Port Macquarie Hotel

We stopped in after dinner for a drink and ordered a shiraz. I was told there was barely enough left for one glass, and that if I wanted another drink I’d need to choose something else. There’s a bottle-o attached to the pub, so I couldn’t understand why they couldn’t get more shiraz. When I asked about a discount for the incomplete pour, I was scoffed at. Apparently I was meant to pay for something I hadn’t ordered properly and keep quiet about it. Sure.

We had dinner with my son and bought an expensive bottle of wine, which we were served in plastic glasses. We weren’t allowed to take the bottle to our table, so I had to queue at the bar whenever we needed a refill. The young staff were inefficient, and when we tried to take the half bottle home, we weren’t allowed to leave with it. We won’t be back.

The room feels like stepping into the 1940s, with very vintage décor. It’s a shame there’s nowhere by the beds to plug in a device and no fridge, so charging your phone means going to the bathroom. The showerhead also leaks a little. On the plus side, the TV is positioned just right for watching movies comfortably from bed.

For the price, this was a great one-night stay. The bed was really comfortable, and the shared bathrooms were spotless and private enough. There’s a decent pub downstairs and the location is handy. Just don’t expect a five-star Manhattan or London hotel. If you’re happy with something simple and good value, it’s five stars from me.