Mount Lofty House

Overlooking the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills Wine Region, Mount Lofty House MGallery by Sofitel is one of Australia's finest luxury retreats and very recently, home to a stunning destination restaurant.

A mere 15 minutes from the Adelaide CBD, the historic Mount Lofty House boasts a heritage design which blends effortlessly with its tranquil surrounds. It is simply a wonderful place to relax and indulge in life's pleasures. The property's facilities include an onsite' Stables Day Spa', two onsite working vineyards, beautiful gardens, tennis, volleyball and badminton courts as well as a swimming pool.

Conservatory Suite

We were spoilt with a weekend in one of Mount Lofty House's luxurious suites.

The suite was tastefully furnished. A king size bed in the large master bedroom and plush sofas in the adjoining conservatory style sunroom which leads to a rear door which provides direct access to the balcony - perfect to enjoy the warm sun and stunning vista of Mount Lofty House's immaculate gardens and the Piccadilly Valley. Wing-back chairs to curl up on and an ensuite bathroom complete the experience

Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant

After taking the very short stroll from our suite to the restaurant, we were ready for Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant’s signature tasting menu experience with matched wines.

In addition to luxury accommodation, Mount Lofty House has recently opened Hardy's Verandah Restaurant which will officially launch on the 23rd February 2017. A new era of dining to Adelaide Hills, the 120-seat restaurant with panoramic valley views will also make full use of the hotel’s 165 year old underground cellars that will store an extensive list of wines and offer an exclusive experience to guests.

Calling on the property’s heritage, the restaurant has been aptly named after politician, lawyer and pastoralist Arthur Hardy, who built Mount Lofty House from 1852 - 1858.

Leading the culinary charge in the role of head chef is Wayne Brown, a French-trained chef with Japanese influences whose credentials include stints at Sake, Quay, Tetsuya’s and Stokehouse. Brown brings to life Mount Lofty House’s ‘valley-to-verandah’ dining philosophy, which sees the finest Adelaide Hills seasonal produce served all year round, accompanied by an extensive list of wines including the finest the region has to offer.

The dining room is marshalled by excellent service staff, each knowledgeable and warm. Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant combines these elements to deliver an enchanting experience.

All dishes were elegant, playful and, thanks to sommelier Patrick White, paired well with their respective wines.

The amuse bouche were a delightful way to start the meal. Think chicken skin smothered with decadent pate and tender southern squid atop crispy squid ink crackers.

Our first entrée, the kingfish sashimi arrived looking magnificent and tasted exceptional. The extremely fresh slices of kingfish paired perfectly with cultured cream, kohlrabi and yuzu kosho.

Our favourite dish of the night graced us next - the ocean trout confit. This dish spoke volumes of Brown's calibre. The tangy beetroot and fermented blueberry and luxurious brown butter soured cream cradled the delicate trout - complex flavours interwoven with precise, expertly combined textures.

The adventure did not stop there. Next, perfectly cooked pepper glazed marron served with lime bourbon and carrot was a showcase of Brown’s technique, applied in the quest for flavour. A flavour-laden and lively dish.

The mains continued to please with perfectly cooked elements all seamlessly brought together in perfect harmony. Think smoked pig jowl laced with thinly sliced scallop and served with peach marmalade and melt in your mouth full blood wagyu mb9+ with freshly grated wasabi. A common thread that becomes obvious throughout is that Brown uses his unquestionable technique to produce highly cohesive, delicious dishes without superfluous elements – every process and component is driven by the pursuit of flavour.

Our evening concluded with a duo of desserts.

The dessert of soured plum, custard crème and citrus sherbet struck a clever balance between the tart soured plum, playful citrus sherbet and rich custard crème.

The dessert of chocolate orb was similarly delicious and particularly memorable for its theatre. We loved the intelligent use of contrasting textures, and balance between the eucalyptus berry and cherry ice cream which produced an exquisitely moreish dessert.

After finishing the last of our courses, and perhaps having consumed a touch too much wine, we commenced the 10 second stumble back to our suite.

Breakfast at Piccadilly Restaurant

12 hours later we venture down a couple flights of stairs to the Piccadilly Restaurant for a hearty breakfast which comprises both a continental buffet and cook-to-order items from the menu.

Mount Lofty House delivers an enchanting experience perfect for a luxury escape. Each element from the fantastic restaurant to the luxurious accommodation has been carefully thought out and perfectly executed ensuring an unforgettable experience.

Location: 74 Mount Lofty Summit Road, Crafers
Phone: (08) 8339 6777
Link: http://www.mtloftyhouse.com.au/