Brassey Hotel

The place

The Brassey sits on two and a half acres of gardens and lawns in Canberra, a red brick building from the 1920s. The facade remains well preserved; inside, everything has been quietly brought up to date.

The 80 rooms and suites keep an old-world manner — clean white walls, elegant classic furnishing — with the essentials in place: sumptuous bedding, a TV, coffee facilities, free wifi.

There is a modern gym, and a spa with a cave pool, steam rooms, saunas and a lounge. No restaurant in the house, but plenty within steps — Maple + Clove, for one, cooks nutritious meals from fresh, whole ingredients.