Ohtel

Hotel description

It can be argued that New Zealand’s hospitality world is a victim of its own success in one important sense — thanks to the popularity of the rugged country lodges, the more cosmopolitan urban hotels end up neglected. Of course the urban hoteliers are working to put things right, and with hotels like the Ohtel, in the capital city of Wellington, they’re making great strides.

This is a high-design boutique hotel in the most sophisticated international style, right down to the meticulously curated collection of mid-century modernist furnishings and the racy (and yet quite luxurious) glass-walled bathrooms, complete with two-person soaking tubs. The style is modern but there’s an obvious emphasis on traditional craftsmanship and well-chosen materials. High-quality beds, baths and furnishings strive for honest old-fashioned comfort, while the latest technologies keep you connected, and aim for an infinitely customizable experience.

With just ten rooms the Ohtel comes at a very manageable size, and it’s owner-operated, which, combined with that natural New Zealand friendliness, means there’s none of the attitude that usually accompanies a hotel that’s so stylish. An excellent start for Wellington, and a reminder that there’s more to life than just the lodges.