The Mayfair is Christchurch’s newest boutique luxury hotel in Christchurch CBD. Centrally located on the corner of Victoria and Dorset streets, the 5-storey hotel has 67 rooms and spacious suites with floor-to ceiling windows. Stepping into the lobby, one will appreciate its stripped-back aesthetic with rich warm tones that adds to the charismatic charm of the hotel.
Guests staying at the “top of house” rooms can enjoy views of Hagley Park, and the Southern Alps beyond the park.
General Manager Rick Crannitch aptly describes how luxury is redefined at The Mayfair
The Mayfair is a fresh take on luxury, meaning that luxury no longer has to be about formality. Instead, it’s relaxed, thoughtful, and welcoming at every touchpoint: a beautiful space, complemented by attentive service.
Impressively, everyone at the hotel – from the front desk to the housekeeping team and the restaurant staff all seem to have that ethos of thoughtful hospitality in mind and we appreciated the attentive service during our stay.
STYLISH MODERN TOUCHES
The design of the guestrooms exudes elegance with furnishings made of American oak and Italian ceramics for the bathroom.
We stayed at the Mayfair Twin King room which is great for families or groups travelling together needing extra space as it had two king beds, with ample space – a generous 42 square metres!
An additional amenity that we appreciated during our stay was the mini kitchenette complete with a microwave oven and sink.
The Mayfair has cleverly utilized in-room technology to enhance the overall guest experience. In each guest room, there is ample charging points and USB ports are placed at both the desk area and beside the nightstand lamp. With the digital hotel directory loaded onto a bedside tablet, one can browse and discover the hotel’s amenities,
I confess I was particularly impressed that other than the hotel’s in-room menu, guests can also check out the menus from restaurants such as Asian fusion fine dining restaurant The Goldfinch , as well as modern-Viet restaurant You Hanoi Me, both located just a short walk away from the hotel. Dining at these partner restaurants is super easy as you can charge the meal back to the room, so there’s just one bill.
Notably in the bathroom, standard single-use small toiletries bottles have been replaced by larger pump dispenser bottles from Byredo, a European luxury brand known for its scents and ambition to translate memories and emotions into products and experiences.
MAJESTIC AT MAYFAIR
The hive of activity of the hotel centers around its contemporary restaurant – The Majestic. One can enjoy a hearty breakfast that is served from 630am as well as a-la-carte all-day brunch and high tea. The royal-esque loose leaf tea blends (there are 35 different flavours) are interesting and the restaurant also offers a unique high tea set created by French patisserie chef Aurelien Fermen, In the evening, Majestic at Mayfair transforms into a premium cocktail bar where one can enjoy creative cocktails and pair them with the delectable desserts. Plus! The hot chocolate made with real Belgian melted chocolate and fresh New Zealand milk was a Superstar !
An example of an exceptional yet thoughtful gesture was when we had arrived before check-in time in the morning and were invited to have a complimentary drink at the Majestic while waiting for our rooms to be ready. I highly recommend the “Queen Elizabeth” caffeine-free tea with ginger and lemon, a perfect blend for jet lag recovery, or a simple perk me up.
VICTORIA NEIGHBOURHOOD
Victoria Street is a charming street that cuts across the CBD of Christchurch. There is lots of green space within walking distance including Hagley Park, where Victoria Lake is home to New Zealand’s oldest Model Yacht club, and the scenic lake where their members regularly have radio yacht races.
Walk down Victoria Street and you will head into the city centre as you pass by a mix of high end retail stores and contemporary bars and restaurants. Along the way to Christchurch Casino, you will find an outdoor street gallery that tells the stories of the historic street’s significance as the city’s main thoroughfare in the early days,
As I was walking through the street one afternoon on the way back to The Mayfair, here’s what I spotted! Just loved the urban vibes of the streetscape!
Photo Credits for hotel lobby & interiors:: The Mayfair (Photographer: Sarah Rowlands)
