This iconic boutique hotel, which has hosted a slew of celebrities including Mick Jagger, Bono, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Elle Macpherson and Sam Smith, may have celebrated its 90th birthday on Australia Day but it has lost absolutely none of its romantic charm.
The exterior and front entry still looks like the quaint cottage that was originally built in 1929 by Constance Vidal as a roadhouse in the remote outskirts of the city.
But, after walking through the front doors, you descend into modern luxury. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows off the main dining and bar area offer spectacular 180-degree views out to the sparkling Pacific Ocean.
A set of stairs lead down to a shaded grassy area with deck chairs and a tranquil pool. We settle in for an afternoon of cocktails and reading, and order tasting plates with hand cut fried potatoes with porcini powder and truffle mayo and Sydney Rock Oysters. Yum.
Before dinner, we retreat to our newly refurished Ocean Retreat room, with a spa, king-sized bed, private balcony and breathtaking views.
Our package includes an à la carte dinner in the main dining area where we enjoy such delights as goat cheese ravioli with macadamia, burnt butter and sage, whole lobster and grilled Mooloolaba king prawns with green tomatos and parsley
After a sound sleep, we enjoy the sunrise from our balcony before returning to the restaurant for a delicious two-course breakfast of mini croissants - served straight from the oven - with house made jams and preserves and our choice from a delicious arrange of hot dishes like goat cheese frittata and poached eggs with ocean trout and avocado salsa.
With tummies full, we reluctantly jump back into the car and head to work and reality.
