Art Deco delight

From the moment you sweep through the doors, there’s a sense of occasion. High ceilings, polished wood, and grand, sweeping staircases that practically beg you to descend them dramatically in a fabulous outfit.

The hotel’s original 1930s curved glass façade and geometric detailing have been lovingly restored, and the interiors are an absolute love letter to Art Deco design. There are plush garnet-red velvet lounges, rich sapphire walls, brass detailing, and moody lighting that makes you look 10 years younger. (No scientific proof on that last point, but I stand by it.)

Rooms fit for a silver-screen starlet

The 25 guest rooms and suites are a perfect mix of old-world charm and modern comfort. Expect curved headboards, custom joinery, and soft pastel hues that feel like something straight out of a Hollywood dressing room. The beds? Absolute heaven. The kind of hotel bed that makes you consider how feasible it would be to sneak an entire mattress into your suitcase.

Despite the old-world glamour, everything is state-of-the-art—fluffy robes, ultra-fast wi-fi, rain showers, and a mini-bar stocked with local treats (which, yes, I absolutely raided). The attention to detail is next level: even the carpets are custom-designed in geometric prints to pay tribute to the building’s 1930s heyday.

One of my personal highlights? The massive freestanding tubs in some of the suites. There’s nothing quite like sinking into a deep bubble bath in a clawfoot tub with a glass of Shiraz and zero obligations.

A foodie’s delight (or just a really goodexcuse to eat too much?)

There are hotel restaurants, and then there are hotel restaurants that make you wish you had a bigger stomach and a slower metabolism. The Tattersalls Hotel Restaurant is the latter.

The menu is a celebration of local New England produce, and every dish is a work of art. I’m talking fresh locally sourced fare along with rich, hearty dishes that feel indulgent but not coma-inducing. The coal-heated Josper oven brings out the most insanely smoky, charred, melt-in-your-mouth flavours, and I found myself having a minor emotional experience over a plate of vegetables!

Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, this restaurant is worth the trip alone. And if you are staying? Well, you’ll want to wear stretchy trousers, because resisting the dessert menu is simply not an option.

And let’s talk about the bar, because, honestly, it deserves its own standing ovation. The cocktails are expertly crafted, the wine list is an absolute dream, and the bartenders? Genuinely know what they’re doing.

You know how sometimes you order a cocktail and it turns up looking a bit tragic, like it’s been made by someone who’s never actually consumed alcohol? Not here. Each drink is an art form, and the classic martini I had was so perfect I briefly considered asking it to marry me.

Old-world glam meets laid-back country charm

Despite its five-star aesthetic, Tattersalls manages to keep things refreshingly unpretentious. The staff are warm, welcoming, and impossibly professional, without even a hint of that snooty, over-the-top hotel stiffness that makes you feel like you should be apologising for existing.

One of my favourite things about this place? The sense of history. This hotel has been standing since 1854, and you can feel its past woven into every detail.

During the 1930s, it was a hub of elegant parties, long lunches, and well-dressed people sipping gin and dancing until the early hours. You get the distinct impression that if these walls could talk, they’d have some seriously juicy stories.

And yet, it’s not stuffy or overly formal, there’s still that easy, country-town charm that makes it feel genuinely inviting rather than intimidating.

Final verdict

Should you stay here? In a word: yes.

If you’re looking for a standard, functional, cookie-cutter hotel experience, keep driving. But if you want somewhere with soul, style, and a hint of old-school movie star glamour, Tattersalls is absolutely the place to be.

Whether you’re passing through Armidale, planning a luxurious weekend away, or just need an excuse to wear something fabulous and sip a cocktail in a moody, art-deco lounge, this hotel ticks every box.

Would I come back? Absolutely. Would I recommend it? Only to people I actually like, because I want to keep this place a little bit secret.

In a nutshell …

• • Gorgeous Art Deco interiors straight out of The Great Gatsby.
    Twenty-five stunning rooms with plush beds, beautiful furnishings and deep bathtubs.
    A restaurant that serves food so good it should be illegal.
    A bar that makes perfect martinis and has the vibes to match.
    Staff who make you feel like you’re a VIP, even if you arrived in a Toyota Corolla.
    A rich history that makes you feel like you’re part of something special.

Rating: 10/10  

Already planning my next stay …

tattersallsarmidale.com.au
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