Hotel review: Mondrian Gold Coast opens at Burleigh Heads
Mondrian has made its Australian debut in a striking 24-storey tower at the southern end of the holiday strip. We were among the first guests to stay. Here’s what it’s like.
It’s opening day at Mondrian Gold Coast and Burleigh Heads, at the southern end of the holiday strip, has never looked so chic. The first Mondrian hotel for Australia occupies one side of a new, 24-storey, copper-toned development on the Esplanade. From my 21st-floor balcony it feels as though I’m floating above the beach, lined with Norfolk pines, as surfers gracefully carve along the waves below.
Location
With its soaring ground-floor archways and helical staircase cutting a striking figure among low-line neighbours, the hotel is about 15 minutes’ drive from Gold Coast Airport, or an hour from Brisbane. Within a 10-minute walk are the boutiques and bars of James Street, Burleigh Pavilion, and the entrance to Burleigh National Park. Essentially, you needn’t leave the suburb.
First impressions
Valet parking sorted, I breeze through the entrance to find a front desk of smiling staff, blue neckties knotted just so, and a frisson of excitement. Art, design and culture are key to the Mondrian brand, and this convergence is immediately evident in the stylish decor. Pink marble, sage banquettes and scalloped velvet stools catch my eye and I count 15 sculptural lighting styles in LiTO restaurant on the ground floor alone. The click-clack of high heels and barefooted pad of surfers with boards tucked under arm convey a cool yet relaxed air. Solento Surf Festival has kicked off here this weekend (until June 14) – the first time it’s been held outside California – and I find myself sharing an elevator with legendary US surfer Rob Machado. During a chat later, general manager Brad Mercer tells me the hotel is not aiming for traditional luxury. “It’s really a relaxed luxury. I call it ‘the barefoot rhythm of Burleigh’.”
Design
Architects Fraser & Partners were tasked with the building itself, while Sydney-based Alexander &CO injected the vibe of Burleigh into the lobby, restaurants and pool deck, conjuring sun-drenched spaces with a contemporary coastal elegance. The sophisticated yet approachable design balances polish with ease. Think: warm leather and rattan chairs, potted greenery softening stone floors, and playful pops of pink and green.
The rooms
Far from the neon signs and white-on-white aesthetic of Gold Coast past, there’s a refined earthiness to the 208 guestrooms. Designed by Robbyn Carter of California’s Studio Carter, whose sculptural sensibilities subtly shape every detail, spaces are rich in texture and form. Low-lit, moody hallways provide drama, while tactile elements such as knurled door handles and softly textured French wash walls invite touch.
I’m in a one-bedroom ocean/balcony suite with a well-equipped kitchen and washer/dryer, which will appeal for longer stays. Motorised sheer curtains glide open to reveal uninterrupted views of ocean and hinterland, complemented by a soft palette of sand, chocolate and green and pink marble. Beds are framed by curved rattan headboards and, in studios, a jungle-print lounge conceals a pop-up TV, providing a playful rock-star touch. Bathrooms feature fluted glass and Le Labo amenities, and butter-soft linen robes await in the curved wardrobe.
Still under wraps during my stay, a three-bedroom Sky House crowns the 24th floor. When it opens, expect panoramic views, double-height ceiling, and a full bar, chef’s kitchen and butler’s pantry – proper movie star stuff.
Dining
Burleigh already has a well-established dining reputation with the likes of Rick Shores and Restaurant Labart in the neighbourhood, but the Mondrian’s venues are firmly pitched as standalone eateries for locals as well as guests. At ground-level, LiTO is open from breakfast through to dinner with a woodfired Italian menu overseen by head chef Andrea Morigi (formerly of Merivale’s Uccello in Sydney). Pastries are made in-house, best enjoyed with an Allpress coffee from the Presto counter or as part of the breakfast menu. By night, the focus moves to handmade pasta and succulent charcoal-grilled proteins, with a cake trolley among the Dolci options. Drinks wise, my QLD Wildflower Negroni is an underwhelming start but the wagyu beef carpaccio and attentive service that follows even the keel.
On level three, Haven is part-seafood restaurant, part-poolside scene. Executive chef Aaron Teece (formerly of EST., Felix, Manly Pavilion) has obviously had fun with the menu, sourcing seafood from Cairns, the Sunshine Coast, and northern NSW – who knew the Tweed town of Chinderah had Moreton Bay bugs? Desserts riff on nostalgia with touches of native ingredients; try the Havenietta, a layered concoction of wood-roasted pineapple, smoked vanilla and anise myrtle. Caviar, crudo and small plates such Yamba prawn cocktail serve as a warm-up to lobster frites and perfectly prepared coral trout. It is opening weekend, so the place is finding its feet, but getting the decibel levels right with the Pool Club beats will be pivotal to diner enjoyment.
Wellness
When it opens on June 15, CIEL Spa will offer a science-backed array of bio-wellness treatments adjacent to the 24/7 Technogym-equipped fitness centre. Alongside traditional massages and facials, expect “touchless therapy” options such as a zero-gravity dry float and a red light bed for cellular regeneration. Guests have priority access to the 24m pool on level three while some daybeds and private cabanas are open to the public, with a minimum spend. Two magnesium plunge pools are tucked up the back of the Pool Club, where guests can recline on green and white striped daybeds and dip in and out.
Likes
Cool without being ostentatious, Mondrian Gold Coast positions travellers in the creative epicentre of the southern Gold Coast, well removed from the Surfers Paradise/Broadbeach hubbub. Though a few teething issues were to be expected, staff were universally excellent, especially vivacious LiTO sommelier Luca Paganotti.
Dislikes
The pillows – too feathery soft for me but I am told a pillow menu is coming.
What it costs
Studio king from $749 a night.
Celeste Mitchell was a guest of Mondrian Gold Coast.
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