Finding the right accommodation when travelling can be hard. So I’ll be sharing more insights about where to stay in Canberra and beyond to help you out. If location is a priority for you, then the Crowne Plaza Canberra is a great option. It’s perfect for interstate and overseas visitors, or locals looking for the perfect place to enjoy a staycation.
Crowne Plaza Canberra is located in the CBD and it’s a hop, skip and a jump to many of Canberra’s amazing bars, restaurants and cafes. A quick 15-minute walk in various directions could take you to Braddon’s popular Lonsdale St, beautiful Lake Burley Griffin, fine-dining restaurants, gorgeous cafes, trendy bars and the starting point of Eat Canberra Food Tours.
I recently stayed at Crowne Plaza Canberra for two nights and I had a great experience. Check in was seamless and my room had an amazing view of Glebe Park. TIP: Make sure you request a room with a view of the park!
The bed, oh the bed. One of the first things I do when I check into my hotel room is lay on the bed to see how comfortable it is. The bed at Crowne Plaza Canberra ticked all the boxes and the comfort factor was 10/10! I actually wanted to jump in and not get out…..
The room was really spacious with a large desk and office chair. Perfect if you need to do any work during your stay. The location, staff and facilities are some of the many things that make the Crowne Plaza Canberra a great place to stay in Canberra.
WiFi is complimentary for guests and the onsite gym is HUGE! I love a good hotel gym and I had a great work out there one evening before dinner. The pool area is also really big and would be perfect for cooling off in the warmer months. There’s a sauna too! Unfortunately it was windy and raining when I stayed, so I didn’t go for a swim.
I was also planning to walk to the Old Bus Depot Markets but the weather wasn’t ideal so I decided not to. It’s only a 45-minute walk so if you’re up for it then I highly recommend checking the markets out on a Sunday. I did grab an umbrella from the friendly staff at the concierge desk and went for a quick walk to Lake Burley Griffin before it started to rain. I also walked to Braddon and had some lunch during my stay. If you want to get some fresh air, explore Canberra and get some exercise, you can hire bikes and access jogging maps at the hotel.
I dined at the onsite restaurant, Redsalt on my last night. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. Hotel restaurants can be a bit hit and miss…. But I had a really good experience and made an excellent choice for my main. I went with the Asado, a traditional South American barbecue and grill style of cooking. Redsalt has 3 options to choose from and I highly recommend the Argentina option.
Seriously, if you’re a meat eater you need to try this! They have lamb, chicken and sirloin options. The Argentina one is the grilled pinnacle sirloin with chimichurri sauce. It’s served with quinoa and sautéed kale. As soon as the plate arrived I could smell the barbecued meat and I was taken straight back to South America. The sirloin was cooked perfectly and had crispy bits on the outside (just the way I like it). Mr Eat Canberra can make a mean chimichurri sauce so I had high expectations. I’m happy to report that the chimichurri at Redsalt was fresh and flavoursome. It was the perfect match to the the juicy beef with the quinoa and kale salad. They also have Bentspoke Brewery beer and a few local wines on their drinks menu.
If you don’t want to leave your room then you can also get food delivered straight to your room. They offer 24-HOUR room service! I was really tempted to order the cheese platter…. A delivery of cheese to my room? Yes please!
Crown Plaza Canberra also have a great buffet breakfast with an egg station, a range of hot and cold breakfast options, a DIY fresh juice station and plenty of delicious pastries. They also have a section with GF options. I love buffets with a cheese selection for breakfast. I resisted ordering a cheese platter from room service so of course I had to have a mini cheese platter for breakfast.
I had meetings in the CBD the morning I checked out so it was really convenient to get to my meetings. If a great location, friendly staff, an excellent buffet breakfast, comfortable beds and an incredible Asado experience is what you’re looking for, then Crowne Plaza Canberra is the place for you.
Details
Address: Crowne Plaza Canberra, 1 Binara St, Canberra
Eat Canberra currently has a special foodies weekend package available through Travelzoo. You will receive two nights accommodation at the Crowne Plaza Canberra, free parking, buffet breakfast for two on Sunday morning, two tickets to join an Eat Canberra Food Tour AND a bottle of 2015 Shiraz by Four Winds Vineyard for only $599. There are only limited packages available and it’s only available on selected dates in June and July 2018. You need to be a Travelzoo member to access the package but it’s free and easy to sign up. Just visit their website and fill in your details.
Book your stay at the Crowne Plaza Canberra!
Disclosure: I was a guest of Crowne Plaza Canberra but all opinion’s are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.
Amelia Bidgood
Amelia is the Founder and Editor of Eat Canberra and the Founder and Managing Director of Eat Canberra Food Tours. She's a qualified journalist, presenter, freelance writer and also runs a boutique communications agency working with small business owners on all things social media, content creation and marketing. She's taught cheesemaking classes, judged hospitality and tourism awards, completed the WSET Level 1 Award In Wines, loves to cook and has travelled to 23 countries. She's also passionate about mental health and has recently started studying to become a Counsellor.