Canberra has a large amount of great hotel options to choose from whether it’s a staycation or for someone visiting. But how do you choose where to stay? As an ex hotel employee of many years, I would consider myself a hotel veteran within Canberra, having worked at a few different hotels and experienced a few in the Australian Capital Territory myself. To decide on whether a hotel is worth the trip, I have broken down what makes a hotel a great hotel into 5 sections:
- Location – is it conveniently located close to areas you wish to explore? Or have a great view if you wish to stay in?
- Room – what is included in the room? Does it have a view?
- Facilities – what is on offer within the hotel? Is there a pool? A spa?
- Dining – does the hotel have a restaurant and/or room service available?
- Service – have the staff of the hotel been friendly and accommodating?
In this review, I dive into a stay at Little National Hotel Canberra. Managed by Doma Hotels, Little National Hotel prides itself on providing a luxury stay without the hefty price tag. Offering 120 rooms for guests to enjoy comfort that maximises on space. Smartly designed by Mathieson Architects, this state of the art hotel is one of a kind in Canberra. It is so popular amongst locals and visitors alike that they created a second hotel of it’s kind called Little National Hotel Sydney.
Location
Located on National Circuit Barton, Little National Hotel Canberra is part of the Hotel Realm Precinct which is made up of Hotel Realm, Burbury Hotel, Brassey Hotel and Little National Hotel. Each hotel has different things on offer for their guests but nothing like what Little National Hotel Canberra has on offer. Barton is arguably the perfect location in Canberra to stay if you don’t really want to be in the CBD but still close enough to everything in the CBD if you wanted to venture that way. The hotel is in the Parliamentary Triangle and is only 11 minutes drive away from the Canberra airport and only 10 minutes drive away from the Canberra CBD. The views from the hotel are spectacular at sunrise and sunset. Parliament House is in view from Little National and adds to the picturesque outlook you can have from your hotel window.
Room
Little National is a hotel that spans over 5 levels, though only 2 levels make up the accommodation. The different in this little hotel is that they actually only offer one room type across the whole establishment. I know that sounds strange but hear me out. Each room is a king room for up to two people (and possibly a small child) and boasts of a super king bed that is flush against a floor to ceiling window as well as the walls which makes it a cute nook to cosy up into. Their king beds are so popular, some people have reported that they had the best night sleep ever. While the rooms are quite compact and are 18 square metres, they do not make compromises on inclusions and space with comfort at top of mind. The room has a smart TV placed at the foot of the big comfy bed and you can access Foxtel and free movies for your enjoyment. If you don’t like what is on offer, you can also connect your own device to the TV and play as you like. There’s also an Nespresso pod coffee machine, a selection of coffee pods and T2 teas, a beautifully designed bathroom equipped with a calming rain shower and amenities. The rooms do not have their own minibars, instead there is a virtual minibar available as part of the facilities.
Facilities
Within the hotel itself, you will find a lounge and library for use. In the lounge, there is a virtual minibar that you can grab snacks and drinks (from their fairly decent sized selection) and head back to your room in your fluffy robe or if you want to enjoy what the other parts of the hotel has on offer, take a seat in the lounge and enjoy the soft music and maybe interact with another guest or two. What you grab from the virtual minibar is charged back to your room and to be paid on check out. The library which is located just down the stairs within the lounge, is a complete co-working space or chill out zone for guests. Both the library and lounge are available for use 24/7. While this is where the hotel specific facilities end, guests of Little National can take advantage of other facilities within the Realm Precinct such as Hale Gym & Spa, Evo Health Club (which includes a pool, spa and sauna), Mudd the spa and Kundalini Hair.
Dining
This Doma hotel has a variety of dining options available within the Realm Precinct at your disposal. You will find the likes of Chairman & Yip and Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar within Hotel Realm. Within Burbury Hotel, LiloTang, Ostani Bar & Restaurant. For café dining, you will have Ritual Coffee available downstairs at Little National Hotel Canberra and Maple & Clove between Hotel Realm and Burbury Hotel. Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar is also featured in one of our other articles on top 5 best charcuterie platters in Canberra. If dining out isn’t what you fancy for the night, you can order off any food delivery app such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, etc and have reception deliver your food straight to your door.
Service
This accommodation option at Little National Canberra offers 24 hour reception, 7 days a week to their guests. The staff greet you with a smile and are exceptionally fast at responding to any enquiry asked. The hotel reception offers concierge services such as tourist information, assistance with luggage and food deliveries and many more. I could not fault their service on check in and check out. The reception area seems a little unorthodox and casual for a hotel reception area but the service was outstanding and I give it 5 stars in terms of customer service.
Overall, Little National Hotel Canberra is a great place to stay whether you’re a Canberra local or just here for a visit. I would say it’s a must try hotel in Canberra if you’re looking for a different kind of experience to try. If you liked this article and want more like it, check out our article on top 5 staycations in Canberra.
Let us know in the comments what you think of Little National Hotel and where we should try next!
