Midnight Hotel, Braddon, Canberra review: close to the action

Midnight Hotel is the national capital’s first Marriott property and it’s clear they’ve invested in design.

Midnight Hotel in Braddon, Canberra. Picture: supplied

A car-less weekend in the national capital. It seems an easy option for a brief city-stay, and yet even a passing mention of our intended spring mini-break, laden with walking and eating, produces incredulous responses from those who live elsewhere. “You’re choosing to spend time in Canberra?” is the most popular refrain among those who have clearly not visited in a long time, followed by: “You’re not seriously going to be there without a car?”

Yes and yes, and as we drive in to Canberra – by bus from Sydney – it seems we have made a good decision. Strong winds have delayed some flights while the welcome lack of freeway traffic means we even pull in to the bus station a few minutes early.

Our destination, inner-city Braddon, is only one light rail stop or a short walk away, but a concierge is waiting with a shiny new four-wheel-drive to take us along busy Northbourne Avenue, with its growing array of hotels, to a corner property that now houses one of its newest. Midnight Hotel is the national capital’s first Marriott property, and its moody name seems a misnomer on this bright but blustery day as we enter an airy lobby edged by huge walls of glass. Greeted by cheery front desk staff, we are checked in swiftly and in moments we are upstairs.

Inside, the choice of name starts to make sense. We stay in a Midnight Clique, two separate rooms each with their own ensuite and accessed via a common door. Although there is plenty of lighting, there’s not much natural light and the mostly dark décor adds to the night-time feel.

Midnight Hotel junior suite. Picture: supplied

The hotel has been open only a few weeks when we visit, so some hiccups we encounter – poor in-room mobile coverage, a shower mixer installed back to front, and a turndown service that involves folding the bed covers so far back that they barely cover our shins – can be attributed to teething problems. But minimal natural light, and the fact that our rooms look onto other rooms, will be trickier to resolve. On the other hand, the beds are plush and comfortable, and the bathroom is stocked with Australian Hunter Lab skin care products, although it is the glass-fronted bar fridge that is likely to prove one of the hotel’s biggest hits. Stocked with sparkling water, beers from the neighbouring BentSpoke Brewery and bottles of locally produced wine, the complimentary mini bar is refilled daily, according to the Little Black Book on the small side table.

Elsewhere in the hotel are the guests-only Autograph Lounge, a stunning (sunlit) 20m indoor lap pool, two gyms, and an impressive array of art. From custom artwork and the specially designed “M” bottle opener in each room to bespoke pieces located at each elevator landing, it’s clear Marriott has invested in design at Midnight.

The hotel sits in the middle of a complex of new buildings, with rooms facing an internal courtyard. The surrounding apartments and commercial spaces, which cannot be seen from our rooms, provide a useful cocooning effect, shielding guests from the sound of partying patrons at the many nearby restaurants and breweries.

Braddon Merchant, the hotel’s in-house restaurant. Picture: supplied

One of the hotel’s best attributes is its location. Not long ago, Braddon, Canberra’s first light industrial area, was a hub of automotive trades. Today it’s bursting with cafes and breweries, and on a sunny Sunday morning, after a pleasant 45-minute walk back from the National Portrait Gallery through an eerily empty Civic, the buzz in adjoining Braddon is exhilarating. The neighbourhood’s swag of eateries ranges from several new imports from Sydney, including Messina gelato and Sonoma bakery, to the Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese-inspired White Chaco restaurant – and all just a moment’s stroll from the hotel.

• Perfect for: Inner-city stays and exploring Canberra. With or without a car, it’s easy to access many parts of the city from here.

• Must do: Enjoy the buzzy neighbourhood. Once a semi-industrial area, Braddon has become an eclectic inner-city suburb of great cafes, craft breweries and boutiques, and the perfect place to spend an afternoon exploring.

Salad dish at Braddon Merchant. Picture: supplied

• Dining: Braddon Merchant, the hotel’s in-house restaurant, has set itself some lofty expectations, opening every day from breakfast (à la carte only) until late. Service is prompt and cheery but, possibly because it’s early days, the quality of food varies. Soft boiled eggs were served hard boiled and toast was barely cooked. Dinner is much more successful – the mostly Italian menu includes a tasty and surprisingly robust main of roast Li-Sun mushroom with a risotto-style millet, pickled garlic and charred spring onion.

• Getting there: Qantas, Virgin Australia and Tiger Air fly to Canberra. The bus (3.5 hours from central Sydney) is a popular option.

• Bottom line: Rooms start at $250 a night.

midnighthotel.com.au