Ovolo Nishi, and you thought Canberra isn’t cool
This review has changed considerably over time. We have been going to Canberra for many years and we have consistently stayed at the Ovolo Nishi Hotel. This is a architecturally designed and award-winning hotel on the edge of Central Canberra.
This is my Instagram review of 2019.
“We have been planning this trip since last March when we were forced to cancel our south Australia wine tour. First stop canberra and the fantastic ovolo hotel. Love this place and we have been coming here for several years, since it was hotelhotel. If you are looking for a funky hotel in the heart of Canberra with great service, good restaurants, a cool vibe, free mini bars in the rooms and 2 hour happy hour, great beds, try the Ovolo ”
When I first wrote that quote in 2019 I would have given this hotel top marks and raved about the architecture, the excellent service, the location, the hotel restaurant (Monster), the lobby bar, breakfast!, happy hour, the free snacks, the free mini bar, the hotel gym, there was tons of really great experience here, but the last time we went it just wasn’t the same. I would struggle to tell you why and exactly what it is that has changed, so to be fair I will review based on our last experience June of 2023
The entrance from the Theatres
The Hotel is entrance is softly lit and like the rest of the hotel is built with an industrial vide, exposed concrete, original builders note’s on the concrete and raw wood lining the walls. It’s warm and welcoming with a large open fireplace in the open lobby space. The lobby/bar is where you can have breakfast, happy hour happens here and it’s just a comfortable place to hang out. The front desk staff are efficient, welcoming and friendly.
The entrance to Monster
The rooms follow that same industrial vibe, as you are walking the corridors you can see the original builders’ notes penciled on the concrete walls, the imprint of the wood used to prop the concrete is visible and obvious. In contrast to the harsh industrial aesthetic the hotel corridors have native bird song piped in and the sounds of slowly moving waters.
The hotel offers a number of solid perks. In room Mini Bar (Free!), Happy hour (fist drink free) a buffet breakfast included, an in room (refilled) sweetie bag, a gym etc.
The area is safe and the Ovolo is a quick 15 minute walk from the downtown area of Canberra where you can find all the Restaurants, Cafes and Bars. We have done this walk in summer (25C at 8pm) and in Winter (a dry 2-3C at 8pm).
You are an easy Taxi/Uber ride from most of the CBD, Museums, art Galleries etc.
Breakfast at Monster
At the heart of the Hotel is Monster. This is a hatted, plant based Restaurant that sits across the lobby from the entrance and is superb. Even the most vehemently opposed to vegetables will be tempted by its vegetarian/vegan delights. I am definitely and defiantly a meat eater, but I always enjoy a meal at Monster, being tempted by and trying something new.
The one thing I do miss in the morning breakfast is bacon, mmm bacon.
For price the Ovolo is about what you would expect to pay in the Nations Capital. It’s not cheap and it’s not a place I would be recommending for backpackers (Unless they were rich ones). The savings you bank up from a free drink in the afternoon and a built in breakfast, do add to the overall value.
The Ovolo is a beautiful place, it has won many awards for its Architecture, and it was built to innovative and sustainable. Its a very different kind of place to most hotels, and it has a free wheeling, loose kind of vibe. The staff are friendly the facilities excellent and the in house restaurant superb.
NOTE: The parking is in the same building but is run by a separate company. Expect to pay 25$ a day as a hotel guest.
The area is currently (July 2023) undergoing a lot of construction as the city of Canberra is extending the light rail to the New Acton area, which will put a light rail stop a 5 minute walk from the Ovolo
