The County Hotel

“County Hotel a must to visit”

Wonderful 3 nights loved the detail in the hotel decor it was stunning. Can’t fault anything Angela and Richard were the perfect hosts and their attention to detail was superb. Breakfast was exceptional. Look forward to returning.thanks

“Art deco charm”

Wonderful welcome on arrival. Lovely art deco charm. Walking distance to main shopping centre and beach. Secure parking.very comfortable. Classy restaurant on site. Very well appointed with original art deco features. Complimentary bottle of wine.

“Pleasantly surprised”

As part of a flight crew who travels the world often and stays in Marriott properties we all were not sure what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised though at this quaint, historic hotel. The rooms were nice and amenities were on par with most of the hotels we stay at. The service was great from… more

As part of a flight crew who travels the world often and stays in Marriott properties we all were not sure what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised though at this quaint, historic hotel. The rooms were nice and amenities were on par with most of the hotels we stay at. The service was great from Angela at the front desk, and the owner Chris had a fantastic recommendation of visiting the Mission Estate winery where we ate lunch and had a wonderful experience. I would most definitely recommend the County Hotel.

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“A HERITAGE BEAUTY WHICH COULD DO WITH SOME HELP”

The County Hotel is a beauty of Napier, a private hotel, supposedly 5 star, which is well suited to the hopeless desires of romantics and old-world aficionados, whilst its charms may wear thin on those who want more practical amenities. Are you used to big plaza-style joints with scores of rooms ? … more

The County Hotel is a beauty of Napier, a private hotel, supposedly 5 star, which is well suited to the hopeless desires of romantics and old-world aficionados, whilst its charms may wear thin on those who want more practical amenities. Are you used to big plaza-style joints with scores of rooms ? This one here has a grand total of eighteen rooms in a compact stately building. Strengths include a beautiful ornate style which graces both the exterior and interior, undeniably affording it a plush deluxe feel, enhanced by gracious service. But there is only one restaurant which is only open for dinner ; I do not think there is room service for food, and the central city location means that lounging and relaxation areas are limited - there is a nice aristocratic foyer but forget things like pools or gardens. The place was constructed in 1909 and survived the 1931 Napier earthquake that devastated the region while also spelling the end for many beautifully designed buildings of the era. The County Hotel survived the apocalypse, and that's all the more reason to celebrate its well preserved heritage. But it's desperately in need of funds - it was put on sale a few years ago, and my room's bathroom, while presentable on the surface, reinforced that predicament with some issues that are simply not on par with a highly regarded luxury hotel. The 5 star label here is touted as a rare accomplishment for a hotel in North Island that lies outside the loci of Auckland and Wellington - the staff here do well to maintain that level but the amenities do not stack up. I paid NZD $ 320 per night at peak season, the amount deducted at the time of booking. The building may not be enormous but in a city carefully designed as the Art Deco Capital of the South Pacific, with so many handsome buildings, The County Hotel stands out with its quietly magnificent architecture and tasteful choice of colours. A phone call on reaching the hotel and a lady comes out, leading you in, with hospitable demeanour, a smile and an overall polished charm that really made me happy as I settled in. The same lady showed me my room and explained the arrangements. The AC was already on to cool the room as it was peak summer. The high-ceilinged spacious room's best asset is its quietly elegant design - if you want modernity, this was the never the place to start with. The bed, with its polished-wood headboard in a subtle Edwardian style, and a light blue satin blanket which neatly sheaths the expanse from end to end, may give one a decent night's sleep, while being in no danger of winning awards for the most comfortable bed. Furniture has a nice classical design, the red carpet continues inside, and the curtains are swagged. The bathroom's best asset, ironically, are its natty slatted wooden doors. Parting them you see an elegantly presented white tile bathroom but the material is unsuited to the hotel - marble or polished stone would have been a far more appropriate luxe choice. White curtains with their bottom folded inside the bath-tub coyly cordon off the bath area but there's not much to see or experience inside. Want a hand-held or rain shower ? Dream on ! The floor of the bath-tub is worn out and has a sandy, grainy texture under your feet - all this is such a far cry from the spacious, sensuous, totally wonderful walk-in showers appointed in Wellington's InterContinental and other places. I had a lot to see and do in Napier within a few days, so checking out the full facility range in the hotel was not my priority, but I do not think there is room service for food - an important coddled section of service not available to patrons here. The reception was staffed till much later than the specified time in the evening and I did not need to contact them for anything, but the place, for a 5 star hotel, does not have a 24 hour reception and for out-of-hour calls, you need to call a chap named Callum on his mobile phone (bespoke service options taken to the next level). This is a private hotel that does not permit non-hotel residents inside the hotel. This has more advantages than disadvantages. At even some of the best 5 star hotels around the world, there is the sorry sight of ill-dressed morons loitering around the premises, ruining the ambience. No such travesty here - there is hardly anyone seen inside the hotel thus creating the exclusive thrill of having the hotel to yourself. Baroque aesthetics, extensive use of polished wood, and vintage furniture and objets d'art enhance the appeal. There was a nice lift but I often took the staircase, as the solid bannisters of thick, carved, polished, blonde wood on red carpet create such a classic luxurious feel. The reception was looked after by two lovely ladies through my stay (they monitored the restaurant as well) and I had the most pleasant experience in dealing with them - in fact, this is the nicest staff experience I've had in NZ 5 star hotels and they exemplify how dealing hospitably with patrons is truly a refined art. Enroute to the dining room, I beheld a strikingly classical room that reminded me of a similarly plush one from 'There Will Be Blood'. This was likely the bar, with tables covered with white tablecloth, chairs of patterned fabric, and some tables having crystal decanters glowing against white cloth. The walls to one side had wine-bottle-racks affixed to them, with rows upon rows of wine bottles ranged high up all along the wall. The restaurant is compact but elegantly set up with a short menu all on one page (vegetarians - your weight will be well-controlled here). I had a three course meal and while it was all decent, none of the three dishes bore distinction. A fifteen minute walk away, Central Fire Station Bistro's three course meal enjoyed the night before in equally nice environs hit the ball out of the park so you know where things stand in this department. Would I stay here again ? Yes, but I do not look forward to the sandy, grainy texture of the bath-tub floor under my feet. It is certainly a limited-facility hotel, but it has personality and charm - two qualities in the world which are eternally in paucity. 3/5 = Good. Upnworld

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