InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula
Part of the fabric of our country is ‘The Local’, where the bartenders know your name, and your favourite meal is guaranteed each visit. It is this sense of home and familiarity that turns local spots into so much more than just a place to eat, drink or stay.
In 1875 the Continental Hotel was a landmark building central to the town’s personality and daily life, so when IHG Hotels & Resorts planned a multimillion-dollar redevelopment, there was trepidation that the local icon could be local no more.
InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula recently opened after such a renovation and fears were gone as the original sandstone building and the latest contemporary structure by Woods Bagot were amalgamated seamlessly, rich in heritage, stories and culture.
Having never visited this far up the stunning Mornington Peninsula, Mike and I discovered the beauty of Sorrento and got to experience the hotel in all its seaside glamour. We arrived from Melbourne after a short 1.5-hour trip, and we were greeted with sunshine glistening on the water.
Sweeping in a revival of luxury seaside glamour, the hotel’s 108 rooms and suites harmoniously blend heritage and modernity. The design of the hotel takes on a retro glam feel with a colour palette of bottle green and rich red, contrasted perfectly with rattan wallpaper in the entry breezeway, earthy sandstone, velvet upholstery and floral motifs in the reception.
The rooms are filled with the same vibe; a mix of organic coastal materiality and a touch of art deco glamour with rugs scattered throughout by Catherine Martin. We were lucky to stay in the luxurious two-storey penthouse suite offering breathtaking bay views and incomparable sophistication.
The pool deck is perfectly positioned at the heart of the hotel and makes you feel like you could be in Capri, all the while being deeply rooted in the local Sorrento style that is intrinsic to the Peninsula.
The food offering allows you to choose from poolside or in-room dining, the Atrium, The Conti, (a nod to the original downstairs bistro and pub) or the elevated fine dining Audrey’s by Scott Pickett.
Then there is the spa. The award-winning Aurora Spa and bathhouse is incredible and nothing as we have seen in the country. From different mineral pools, a cold plunge, a salt scrub shower, a sauna, a steam room, halotherapy and more in the bathhouse, the spa takes cues from the best spas around the world. The treatments are as varied, with Mike and I opting for a massage and facial skin health Medi facial. A dream.
Sometimes I forget how much beauty there is on our shores, and spending time on the Mornington Peninsula reminded me that not only do we have the best in design, food, and wellness but that our local culture is as strong and better than ever.
InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula sits within the Luxury & Lifestyle Collection of IHG Hotels & Resorts, continuing its legacy of opening hotels in the world’s most sought-after destinations.
Reservations are now being taken for InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula.
Rates start at $595 per night.
