Byron Bay has welcomed its first-ever five-star hotel in the form of Hotel Marvell, which opened Tuesday, August 1. The hotel features 24 rooms, a rooftop pool and bar, and a restaurant called Bonito.
Designed by renowned architect Harley Graham of Harley Graham Architects, the hotel captures the essence of Byron’s eclectic, yet warm atmosphere, says the property’s Scott Emery who owns the property, along with Scott Didier.
It blends natural materials, like concrete and wood, with luxurious décor, including linen bedding and Japandi-style furniture, and touches of greenery. A key feature of its design is a pedestrian laneway that gives the feel of walking through a tropical jungle.
“We want to offer guests an experience that combines the beauty of the surroundings with the luxury of our accommodations,” says Emery. “While the region boasts a plethora of accommodations, none match the calibre and location offered by Hotel Marvell.”
Its location on Marvell Street, Emery says, was strategically chosen to leverage the activity of Jonson Street, as well as its easy access to other parts of the region. Now, he says, the location has become the epicentre of town.
The hotel’s accommodation offering breaks down to 16 hotel rooms, six suites and two two-bedroom hotel rooms. All are equipped with balconies and stocked with Leif toiletries.
On the hotel’s rooftop is a pool and bar, overlooking Byron. If you’re not spending your stay up there, relaxing on a coral-pink lounger under a matching umbrella, cocktail-in-hand, you could spend it at Main Beach, which is only a five-minute walk away, strolling through Byron Markets, two minutes away, or simply on your balcony, enjoying the sounds of the holiday town.
For lunch or dinner, head to the hotel’s on-site restaurant Bonito, led by Chef Minh Le who has worked at Spices Peak Lodge, The Byron at Byron and The Foraging Quail. At Bonito, he focuses on seafood and plant-based cuisine, always incorporating locally sourced ingredients where he can.
The resulting menu is a testament to his creativity, including oysters dressed in a Japanese dressing, dried aged whole fish with Asian herbs and chilli tomato salsa, and prawns from Ballina, served with xo prawn oil, buttermilk and cucumbers.
“The ambiance [of Hotel Marvell] shifts so wonderfully from day to night,” Emery says. “By day, the laneway exudes serenity, in among the abundance of greenery. As the sun dips, the rooftop offers an unparalleled cocktail experience against the backdrop of a mesmerising Byron Bay sunset.”
Room rates at Hotel Marvell start from $600 per night for a hotel room and $780 for a suite.
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