An historic B&B perched high above the city on hospital hill with beautifully restored woodwork, glistening floors and a terrific host/owner, Yvonne.
We stayed here three nights while on a 2-week holiday throughout New Zealand. We had come to Napier/Hawke's Bay to explore the vineyards and wineries.
This place is a bit tricky to find as it is located up atop fashionable hospital hill in the middle of narrow winding streets but trusty google maps did just fine. The inn itself is immaculately preserved and updated to suit the modern traveler. Since all the rooms are unique, TAKE CARE IN YOUR BOOKING. The king suites are spacious and inviting while the queen room we had on our first night disappointing.
We had used a travel agent and naively assumed he was watching out for our interests (perhaps we should have done more research) and were assigned one of the modest Queen room (Chablis-note on the website there is an incorrect link that takes you to the pictures and details for the Chianti room-one of the nice big guest suites). As the weather had become quite hot, and like most small business in New Zealand this place has NO A/C, the only way to get any air in was to leave the two French doors wide open. This would have been ok except we started being bothered by a few mosquitoes and since there weren't screens, wehad to close up the room and try an soldier on in a hot room. Can't recommend Chablis room.
Fortunately we were able to move to one of the larger rooms, Versailles for our final two nights (NZ$75 more per night) but well worth it. This room was on the side of the house and was perhaps 3 TIMES AS LARGE as our original room and since it faced the garden instead of the street with its street lamp drawing in bugs from far and wide, was a MUCH BETTER EXPERIENCE for our final two night.
Pros:
-excellent hot cooked breakfast each morning (be sure to let Yvonne know the night before what you would want and what time you will dine
-lovely (but chilly) pool-perfect for cooling off after a hot day
-immaculate historic building
-nice firm beds (although a bit softer pillow would have been to my liking)
-Yvonne herself - she is very concerned that guests have reservations and tours and goes out of her way to be welcoming (and she reminds me a bit of Hellen Mirren-perhaps a younger sister)
Opportunities:
-I felt the soaps and such to be a bit down market
-with global warming I think A/C will soon be required given the room prices (or at least screens)
Bottom line: IF IN A KING SUITE-a must stay location; but book ahead, it's a popular spot. read more