The County Hotel

The County Hotel is a beauty of Napier, a private hotel, supposedly 5 star, which is well suited to the hopeless desires of romantics and old-world aficionados, whilst its charms may wear thin on those who want more practical amenities. Are you used to big plaza-style joints with scores of rooms ? This one here has a grand total of eighteen rooms in a compact stately building. Strengths include a beautiful ornate style which graces both the exterior and interior, undeniably affording it a plush deluxe feel, enhanced by gracious service. But there is only one restaurant which is only open for dinner ; I do not think there is room service for food, and the central city location means that lounging and relaxation areas are limited - there is a nice aristocratic foyer but forget things like pools or gardens. The place was constructed in 1909 and survived the 1931 Napier earthquake that devastated the region while also spelling the end for many beautifully designed buildings of the era. The County Hotel survived the apocalypse, and that's all the more reason to celebrate its well preserved heritage. But it's desperately in need of funds - it was put on sale a few years ago, and my room's bathroom, while presentable on the surface, reinforced that predicament with some issues that are simply not on par with a highly regarded luxury hotel. The 5 star label here is touted as a rare accomplishment for a hotel in North Island that lies outside the loci of Auckland and Wellington - the staff here do well to maintain that level but the amenities do not stack up. I paid NZD $ 320 per night at peak season, the amount deducted at the time of booking. The building may not be enormous but in a city carefully designed as the Art Deco Capital of the South Pacific, with so many handsome buildings, The County Hotel stands out with its quietly magnificent architecture and tasteful choice of colours. A phone call on reaching the hotel and a lady comes out, leading you in, with hospitable demeanour, a smile and an overall polished charm that really made me happy as I settled in. The same lady showed me my room and explained the arrangements. The AC was already on to cool the room as it was peak summer. The high-ceilinged spacious room's best asset is its quietly elegant design - if you want modernity, this was the never the place to start with. The bed, with its polished-wood headboard in a subtle Edwardian style, and a light blue satin blanket which neatly sheaths the expanse from end to end, may give one a decent night's sleep, while being in no danger of winning awards for the most comfortable bed. Furniture has a nice classical design, the red carpet continues inside, and the curtains are swagged. The bathroom's best asset, ironically, are its natty slatted wooden doors. Parting them you see an elegantly presented white tile bathroom but the material is unsuited to the hotel - marble or polished stone would have been a far more appropriate luxe choice. White

As part of a flight crew who travels the world often and stays in Marriott properties we all were not sure what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised though at this quaint, historic hotel. The rooms were nice and amenities were on par with most of the hotels we stay at. The service was great from Angela at the front desk, and the owner Chris had a fantastic recommendation of visiting the Mission Estate winery where we ate lunch and had a wonderful experience. I would most definitely recommend the County Hotel.

What a fab place. Close to everything. The owner Angie couldn't have been more accomodating. She is such a wonderful, cheerful, positive, engaging and delightful host. The cherry on top of our fabulous time at the Napier Art Deco Festival.

Excellent preservation of historic bank turned into hotel. Kept the charming Victorian elements in this Art Deco city. Excellent restaurant (Curchill) with very good wine list.

Staying at this historical gem was an absolute delight! Nestled in a fantastic location, the charm of this building resonates through every corner. The warm welcome and the helpful staff made the experience truly memorable. Their welcome pack was a thoughtful touch, adding to the feeling of being well taken care of. A stay here is like stepping into a welcoming piece of history, where every moment feels cherished.

We stayed at this Hotel recently and could not fault it. We arrived to a very warm welcome from Graeme who explained free parking in their own Hotel carpark and how to come and go with our private access card into the Hotel. Their Guest's privacy & security seem to be a feature of this Hotel. The room was spotless and amenties plentiful. The welcome gift box of wine, beer & snack treats is what clearly sets this Hotel apart and was such a surprise. We were so well looked after by Angela too who explained the bar & restaurant were still being renovated and she booked us a lovely wee Italian restaurant within walking distance from the Hotel. Old fashioned service here and it shows in how the team care for their guests. They may even have had someone super important staying when we were there! Housekeeping surprised us with what felt like full cleans every day we stayed. We can't wait to go back and will make sure we bring friends along to enjoy the library, atrium, port & chess board. Well done guys. You made our break away very enjoyable. Five stars from us.

This is a beautiful arto deco hotel in the centre of Napier but it is semi-mothballed which makes it a less attractive proposition. It would be nice to stay here if there was a lively lobby entrance not closed to the public and if the restaurant and wine bar were open but that is not the case now. The room we had was also quite small which is more common in modern hotels that like to maximise floor space.

A beautiful period building the oozes charm and opulence. Grand stairways or a period lift take you to your room floor, Art Deco art and photos lining the hallways and entrance ways, The rooms are classic and original, well appointed and rather large. This place is definitely the place to stay, understand the restaurant and bar are in renovation currently, but don't let that stop you, wonderful array of restaurants and bars so close by. I cant wait to return.

Superb experience, a truly beautiful old hotel. It is old so don’t expect huge rooms but instead enjoy the restored period features. We loved the library with port decanter and leather armchairs. Also the service was exemplary. We felt very welcome and looked after.