You know you're doing something right when you're turning people away at the door. The Bannisters Pavilion Rooftop Bar and Grill is the place to be. It's a Saturday night, a week or so out from Christmas, everyone is in party mode and there's no better place to party. The suspended infinity pool glows blue, the warm night air flows through the open space, the crowd is a mix of young and old, locals and travellers alike. Perky staff deliver craft beers and cocktails, plates of tapas, substantial meals to share. There's a definite vibe. But capacity is capacity and some people will have to wait in the foyer if they want to get upstairs.
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We don't. As guests, we walk straight in, a sly acknowledging nod from the ever helpful front desk staff makes us feel like we're on some VIP list.
The summer temperatures might be on their way up but Mollymook is definitely a little cooler.
And that's just the edge Bannisters' owner Peter Cosgrove was probably looking for when he branched out and opened the Pavilion, just down the road from the more renowned Bannisters by The Sea up on the headland. If Bannisters by The Sea is luxury, then its little sister is luxe.
We arrive late Friday evening, the 2½ hour trip from Canberra quite manageable if you can sneak away from work by about five. Our room is open and modern, dark carpets, beech wood, a king-size bed, and armchair by the small balcony which overlooks the tall eucalypts at the back of the property. There are two penthouse suites available too, but for a weekend, our room is more than enough. We head up to the rooftop bar for a welcome drink and already feel miles away from home, and the hassles of home. Our weekend has only just started.
Children are welcome at the Pavilion but we've left ours at home. As tempting as it is to spend the weekend sleeping, we decide to get up early and hit the beach. It's an easy two-minute walk from the foyer and while the flags and lifesavers are at the far end of Mollymook Beach by the time you get there you feel as though you deserve a swim.
The afternoon is spent reading, watching the television, sleeping. All those things you never do on a Saturday afternoon at home. We head back to the beach for another swim.
We decide to catch the complimentary shuttle up to Bannisters by The Sea for a pre-dinner drink, to check out their Pool Bar we've heard so much about. If we had planned ahead we might have booked a table at Rick Stein's restaurant that's synonymous with the place. I interviewed him once, years ago, for a Food and Wine story and he was quite an agreeable chap. We talked fish and cricket and he laughed quite a lot from what I can remember.
But I'm not a name dropper so we find a seat with a view out over the infinity pool, and across further to the ocean. There's already a good crowd here too. And why wouldn't there be with that view.
But dinner beckons, so we ask when the next shuttle back will be and the car gets called especially for us. We're feeling more like VIPs but everyone gets this treatment. Just another personal touch from the Bannisters team.
So now, with a doorman monitoring who's getting in, we head straight up to the rooftop, order a selection of tapas share plates, soak up the vibe, mesmerised by the glowing pool. We're feeling very, well, cosmopolitan. A little later we're back in our room, where the noise from upstairs can't be heard, exhausted after a day of doing nothing.
By morning the rooftop bar converts to the breakfast area. A good buffet selection of cereals, glasses of yoghurt with accompanying fruits and muesli to layer on, bacon, eggs. There's coffee made to order too.
After an early morning swim and a late checkout we're on the road back to Canberra. We've had a proper weekend away. We would probably do Saturday/Sunday nights next time to give us two full days on the beach and we decide too to pack our golf clubs when we return. The Beachside course looks more than manageable for social players. And there's a view from every tee.
Bannisters Pavilion will find many markets. The hip young crowd on the weekends, retirees during the week (I suspect the place takes on a more relaxed vibe Monday to Friday), couples looking for a chic escape at any time. All can expect a stylish, yet personal experience.
Details
Bannisters Pavilion
87 Tallwood Avenue, Mollymook
02 4455 3044
Summer Beach Fun Package
January 10-March 3, 2016. Prices from $775.
Two nights in a standard pavilion suite or penthouse with breakfast included daily. Cocktail on arrival. Complimentary stand-up paddle board hire. $100 towards dining at Rick Stein at Bannisters restaurant. $50 towards dining at Rooftop. Valid Sunday-Thursday. Package prices start at $775 depending on room choice and dates.
There'll be a New Year's Eve event at the Rooftop Bar and Grill. Tickets are $40. Reserve via reception.
Karen Hardy stayed as a guest of Bannisters.
