Blue Mountains Manor House

The new bar and lounge was our highlight, with a lovely atmosphere and fireplace. Dinner at the hotel restaurant was exceptional, though it felt flat without music or Christmas decorations, which was disappointing. My husband and I chose this historic hotel because we like supporting local businesses, especially those that employ people with disabilities. The service was great, but we were a little disappointed by the hotel’s condition. The beds were comfortable and modernised, but there wasn’t a TV in any room. For the price, I’m sorry, but these days a TV feels like a basic facility. There is a communal lounge with a TV, though it had no natural light and felt dismal.

Hotel Etico left us impressed by its vision and mission. We stayed two nights and found the customer service warm and friendly. Our room had no TV, but it was quiet and nice. We also enjoyed dinner at Niccolo's Restaurant in the hotel, with good food and live music. A special experience for us.

My friends and I tried Niccolo's at Hotel Etico for the first time. It’s a social enterprise at Hotel Etico that supports young people with disabilities to train and work in hospitality, with help from supervisors. We had a wonderful evening in the restored old Fairfax family manor house, which looks amazing inside and out. The food was delicious, and although service was a little slow, the young staff and their supervisors served us with enthusiasm and professionalism. They made our night, and we had a great time. The food and alcohol were very reasonably priced for the quality. Well done to everyone, keep up the good work. A wonderful venture.

The room felt stuffy and stayed bright through the night because light from the internal conservatory came through the curtains. Its windows were fixed shut, and there was no ventilation or air conditioning. There wasn’t a TV either. At $240 a night, I’d have expected those details to be mentioned before booking. The hotel has an older-style charm, but room quality seems to vary, so it’s worth checking what you’re getting. The framed staff photos in the room also felt unusual.