Restaurants & Fine Dining

RESTAURANTS & FINE DINING

From chomping on a burger to accompany Australia’s best beer to roaming the kitchen garden between courses with a local wine in hand, you’ll be well fed in the Blue, where we’ve got casual bistros, cultural cuisine and Hatted restaurants. 

Carrington Hotel: Grand Old Lady Comes of Age

The timeless elegance of the past meets the best of modern hospitality at Katoomba’s Carrington Hotel.

By Julie Miller

Lording over the main street of Katoomba, its imposing curved driveway announcing its grand and ornate exterior, is one of the Blue Mountains’ oldest hotels – The Carrington. Opened in 1882 and originally called The Great Western, the hotel heralded a new era of tourism for Katoomba, which had until then been a “nondescript little mining town” originally bearing the comical name of The Crushers.

Step inside The Carrington, and you are immediately transported to a more gracious era. Stained glass windows, sweeping staircases and a glorious leadlight dome presiding over an interior bar are just some of the eye-popping features that represent some of the best-preserved Art Nouveau and early 20^th century interior design elements in Australia.

Changing its name to The Carrington in 1886 (in honour of the Governor of NSW, Lord Carrington), the hotel really came into its own under the ownership of Sir James Joynton Smith, who purchased the property in 1911. Under his visionary leadership, The Carrington became a symbol of luxury: he was responsible for adding the Italian balustrades, the columned veranda and the famous stained glass façade, as well as building the powerhouse behind the hotel in 1914, the source of all of Katoomba’s electric light until 1925.

The magnificent dome and minstrel gallery in today’s Champagne Charlie’s Cocktail Lounge were added in honour of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York in 1927, as was an additional wing of accommodation.

Like many of the Mountains’ historic buildings, The Carrington suffered the ravages of time, with old hotels and heritage features going out of style as the 20^th century advanced. In 1985, the Grand Old Dame of the West was boarded up as a fire hazard, remaining closed until it was sold in 1991.

After extensive renovation, however, this incredible property is back to its former glory, and now offers luxury accommodation in spacious guestrooms and suites catering to all tastes and budgets. The hotel also features several dining options, including the Grand Dining Room - one of the last Victorian restaurants in Australia with gilded ceilings and stained glass – Champagne Charlie’s Cocktail Lounge, and the Old City Bank Bar & Brasserie.

The old powerhouse has also been given a new lease of life, re-opening in 2010 as the Carrington Cellars & Deli. Pop into the contemporary, industrial-style space to for a great range of beer, cider and wines, including many local Central Ranges varieties; or taste-test local cheeses at the deli counter.

The latest addition to The Carrington’s inventory is the Katoomba Brewing Company, a micro-brewery concocting four distinct styles of beer available throughout the hotel’s bars and restaurants, and for sale in the Carrington Cellars & Deli.

The Carrington Hotel is located at 15-47 Katoomba St, Katoomba, with entry to Carrington Cellars & Deli and the Katoomba Brewing Company from Parkes Street.

For details of the historic hotel and all its venues, call (02) 4782 1111 or visit www.thecarrington.com.au

The Art of High Tea

At Archer & Hobb, high tea is elevated to a fine dining experience. By Julie Miller. 

The ritual of High Tea is a time-honoured tradition in the Blue Mountains, with the indulgent brunch activity as much a part of our landscape as dramatic cliffs and misty valleys. 

The newest High Tea offering in Katoomba – served at Archer and Hobb Fine Tea Merchants in Katoomba Street – elevates the experience further by presenting a high-end dining experience with exemplary service and the world’s best teas.

At Archer and Hobb, the emphasis is on creating a unique experience, with a premium standard of service. The belief of chef Hugh Jones and his Managing Director wife Leah is that High Tea is not merely tea and cake, but a chance to indulge in fine food and civility.

“We noticed in the Blue Mountains that many venues opt for a low-key service and relaxed dining,” explains Leah Jones. “Very few venues have tried to offer a premium dining experience in an environment where you can relax and enjoy being waited on.

“At Archer and Hobb, we are not trying to be 'all things to all people'. We offer a premium dining experience for those guests who want a more traditional approach to enjoying either a brunch or high tea, in an elegant atmosphere,” Leah says.

A stand-out feature of Archer and Hobb is the use of TWG teas. TWG teas are usually only available in the finest five-star hotels around Australia, but Archer and Hobb have been fortunate to be the first non-hotel brand to secure the rights to sell TWG teas and products in Australia.

“TWG tea is the most awarded tea company in the world and have an offering of over 800 teas,” Leah says. “Whilst we carry a limited selection of these teas, we are constantly bringing in new flavours and blends and offering guests a chance to try a different blend than they may have been used to.”

Customers at Archer and Hobb are encouraged to dress to the nines and enjoy the luxury. The signature experience is the Champagne High Tea offering guests four tiers of cuisine, a flute of Pol Roger champagne and a pot of TWG premium loose leaf tea.

They also offer a brunch service with favourites like all day bacon and eggs, pancakes and Caesar salad for those guests who want to experience a more formal dining atmosphere to enjoy a late breakfast or lunch. They are also fully licensed with a wide variety of drinks on offer from beautiful local wines to elegant cocktails.

The brunch service is available from 10am to 3pm, Wednesday to Sunday. High Tea is from 11.30am to 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Bookings are essential for this service.

1/11 Katoomba St, Katoomba. T: (02) 4782 9538; www.archerandhobbtea.com.au

 

 

Go wild in comfort in the beautiful Megalong Valley

Read more ...