Oh, Lordy, this location.
I’m checking into the new Pepper’s Manly Beach (it just opened its doors at the end of August), and it’s hard for me to pay attention to Riley, the very nice gentleman trying to get me sorted. The fact is, right behind me, the waves are crashing like bumper cars and the Norfolk Pines are swaying and it’s all a bit extraordinary. Wafts of ocean-tinged air drift in each time the door opens, and the location at the south end of a busy street, but smack on the water, couldn’t be better. I can’t wait to see my room.
In the spot that was previously known as the North Tower of the Sebel Sydney Manly, guests will be impressed by the gob-smacking views, spacious interiors and friendly upscale service. The amenities (not one, but TWO swimming pools, secure underground parking and walkability to cafes and boutique shops) only add to the best amenity of all – that blue Sydney seafront lying right outside the front doors. It’s also only an 8-minute walk from the Manly Wharf ferry terminal, pretty handy. There are just 42 studios, apartments or suites here.
I head up the lift to 505 after receiving my poker-chip wooden key from Riley. “That’s a nice room; you’ll love that,” he tells me. And do I. It’s large, like proper apartment-sized large, with a kitchen, lounge room and three balconies. It’s flooded with light, the sun making its way inside and brightening the interiors (and my mood) simultaneously. Calming shades of greige make for a soothing vibe, exactly what you want at the beach, and the cushy soft furnishings suggest a quick kip before venturing out to the sand.
More like a home away from home than a ‘hotel room’ per se, Peppers Manly is part of the Accor Vacation Club, where members can transfer their points to dollars in order to stay at premium locations. Anyone can book here, though, and you’d be remiss not to have a look at staying here if you want something a bit special to take you away from the grind.
Peppers Manly 8 S Steyne, Manly NSW (02) 9977 8866
Ivy was a guest of ACCOR, but all opinions remain her own.
