The Crowne Plaza brand is one of the most recognisable banners for IHG, sitting comfortably in the “affordable premium” market as opposed to outright luxury, often fashioned as that mid-to-upscale that values balance over priced-out exclusivity. It’s been that way for decades, which is why Crowne Plaza is such a prolific brand for every type of traveller.
I’ve always found the brand to be highly adaptable based on its location. This has meant a few that are less than impressive. Yet Adelaide, I feel, is the best example, at least that I’ve found, of this four-star brand’s immutable value.
Rooms aren’t expensive, the location is perfect (smack bang in the middle of the city, just off Rundle Street), rooms are notably comfortable, and the amenities are both thoughtful and make good use of space. This is an all-rounder hotel, and when you’ve been writing about hotels for as long as I have, you know that they aren’t as common as they should be (even for ones that cost thousands of dollars a night).
A hotel that fires on all cylinders isn’t common in a city as small as Adelaide, which luxury brands have historically ignored in favour of large cities like Melbourne and Sydney. To find Adelaide’s grand dames, you’ll need to flirt on over to the wine regions (that are within reasonably-priced Uber distance). And so Crowne Plaza finds itself as one of the city’s more premium options.
I’ve stayed at Crowne Plaza Adelaide twice now, with a few months in between. Here are my thoughts.
Location
Crowne Plaza Adelaide stands tall on the trendy East End. This makes it a convenient stay at any time of the year, but especially when the city hosts one of its many yearly festivals, such as the Adelaide Fringe (the hotel has been an official partner for the festival for the past two years, conferring special offers to guests down for the event). During that time (March and April), you’re an easy 10-minute walk from the art festival’s main hubs. The value of this, at a time as busy and exhausting as one of the world’s most admired arts festivals, goes beyond the price point.
You’re an easy walk from the cafe-and-wine-stuffed Ebenezer Place with Adelaide’s best wine bar, East End Cellars, and popular restaurants including the Parisian-styled Hey Jupiter and Africola. Even closer is Rundle Street Mall. You couldn’t dream up a better spot for Adelaide.
Design
The hotel opened in 2020, so it’s still “new,” but I’ve stayed in hotels that have opened around the pandemic that already feel dated. Crowne Plaza Adelaide feels like it just opened yesterday. Key to this is the beautiful sky lobby, framed by outstretched views that pull in the bumpy Adelaide Hills.
The design is clean and modern without being cold. Warm timbers and neutral tones soften the glass and steel, giving the spaces a light, organic feel. Natural light floods almost every public area, which helps the hotel feel expansive rather than vertical. The height becomes part of the aesthetic, drawing your eyes outwards and upwards. Even the hallways feel airy, and the overall layout makes smart use of perspective.
Rooms
The rooms at Crowne Plaza Adelaide strike that right balance between practicality and understated sophistication. They’re not trying to be flashy, and that’s exactly what makes them work. Everything feels considered, from the placement of the tables that catch the morning light to the large, deeply comfortable beds that could belong in a much pricier hotel. Most rooms frame either the city skyline or the rolling Adelaide Hills, and those views become part of the experience. Open the curtains in the morning and you’ll see why this hotel’s height matters.
It’s simple, central and exceptionally comfortable. The defining feature is the full wrap-around windows, hugging the room and pulling in palpable views that stretch in every direction. Adelaide is surrounded by natural beauty, and while some of the angles are obscured by office buildings, the city’s largely mid-rise skyline ducks so you wake up to the city’s unquestionable beauty.
Bathrooms are bright, big and cleverly designed with walk-in rain showers, large mirrors, and soft lighting. The room doesn’t have much colour to contend with at all, but the all-white palate works well here, stretching in length so that the space feels roomy enough without being excessively large.
Food & Drink
Koomo, the hotel’s signature restaurant on Level 10, is a highlight in its own right. It leans into Japanese-inspired flavours with both delicacy and confidence, combining coastal freshness with the warmth of the grill. The dining room feels alive from breakfast through to dinner, shifting tone as the day progresses. Morning light floods the space, while evenings bring a soft, golden glow that gives the room a calm energy.
The terrace next to Koomo is one of the best spots in Adelaide for an elevated view. It’s a brilliant place to sit with a drink as the city lights begin to flicker below. Breakfast here feels relaxed despite how busy it gets, with a small but carefully chosen buffet and an a la carte menu that respects local produce. The coffee is excellent, which shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with Adelaide’s increasingly present cafe culture.
Amenities
Crowne Plaza Adelaide makes clever use of its vertical footprint. The rooftop pool is small but beautifully placed, with glass panels that open up the view over the city. It’s most striking in the late afternoon when the light softens and the skyline is golden.
At street level, a boutique retail store sells locally made goods and thoughtful travel accessories. It’s a small addition that gives the property a more distinctive personality than you might expect from a global brand.
There’s a small rooftop pool past the lobby bar, Luna, that gets plenty of light during the day. And through the door, a surprisingly large and well-stocked gym that goes far beyond what I’d usually expect from a hotel in this price range.
There are also flexible workspaces and meeting rooms in the sky lobby that double as informal lounges. They’re bright, open, and comfortable enough to make a few hours on your laptop feel far less like work. The best workspace, however, is out in the lounge area that extends from the sky lobby. There’s a bar to help the day move faster, and natural light is framed beautifully by all the bejewelled furniture.
Service
Service at Crowne Plaza Adelaide is fast, friendly, and efficient. My check-in doesn’t take more than a few minutes and staff are quick to offer suggestions about what to see at Adelaide Fringe (which is when I stayed most recently). They know the neighbourhood well, and their recommendations feel genuine. Whether it’s a wine bar on Ebenezer Place or a local café for brunch, they have good instincts for what guests will actually enjoy.
Requests are handled smoothly, and there’s a consistency in how the team operates that makes repeat stays feel familiar. Room service arrives quickly, and there’s a quiet professionalism across the board. It feels polished but never stiff.
Value
Crowne Plaza Adelaide sits in that sweet spot where quality and value meet. It doesn’t pretend to be a luxury property, but in many ways it performs like one. The design feels fresh, the amenities are smart, and the location is unbeatable for anyone wanting to explore the East End.
Adelaide has long been overlooked by the big international brands that gravitate to Sydney or Melbourne. That’s starting to change, and this hotel feels like part of that shift. It’s confident, well-run, and representative of what modern Adelaide hospitality can look like. For its price point, it’s one of the best choices in the city.
Rates start at around $184 a night, which is exceptional value considering how nice and modern the hotel is. If Crowne Plaza Adelaide was located in Sydney, I’d expect that figure to sit more around the $280 mark.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Crowne Plaza Adelaide by IHG
Address: 27 Frome St, Adelaide SA 5000
Contact: (08) 7077 2222
Rates: From around $184
The writer stayed as a guest of IHG.
