The Hydro Majestic Hotel Blue Mountains
Come for the high tea with panoramic views, stay for the yesteryear glamour.
Overview
Set up in 1904 by eccentric businessman Mark Foy as a glamorous health retreat, the heritage-listed Hydro is famous for its unusual blend of art deco and Edwardian architecture. It's also pretty well known for its high tea offering, with views of the Megalong Valley.
Everything about the hotel is a throwback to more glamorous times. During the past decade, a $30-million revamp by the Escarpment Group has restored much of the hotel's former fanciness. The Wintergarden restaurant, where expansive windows look over Megalong Valley, is where most visitors spend their time. Alternatively, pop into the Boiler House Restaurant for pizzas and burgers or sink into a plush couch in the Salon du The for a cuppa.
The hotel rooms here range from 19-square-metre Heritage Rooms decked out in the hotel's signature black and white decor to the opulent Executive Valley suites complete with valley views and crystal chandeliers. However much space you require, all rooms come with free wifi, LED TVs with Foxtel, plus coffee and tea making facilities and the usual appliances like hairdryers and irons. If you're here for romance, there are accommodation packages that include a three-course dinner in the Wintergarden and a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival.
Images: Destination NSW.