Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

ALICE SPRINGS 381
they cost the same as normal deluxe rooms are well worth asking for even if
you’re traveling as a couple. All deluxe family rooms and a few deluxe doubles
have bathrooms. Ask for a room away from the road, as the traffic is noisy during
the day. The seven budget rooms are also a little dated, but though small, are
comfortable, and quiet. They come with a double bed, a TV, shower, fridge, and
hair dryer. Look out for the friendly Doberman called Charlie.
65 Bath St. (opposite Kmart), Alice Springs, NT 0870. & 1800/809 252 in Australia, or 08/8952 1222. Fax
08/8953 1370. www.elkira.com.au. 58 units (some with shower only, 2 with spa), 1 room suitable for travelers
with disabilities. A$70–A$85 (US$46–US$55) budget doubles; A$110–A$120 (US$72–US$78) double.
Extra adult A$15 (US$9.75); extra child under 3 A$5 (US$3.25). AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking. Airport shuttle.
Amenities: 2 restaurants; outdoor pool; nearby golf course; spa; tour desk; car-rental desk; limited room service;
same-day laundry/dry-cleaning service; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C, TV, fax, dataport, fridge, coffeemaker,
hair dryer, iron, safe.
WHERE TO DINE
Bar Doppio EAST/WEST CAFE FARE If you’re in need of a dose of
cool—in terms of style and air-conditioning—this arcade cafe is the place to
chill over good coffee and feast on cheap, wholesome food. Sacks of coffee beans
are stacked all over, gypsy music plays, no tables and chairs match, and the staff
doesn’t care if you sit here all day. It’s largely vegetarian, but fish and meat figure
on the blackboard menu. Try lamb chermoula cutlets on Gabriella potatoes
with rocket, red onion and tomato salad, chickpea curry, warm Turkish flatbread
with dips, or spuds with hot toppings. Hot and cold breakfast choices stay on
the menu until 11am. They do takeout. BYO.
2 and 3 Fan Arcade (off the southern end of Todd Mall). & 08/8952 6525. Reservations accepted at dinner
only. Main courses A$7–A$16 (US$4.55–US$10); sandwiches average A$6 (US$3.90). No credit cards.
Mon–Fri 7:30am–5:30pm; Sat 7:30am–4:30pm; Sun 10am–4:30pm; dinner Fri–Sat only 6–9pm. Closed holidays
and Christmas to New Year.
Bojangles Saloon and Restaurant TEX-MEX/MIXED Swing open the
saloon doors and enter a world of cowhide seats, thick wooden tables, assorted
Western-style knickknacks, original American Civil War guns, and so on. The front
bar is friendly and serves up good beers by the bottle or schooner, and reasonable
food such as burgers, nachos, salads, and fish and chips. The restaurant out back
has more gourmet offerings, but either way it’s a great atmosphere. Aussie-style
country and folk singers strum away in the evenings, and the bar staff is terrific.
80 Todd St. & 08/8952 2873. Reservations not needed. Main courses A$7–A$18 (US$4.55–US$12) front
bar; A$12–A$25 (US$7.80–US$16) restaurant. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily noon–3pm and 6–10pm.
Casa Nostra Value ITALIAN The only difference between this cheery
homespun family eatery and every other Italian restaurant in the world is that
this one has autographed photos of Tom Selleck pinned to the wall. Judging by
his scrawled praise, Tom loved eating here (when on location in Alice filming
Quigley Down Under) as much as the locals do. You’ve seen the red-checked
tablecloths and the basket-clad chianti bottles before, but the food is surprisingly
good. A long list of pastas (like the masterful carbonara), pizzas, and chicken and
veal dishes are the main offerings. All meals can come as takeout. BYO.
Corner of Undoolya Rd. and Stuart Terrace. & 08/8952 0549. Reservations strongly recommended. Main
courses A$11–A$18 (US$7.15–US$12). MC, V. Mon–Sat 5–10pm. Closed Christmas to end of Jan.
Malathi’s Restaurant & Sean’s Irish Bar ASIAN/WESTERN Located in
an unprepossessing building a couple of blocks from Todd Mall, Malathi’s serves
up an eclectic assortment of Asian dishes plus a few Aussie choices, such as