Glamour den's nod to its city

Once a publishing house, then a radio station, 108 Currie Street in Adelaide is now the site of the gleaming 32-storey Sofitel mixed-use tower. The first 24 floors belong to the 251-room hotel, followed by luxury residences on the top levels. Adelaide designer Carl Almeida is behind the hotel's stylish interiors that take a cue from the three things the city is best known for: churches, culture and - of course - wine.

Smack-bang in the middle of the CBD, the hotel is a short walk from some of the city's top attractions - from endless shopping options on Rundle Mall to the exquisite food and drinks haven of Adelaide Central Market.

You can't miss the striking-red installation - made of 10,000 pieces of glass - that snakes along the ceiling of the three-storey-high lobby. It's a glamorous ode to the "rivers of glorious red wines" - according to general manager Rachel Harman - South Australia is known to produce. And it pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the hotel, which features contemporary flourishes at every turn. Grand chandeliers hang above the pool on the hotel's seventh floor, while dramatic artworks offset soft blue velvet couches in the Garcon Bleu restaurant.

At 30 square metres, even the smallest rooms - complete with floor-to-ceiling windows - are quite comfortable. But if the budget allows, book a Luxury Room, which features a giant bathtub in an open-plan ensuite with sliding doors. Or better still, nab a Luxury Club Room, which gives guests access to the hotel's club lounge with complimentary breakfast first thing in the morning, and free drinks and canapes in the evening. Irrespective of which room you go for, creature comforts - king-sized beds, espresso machines, walk-in showers and pillow menus - will never leave your side.

Go for the drinks at the hotel's Deja Vu Champagne Bar, stay for chef Gianni Delogu's (ex Vue de Monde, Melbourne) downright delicious French fare at the Garcon Bleu restaurant. Delicacies range from plump souffles with lashings of bechamel sauce to buttery scallops laced with olive tapenade. In Delogu's adept hand, however, even humble ingredients shine. A case in point? A salad of endive leaves, which reaches rare heights when tossed with Roquefort cheese, candied walnuts and a lip-smacking dijon dressing.

Ask the concierge to organise a private chauffeur-driven tour of the Adelaide Hills wine region, about 30 minutes' drive east of the hotel. And while you're there, don't forget to drop in at Sidewood Estate in Hahndorf for a taste of some of their most delectable wines, including the 2019 Signature Old China Hand Syrah. Want to burn off some of those cals when back at the hotel? Sign up for the Adelaide Oval Roof Climb experience for stunning views.

Gorgeous photography capturing different facets of South Australia - from white-sand beaches of the Fleurieu Peninsula to the lush wineries of the Barossa - adorn the walls throughout the hotel. Particularly captivating is the series of images by David Miller in the hotel's wellness area.

Akash Arora was a guest of Sofitel Adelaide.