Mountain Heritage Hotel

The heritage suite or villa was filthy: dead bugs on the dishes, counters, and in the bathroom, plus stains on the sheers. Furnishings were old, worn, and marked, and there was an overpowering musty smell. The glass door wasn't secured, and the wood was rotted with gaps that left little privacy. Such a shame, because it could have had historic charm. Five stars to Alan, the piano man who played on weekends.

The views are spectacular, and there are cozy, welcoming spots to sit. We enjoyed the restaurant food too, and the staff were the standout, going above and beyond to make our stay fantastic. Molly at reception was especially kind and helped make sure our older parents, in their 70s and 80s, were comfortable and enjoyed their visit. Mountain Heritage is a great hotel. Walking the halls and climbing the spiral staircase feels like stepping back in time, and having a cocktail at the ground-floor bar adds to the charm. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone after a unique, welcoming place to stay.

The balcony at the front has amazing views and is a lovely spot to spend the evening. Jamieson restaurant is pricey, but the food is incredible and worth it. The hotel's in a great spot in Katoomba, with a walkway straight to the village, friendly staff, plenty of free parking out back and EV chargers. It's got an old Victorian feel, though the rooms are small and dated. The showers and toiletries are fine, but I'd call it a 3-star stay: no in-room safes and an old analogue TV with only two working channels. Non-mountain-view rooms have no view at all. Breakfast was mediocre. In summer, the peaches were canned, the pastries weren't fresh, and the filter coffee was ordinary. They'd also run out of some food halfway through service. I'd skip the extra $6 barista coffee and head into town for fresh fruit, a pastry and coffee from one of the bakeries.

That big, spacious room was a real highlight. The king bed was super comfortable, the linen and pillows were excellent, and I appreciated the gourmet cookies on the bed and extra biscuits with the tea and coffee. The carpet creaked a lot, which suits the old world heritage feel, though some people may not like it. It's on the first floor, and carrying bags up the narrow stairs is awkward. There’s no lift, but staff offered to help. The bathroom was good apart from the weak shower pressure. Getting the temperature right took ages after adjusting the tap, so I was frozen and then scalded a few times before it settled. The cocktails we could get were delicious, though a simple one cost $25 and the list is now limited to about half a dozen signature drinks. The barman couldn't make what I asked for because ingredients were missing. You used to be able to order any cocktail, but management has restricted that. Breakfast has changed too. There was no mimosa to start, and the continental spread has been cut back a lot, with no fresh or stewed fruit, no berries, no yoghurt, and the croissants had run out by 8:45 on Friday morning. The à la carte hot breakfast was superb and made up for the meagre continental choice. Some tomato sauce, in a bottle or single serves, would have been welcome.