Adelaide was world-class for food, but not hotels. Until now

Little National Hotel Adelaide has opened on North Terrace, bringing 237 rooms to a $100 million, 21-storey tower in the heart of the South Australian capital.

But while the fourth Little National retains the compact rooms that have become the Australian brand’s calling card, this time there’s more room to move.

For the first time, guests can book apartments, family-friendly configurations and even two penthouses, as owner Doma Group evolves the “luxury-lite” formula it introduced in Canberra.

It’s a simple formula: rather than make guests pay for square metres they may not need, put the money elsewhere – towards, say, an excellent king-sized bed, good bathroom and sophisticated design – then compensate for compact bedrooms with generous communal spaces. It was evident when Little National Canberra opened in 2015, and then in Sydney and Newcastle.

The Adelaide site heralds an evolution. While 140 rooms are classic Little National Rooms, at the top of the building are two penthouses with generous living spaces and private bars stocked with premium South Australian wines. There are also 38 square metre Luxe Apartments for longer stays.

Sign up for the Traveller newsletter

The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.

In Little National style, there’s a rooftop lounge and bar, with 360-degree views across the city, Adelaide Hills and parklands and towards the coast. Light meals and tapas are served throughout the day and evening, while the lounge incorporates co-working spaces.

There’s also a 250-square-metre Technogym-equipped fitness centre and two dedicated meeting spaces. Bates Smart designed the building, while Luchetti Krelle handled the lobby, lounge and bar interiors.

The argument used to be that while Adelaide was an interesting city, it didn’t have enough interesting hotels and that its accommodation stock lagged behind its sophisticated food, wine and cultural scene.

But that began to change when the smart, keenly priced Ibis Adelaide opened behind Rundle Mall in 2014, then the Mayfair followed at the luxury end in 2015, before a steady succession of arrivals including Eos by SkyCity, Hotel Indigo, Sofitel, Vibe and Adelaide Marriott.

Now there’s a new surge on.

The 170-room Mayfair is undergoing an extensive refurbishment before reopening next year as Kimpton Mayfair Adelaide, bringing IHG’s luxury lifestyle brand to South Australia.

And Little National won’t have the 2026 newcomer spotlight to itself for long.

The $130 million Crystalbrook Sam is scheduled to open on Halifax Street in December, with 196 rooms and suites, a day spa, heated outdoor pool and rooftop bar and grill. It will be Crystalbrook Collection’s first South Australian hotel.

More are coming. A 248-room Treehouse Hotel above the redeveloped Adelaide Central Market is expected to open in early 2027, the brand’s Australian debut. Veriu is also due to make its Adelaide entrance in 2027.

Further out, plans include the Westin Adelaide on North Terrace and a new 251-room Hilton in the East End. In all, the South Australian government says 15 hotel projects are at various stages of development across metropolitan Adelaide, 11 of them in the CBD.

See littlenationalhotel.com.au

Julietta Jameson is a freelance travel writer who would rather be in Rome, but her hometown Melbourne is a happy compromise.Connect via email.