Nip into the hills to take in valley vistas from a terrace perch with a glass of local Shiraz, or wander to the suburban seaside for a feast of succulent oysters. You can take in the city from the spa bath of your glitzy high-rise suite, or from historic manor houses boasting luxury treatment rooms.
Whatever you go for, these Adelaide spas will refresh and revitalise you so you can delve right back into the city’s buzzing beat.
Just 15 minutes’ drive north of Adelaide, you’ll get sweeping views across the Piccadilly Valley from Mount Lofty House. You can opt for the Piccadilly Garden room with four-poster bed and outdoor seating area overlooking the manicured gardens, or breathe in more space in the Tower Suite, set over two levels and boasting its own luxurious spa bath for long morning soaks.
At Stables Day Spa, experienced therapists and Australian-made Waterlily products help deliver the ultimate Adelaide spa retreat per the old-world establishment’s mantra: ‘Retreat to the old. Emerge as new’. With the Signature Spa Ritual, cane sugar and molten nut butters will be applied to your skin as natural exfoliants, followed by full-body hydration, an orange crème hair treatment and a seasonal spa facial using luxe botanicals. After a decadent two hours, you’ll emerge buffed and smoothed from head to toe and ready for a Twisted Tonic herbal tea.
Continue the self-care by booking yourself a table at award-winning Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant with views over the Adelaide Hills. Ideal for a romantic meal for two, you can order a seven-course degustation menu and savour dishes like master stock quail with mustard lettuce, or kingfish Crudo with buttermilk and beetroot vinegar. Finish with a fireside nightcap at nearby Arthur Waterhouse Lounge and Cocktail Bar, where you’ll find one of the largest whiskey selections in Adelaide.
The next day, you’ll be out to explore the incredible food and wine that this region is so renowned for. Visit the distinctly German village of Hahndorf bursting with traditional pubs serving sausages, steins and schnitzels. Or make your way through some of the 50-odd wineries in the Adelaide Hills before going strawberry picking at Beerenberg Farm.
Conveniently based in North Terrace, InterContinental Hotel Adelaide is close to the city’s cultural pulse with the Art Gallery of South Australia, the State Library and Adelaide Festival Centre all within walking distance. Overlooking the River Torrens, the top floors of this 24-storey building offer breathtaking views of the city skyline.
If you’re looking for a luxury spa suite in Adelaide, you’ve come to the right place. Check into a King Diplomatic Suite on the hotel’s top floor, where you can run an indulgent spa bath in your elegant marble bathroom on arrival—best enjoyed with a glass of sparkling wine. Alternatively, get a taste of the celebrity lifestyle in the Presidential Suite with a spa bath looking over the Adelaide Oval. After a session in your own private sauna, shrug on a thick bathrobe and sit down to tickle out a tune at the baby grand piano in your living room with jaw-dropping views over the River Torrens.
When a rumbling belly coaxes you out from your spacious spa accommodation, drop into award-winning Shiki for a masterful teppanyaki display of Japanese favourites like sashimi, tempura and tonkatsu. You can watch prime cuts of meat and seafood grilled in front of you, such as Kangaroo Island lobster tail or Darling Downs wagyu beef.
Alternatively, Riverside Restaurant showcases the best of the Barossa with paddock-to-plate fare, like roasted Barossa heritage pork cabbage, bacon and kipfler potatoes. Should you over-indulge, you can request a personal training session in the mezzanine gym, or just wind down with a leisurely swim in the rooftop pool as the day fades.
Stamford Grand Adelaide is located on Jetty Street, the vibrant heart of seaside suburb Glenelg lined with stylish fashion boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. With only a park standing between you and the Southern Ocean, you can touch your toes to the sand and explore the shore—including the iconic jetty boardwalk—right after breakfast.
For a complete ‘day spa Adelaide-style’ experience, book an Endota spa package and step from the old-world grandeur of the hotel into a soothing, minimalist therapy space. With the Stamford Luxury Indulgence package, you can disconnect for a blissful four hours under a relaxation massage, organic facial and Billabong footbath, topped off with a mani-pedi to get your tootsies thong-ready.
Of course, you can give your body a different kind of treatment at the on-site fitness centre, too. After rounds of squats and bench presses, you’ll deserve a dip in the rooftop pool, where you can swim a few laps or just look out over Glenelg Beach and Moseley Square from the whirlpool spa.
From your private balcony in the Raffles Suite, watch the sparkling city lights wink on as dusk falls. Or, step into your two-person spa bath for an intimate end to the day. Should you splash out on a VIP Ocean View Suite, revel in epic sunsets and starlit nights over the water from the 180-degree bay windows in your personal living room.
You can continue the romance with a late dinner at beachside Promenade Restaurant, where fresh South Australian produce is put on show in the decadent Seafood Tower for Two. Think Eyre Peninsula Pacific oysters, Spencer Gulf king prawns and blue swimmer crab, Goolwa pippis, Port Lincoln black mussels and scallop ceviche—all paired with a bottle of crisp Riesling.
You’ll find glamour and glitz at Hotel The Playford, from the sparkling chandeliers in the lobby to the rich carpets and marble columns in the restaurant. Feel downright royal in your suite draped in plush fabrics, gilt mirrors and floral wallpapered walls—in Loft Suites, you can even ascend a wrought-iron staircase to your mezzanine bedroom with a sumptuous king bed. Luxuriate in the corner spa bath of the sleek, marble bathroom, or soak under the standalone rainfall shower and pamper yourself with Appellees amenities.
Order a signature Southside cocktail at The Playford Lounge Bar, inspired by the hotel’s Art Nouveau design and using KIS Wild Gin from Kangaroo Island. The Playford Restaurant also takes cues from local produce, with dishes like twice-baked comte soufflé with rocket, corella pear and candied walnut or Paroo kangaroo with burnt beetroot, bunya nut cream and golden beet.
When you’re keen to get out into Adelaide’s cosmopolitan energy, the reception team can help with tour reservations and restaurant recommendations. Or, strike out on your own towards the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale regions to sample some of Australia’s finest wines. If you’d rather just stay in, don a fluffy robe and spend a casual afternoon by the Tuscan-style heated swimming pool with Roman columns and frescoes inspired by Michelangelo’s Hand of God. Exclusively for clients of the hotel, you’ll also find a fully equipped gym, sauna and spa bath in the Health Club.
In the heart of Adelaide, The Chancellor on Currie is a four-star boutique hotel set in a grand mansion. The 64 rooms combine traditional charm with modern functionality, with the Executive King Spa Room boasting a generous in-room corner spa that’s hard to resist. You can even pre-order sparkling wine and locally sourced chocolate to be in your room on arrival, plus breakfast for two and late check-out so your last morning away can be unrushed and glorious.
Downstairs in the lobby, challenge your partner to a game of chess in front of the roaring fireplace, or just sink into studded leather sofas and catch up on some reading. The indoor heated swimming pool sits alongside an above-ground Jacuzzi if you’re looking to unwind, or you can burn off those chocolates with the 24-hour hotel gym’s weight centre, cross trainer and treadmill. To top it all off, ask the team at reception to arrange a decadent in-room massage to help you drift off into dreamland.
As for dining, Café Di Mare serves classic bistro-style meals alongside Australian wines. Picture a prosciutto-wrapped filet mignon with caramelised onion and crispy cauliflower washed down with a full-bodied Barossa Shiraz.
Come back in the morning too, when sunlight shines through arched windows, for a coffee and slice of pecan pie or zesty lemon cheesecake. If you’re looking for gifts or a souvenir of your weekend, you’ll find what you need at the reception desk. Stock up on Kangaroo Island honey, Beerenberg Jam and Bremerton wines.
From Peppers Waymouth Hotel in the heart of Adelaide, you’ll be treated to vista views across the city. One of the best places to enjoy them is from your deluxe corner spa in the Penthouse Suite, or your private balcony leading off the contemporary lounge room in the Deluxe Suite. After a sound sleep in luxury linens, start your day the right way at Barketta with house-made bircher muesli topped with mixed berry compote, or a breakfast quesadilla made with spicy chorizo sausage, scrambled eggs and chipotle aioli.
After brekkie, head out to explore the arcades around nearby Rundle Mall, or wander up to Adelaide Central Market—the largest undercover produce market in the country. You can marvel at the Art Gallery of South Australia’s 45,000 works, whereas the next-door Migration Museum recounts the fascinating immigration and settlement history of South Australia.
Soothe tired feet back in the hotel’s spa bath or dive to the bottom of the sparkling swimming pool to peek through the secret porthole and see visitors arriving in the lobby. Keep your fitness regime on track at the state-of-the-art gym, and finish with a sauna session to flush out any remaining toxins.
Hungry from your workout, stop by Essay Kitchen on Level 1, where bold teal accents against dark timber provide a sophisticated dinner venue. Choose a bottle from the walk-in wine cellar to pair with dishes based on quality South Australia produce, like chargrilled garlic and rosemary pork loin with Barossa pancetta, farro risotto, black truffle and honey mustard.