Style: July 01, 2019

STYLE | travel 79
- STAY -
Lovers of grand hotels will delight in a stay in Wellington’s
newest luxury offering. The DoubleTree by Hilton opened
last year in a heritage building on the Lambton Quay and Grey
Street corner that was once one of the city’s first office towers.
Built in 1928, the former T&G Building is considered one of the
capital’s finest examples of the Chicago style of architecture.
Fortunately, it remains standing only because developer Mark
Dunajtschik lost an Environment Court case to demolish it and
instead had to spend millions restoring it. Millions more have
been spent on the hotel fitout to restore and complement its
art deco interiors like the chandeliered marble lobby, wooden
staircase, polished copper lifts and entry doors.
The 106 elegant guest rooms, many in family friendly
configurations, are distinguished by exceptionally high ceilings,
soaring over 4.5m in our junior suite, where tall arched windows
overlook Lambton Quay seven storeys below. We make
espresso and munch on the signature warm chocolate and
walnut cookies that welcome guests to all 525 DoubleTrees
across the globe (one of the world’s fastest growing brands with
more heading our way). It’s our first taste of the upscale brand
that shares the same high service standards of its five-star Hilton
sister, but is more personable in touches like the cookies, the
towels shaped into an elephant on the supremely comfortable
bed and the yellow ducky on the bathtub. And mouthwash,
which is the first time I’ve encountered that in a hotel bathroom.
There’s room service, a mini bar and a gym fitted with the
latest Precor video workout machines and a restaurant that
surpasses expectations. Spring is a sophisticated bar and dining
room attracting attention from Wellington’s discerning foodies
for standout Indian cuisine. Forget butter chicken and vindaloos,
here Vaibhav Vishen is fusing subtle, fragrant Indian flavours
with classic dishes like the venison loin in Nihari jus and smoked
aubergine tortellini in masala green jus that we devour with a
sensational spicy roti stuffed with black olives.
The DoubleTree by Hilton lobby, off Grey Street.
Spring restaurant.
Glamorous art deco style guest rooms are wallpapered,
and decorated with rich materials and curvy chairs.