I recently spend three days in Adelaide, with those days spanning a weekend. When it came to choosing where to stay, I went back and forth for a bit before deciding to use my Accor+ Explorer Stay Plus night at the Pullman Adelaide. That little perk covered one of my nights, so I only ended up paying for two out of the three. Always a good thing when the cost of living is on the rise.
It turned out to be a great pick. The hotel sits in that sweet spot between polished business hotel and relaxed weekend escape. It’s smart without being stuffy, comfortable without trying too hard. And of course it’s a bonus when you’re checking in knowing one of the nights is complimentary.
Location
Pullman Adelaide sits on the corner of busy Hindmarsh Square in the north‑east CBD. North Terrace’s museums and galleries are just two blocks away. The Convention Centre or Adelaide Oval are a 15‑minute walk away.
Arrival and Lobby
When I first drove up to the front door, I was quickly met with a warm greeting. We had a quick discussion about parking options (see later) before heading into the hotel. On entering the hotel, there is a concierge desk on the left, together with the seating area of the lobby. Reception is on the left.
While they took care of my baggage, I headed into reception to complete the check-in formalities. This was a fairly quick process of checking the booking, showing some ID, and handing over my credit card.
The Pullman Adelaide features a vibrant lobby adorned with stylish, black-and-white houndstooth patterned chairs, together with burnt orange lounges.
Not that I lingered long – it was past the area and to the lifts to get to the room.
Rooms
There are six room types to choose from. The entry-level Superior Rooms are already pretty generous compared to what you’d usually get in a business hotel. If you move up from the Deluxe to the Premium Deluxe, you get the bonus of a balcony. The suites are where things really open up — the Junior Suite gives you 35sqm to play with, while the Deluxe Suite practically doubles that at 72sqm, complete with a separate lounge, a bedroom, and a wrap‑around balcony.
I had originally booked a superior room, but it appears I was upgraded to a Premium Deluxe room. Everything thing about the room was highly functional and comfortable. Great for the road warrior who is in and out in a flash. There was even a proper desk, which was good for working at. That said, while perfectly functional, it was a little bland. They weren’t rooms with any sort of character!
The bathroom follows suit; muted grey and dark floor tiles. Highly functional and spacious. Just a little lifeless.
The Premium Deluxe room has an outdoor balcony, featuring views over Hindmarsh Sqaure. That said, there was not really anything in the way of furniture. Maybe it was a safety thing.
Food and Drink
Parc Brasserie and Bar is the in-house restaurant (and bar) at The Pullman Adelaide. It is located on the ground floor and has views out onto Hindmarsh Square.
Restaurant
The menu features local produce while drawing on flavours from France, Italy and the Mediterranean.
It’s an easy choice if you want a good meal without leaving the hotel. It’s even better when you take into account to 30% off dining that comes with the Accor+ explorer card.
Bar
At PARC Bar, there was a good lineup of wine, whiskey, and gin. If you wanted, you could sip your way through flavours from local distilleries or explore drops from iconic spots in Scotland, France, and Japan.
If you’re more of a beer or cocktail person, there was a good mix of local brews, classic favourites, and refined aperitifs too, all designed to pair beautifully with the menu.
Breakfast
The hot breakfast at Pullman Adelaide, served at the hotels restaurant, PARC Brasserie & Bar. The Buffet breakfast is available on weekdays between 6:30 AM and 10:00 AM and on weekends between 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
I found the breakfast spread exceeded my expectations. While it may not have covered every possible option, I found there were plenty of options available.
Two positive things of note. Firstly, there was complimentary barista style coffee. Always a good thing at the start of the day. Freshly cooked eggs, including omelettes, were available to order. You did have to fill in an order form, and they could take a while to turn up (or maybe it just felt like a long time), but I enjoy a good omelette.
Other facilities
Executive Lounge
The Pullman Adelaide’s Executive Lounge is known as The Hindmarsh Club, and is found just behind the reception area. Just look for it near the entrance to the hotel.
In its location on the ground floor, so you won’t get sweeping views or anything dramatic. Actually, there are no views to speak of at all. It’s more of a cosy, intimate space than a grand showpiece. Still, I found it a pretty comfortable spot to hang out.
It’s open for most of the day, with complimentary refreshments and a quiet atmosphere that works well for relaxing or getting a bit of work done.
The main event is the evening canapé service, which runs from 5 to 7 PM. The wines were mostly a selection of local South Australian wines. One that surprised was that the sparkling wine was French in origin. While The Louis Perdrier was, to me, quite an acceptable drink, I am not sure why they didn’t go with a local quality sparkling wine. Or go to an actual champagne.
Finally, it’s worth noting that breakfast isn’t served in the lounge. Instead, guests with access (those staying in executive rooms or holding Accor Platinum status and above) are invited to have breakfast at PARC Brasserie.
Fitness Area
Pool
There’s a small 13.5‑metre indoor pool. While great for a slow, easy swim, it’s not ideal for serious lap training. You’ll also find a spa, sauna and steam room in the mix. The pool is open from 5:00 am through to midnight.
Gym
The ‘Fit Zone’ gym offers free weights, Technogym resistance machines and plenty of cardio gear. It is open 24 hours.
Bike Zone
The Pullman Adelaide is also one of 50 hotels across Australia to feature Peleton bikes. There are two of these available for use.
Laundry
While it’s not something I expect at a Pullman, the Pullman Adelaide offers 24-hour self-service laundry facilities on Level 2. Guests are able to access both washing machines and dryers while they are staying. Costs are $8.00 per wash and $7.00 per dry cycle, with washing powder included in the machine.
Parking
The hotel basically gives you two parking options. The first is valet parking, which runs at $60 a night. The other option is self‑parking for $35 a night. They’ve partnered with a nearby UPark (Rundle St), and that’s the one I went with. For the $35 you get 24‑hour access, which worked perfectly for what I needed.
There’s also some on‑street parking around if you’re lucky enough to snag a spot, and of course you can always choose one of the other car parks in the area.
ALL Accor (Accor Live Limitless) and Accor+ Explorer
As the Pullman Adelaide is part of the ALL Accor (Accor Live Limitless) program, guests are able to earn and redeem points in the program. I’m an ALL Accor Platinum member (through paid stays), and received an upgrade, two welcome drinks and access to the Hindmarsh lounge through that membership.
I am also a member Accor+ Explorer card. This builds on the ALL Accor membership by offering 2 nights for the price of 1 vouchers, discounted dining, and 30 bonus nights to help you on your way to Platinum. Taken together, these two memberships deliver some rewarding perks.
Final Words
In the end, my stay at the Pullman Adelaide exactly what I needed. That is, a comfortable base with just enough polish to feel like a treat. The location made it easy to get around, the staff were consistently warm and efficient, and the facilities, from the executive lounge to the pool and gym,covered all the essentials without fuss.
While the rooms lean more functional than character‑filled, they’re comfortable and well‑equipped, and the food and beverage offering was a genuine highlight, particularly with the Accor+ Explorer dining discount in play.
It’s the kind of hotel that doesn’t try to over-complicate things, and that’s part of its charm. A reliable, welcoming stay in the heart of the city.
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