Mantra on Northbourne Canberra

The pool was swamp-like and unusable, and I could feel every spring in the mattress. The rooms are dark despite having lots of lights, and cobwebs on the windows make it look like they’re decorated for Halloween. During Somernats it was very noisy, though requesting a room away from the carpark entry side may help. It’s centrally located, but not up to the standard of other Mantras. Ask for a light, bright room like the ones in the hotel photos. Otherwise, the place needs an upgrade.

The room is a great size and the decor has been updated, though some parts still feel dated. The bathroom layout is poor, and be sure to include the parking charge in your costs. They serve a buffet breakfast, which I didn’t try, but there are lots of options nearby for the evening.

Our four nights at Mantra on Northbourne for New Year 2026 and my daughter’s birthday were a letdown. The apartment was so dim, with its windows facing a black brick wall, that we needed the lights on in daytime. The fridge was very old, and the freezer was packed with ice, as if it hadn’t been defrosted for months. The health club didn’t help. Getting there meant going down two flights of steel stairs, and the pool looked neglected, with rusted fittings on the ceiling. The sauna never got to the right temperature. We kept pouring water on the stones to make steam, even though a sauna should be hot and dry. I asked reception about an upgrade through my ALL Accor+ Gold membership. They said nothing was available, though the hotel looked almost empty throughout our stay. The women at reception were polite, but my concerns weren’t resolved. My family has had consistently good stays at other Mantra properties over the years, in bright, welcoming serviced apartments that were well maintained. We paid a considerable amount expecting a comfortable celebration. Instead, our festive mood was spoiled by four days in a dark, basement-like apartment.

Check-in was easy and the room itself was great, but the carpet clearly hadn’t been vacuumed properly in several spots. Breakfast was rough: one person was left to run the restaurant, and it showed in the dirty tables and messy floor. A few customers were giving that staff member a hard time, which I thought was uncalled for. I told the receptionist it was well below par for Accor. She apologized, though nothing could be changed by then. We’ve stayed here several times before without these problems, so this visit was disappointing. I’m not sure I’d come back.