvell is located in central Byron and the beach is five minutes’ walk away.

Sure, there might be a huge YHA behind Marvell as well as Airbnbs nearby, but central Byron had very little to offer in terms of boutique hotels – until now. Those looking for an early morning coffee will have no shortage of cafes to visit; you can shop ’til you drop during the day, the beach is a five-minute walk away and there is plenty of action at night – check out the ‘Duelling Pianos’ for something a little bit special on Saturday nights at the Great Northern Hotel.

Essentials

4 Marvell St, Byron Bay, NSW; [phone]; hotelmarvell.com.au. Rooms from $810 per night.

Our rating out of five

★★★★

Verdict

This small boutique hotel with a big hospitable heart finally gives visitors to Byron the complete package – location, quiet luxury, great food and even a rooftop pool.

Highlight

Waking up in the morning to birdsong right in central Byron is pure bliss.

Lowlight

Working out high-tech light switches and air-conditioning is never a breeze and my relentless stabbing did not alter a steamy 26C temperature. Guests paying attention to instructions when checking in may have more luck.