What is Lilianfels Blue Mountains?

Lilianfels Blue Mountains is a Selected hotel located in Blue Mountains, Australia. It has been recognized by the Michelin Guide for its exceptional hospitality and unique experience.

How many Michelin Keys does Lilianfels Blue Mountains have?

Lilianfels Blue Mountains has been awarded Selected by the Michelin Guide, indicating a very special stay.

Where is Lilianfels Blue Mountains located?

Lilianfels Blue Mountains is located in Blue Mountains, Australia, in the Oceania region.

What makes a Selected hotel special?

Selected hotels provide very special stays with excellent service and a unique sense of place.

How do I book Lilianfels Blue Mountains?

You can view more details and booking information for Lilianfels Blue Mountains through the Michelin Guide website. Each Michelin Keys hotel offers a unique booking experience tailored to their guests.

Lilianfels Blue Mountains | Selected in Blue Mountains

Name: Lilianfels Blue Mountains
Address: Blue Mountains, Oceania, Australia
Rating: 4.5

Key Highlights

✓Service & Hospitality**: The staff are consistently lauded as delightful, amazing, friendly, professional, and attentive, often going "beyond to help with anything".

Expert Review: Lilianfels Blue Mountains

Lilianfels Blue Mountains, a distinguished Michelin Key Selected property, offers a luxurious and elegant escape in the heart of Australia's iconic Blue Mountains. Guests consistently praise its heritage charm, exceptional service, and stunning location overlooking the Jamison Valley.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Lilianfels Blue Mountains is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as an "incredible haven of comfort and elegance". Its selection as a Michelin Key property signifies "a very special stay" where service often "goes the extra mile" and the hotel provides "much more than others in its price range". Review scores are generally high, reflecting a luxurious and memorable experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests particularly love Lilianfels for several key aspects:

Service & Hospitality: The staff are consistently lauded as delightful, amazing, friendly, professional, and attentive, often going "beyond to help with anything".
Location: The elevated position offers "sweeping views of the Jamison Valley" and convenient access to local landmarks like the Three Sisters and Echo Point. The meticulously maintained gardens further enhance the sense of a serene retreat.
Design & Ambiance: The resort elegantly combines Edwardian architecture with luxury charm, creating an "old-world charm" and "relaxed sophistication of a bygone era". Public spaces are described as beautiful and ideal for relaxation.
Amenities: Lilianfels boasts a comprehensive range of facilities, including a full-service spa, indoor and outdoor heated pools, a fitness center, tennis courts, a billiards room, and a library. The resort also offers multiple dining options, catering to various preferences.

3. Room Quality

The 85 rooms and suites at Lilianfels are described as boutique, spacious, and comfortable, featuring elegant décor "richly decorated with organza and silk" and "handcrafted wallpaper". Many rooms offer expansive king beds and "almost shocking views". Standard amenities include air conditioning, satellite TV/DVD players (though some note these as older systems), safes, premium bedding, and complimentary WiFi. Bathrooms are often spacious and marbled, equipped with a separate bath and shower, designer toiletries, and heated towel rails. Windows that open allow guests to enjoy the fresh mountain air.

4. Dining Experience

Lilianfels offers a diverse culinary experience:

Darley's Restaurant: This award-winning, hatted fine-dining restaurant is renowned for its modern Australian cuisine, emphasizing fresh, locally sourced produce and an extensive wine list. It provides a romantic setting with stained glass windows, ornate fireplaces, crystal chandeliers, and garden views. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday evenings.
The Orangery Restaurant: Serves daily buffet breakfast, which guests generally find delicious, though some wish for more variety in the continental options. Coffee service can sometimes be slow.
The Lounge: A popular spot for casual dining, light meals, snacks, sweets, and drinks. The high tea service here is particularly highly rated.
Miss Lilian: Offers a journey through Southeast Asian flavors in a vibrant, whimsical setting.
Echoes Rooftop Restaurant and Bar: Another fine-dining option that provides superb food with "incredible views", especially at sunset.

5. Service & Staff

The hospitality at Lilianfels is a consistent highlight. Guests frequently commend the staff for being "amazing," "delightful," "friendly," "professional," and "approachable". Many remark on their attentiveness and willingness to "go out of their way to anticipate one's needs" and assist with anything.

6. Location & Accessibility

The resort enjoys an "unbeatable location" perched on the edge of the magnificent Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. It's just a short stroll from the iconic Three Sisters rock formation and Echo Point, providing easy access to scenic trails. Lilianfels is approximately a 90-minute drive from Sydney CBD or a 2-hour train ride from Sydney Central Station, followed by a 5-minute car ride to the hotel. Complimentary on-site self-parking and valet parking are available.

7. Value & Pricing

As a Michelin Key Selected property, Lilianfels is recognized for offering "a very special stay" and providing "much more than others in its price range". Room rates can start from around AUD 222, with an average nightly rate for a 5-star hotel in Katoomba typically around AUD 618-653. Buffet breakfast is an additional charge, costing approximately AUD 39 for adults and AUD 19 for children.

8. Common Complaints

While generally highly rated, some guests have noted a few recurring issues:

Maintenance & Refurbishment: Some common areas and pool furniture have been described as appearing worn or neglected, suggesting that certain facilities could benefit from an upgrade. The property has acknowledged this, stating they are undergoing a refurbishment program to upgrade guest room amenities.
In-Room Entertainment: The presence of DVD players and a lack of streaming services in rooms are sometimes mentioned as being outdated for a 5-star facility.
Dining Service: While food quality is high, there have been instances of limited breakfast options or slow coffee service in the Orangery Restaurant. Delays in food and beverage service in The Lounge due to staff absences have also been reported, though management is addressing these.
Spa Organization: Some guests experienced disorganization when booking spa treatments.
Room Views: A few "deluxe view" rooms have been reported to have partially obstructed views.
Parking: On-site parking has been described as sometimes inadequate.
Reading Room: The Reading Room's ambiance, with overly bright, cold lighting and uncomfortable seating, has been singled out as an area needing improvement.