If the close proximity to the city’s thriving food markets doesn’t convince you to book your stay at Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets immediately, its own rooftop raw food bar, restaurant and sweeping city views just might. Having flung open its doors on 1 March 2021, the IHG Hotel & Resorts’ boutique stay has bestowed the city two tantalising new eateries that showcase the state’s regional produce (and its renowned drinks offerings, of course).

Representing its locality’s industrial past, while making a striking architectural splash in the City of Churches, Australia’s first Hotel Indigo boutique stay is filled with local artists’ works and pays homage to its surrounding city. Built on the site of a former textile factory, the hotel exhibits a harmonious mingling of heritage-listed architecture and contemporary design. Brick archways mirror the neighbouring Adelaide Central Market, murals colour the walls and Adelaide Festival-inspired poster art embellishes rooms.

Those checking in can expect to discover a 145-room stay – with rooms that exude signature Adelaide charm, featuring vibrantly coloured décor that offers a gentle nod to modernism and Adelaidean proclivities and sophisticated furnishings (think velvet-swathed furniture teamed with light, wooden accents). Large light-creating windows frame views of the city below, while enclosed balconies in 18 suites offer a perfect vantage point from which to watch the bustle of marketgoers.

As the name of the hotel suggests, vacationers and staycationers are well-placed for meanders through the city’s iconic Adelaide Central Markets. Here, travellers and locals alike sip their morning coffees, grab freshly baked loaves and irresistible cheeses, source fresh produce and take-home preserves and other gourmet souvenirs. And, when your pillow is just a short stroll from the markets, you can beat the eager morning crowds and take your pick of the best pastries on offer. If you’re planning to linger a while, you’re also within reach of some of the state’s finest eateries and bars, only a short wander away.

Inside, a ground-floor restaurant named Market & Meander Eatery and Bar, fitted out in swoon-prompting style, showcases South Australia’s revered produce on the plate. And, in a state that’s perhaps best known for its liquid exports, local wine, spirits and beers will appease weary travellers at the bar. Expect flavoursome fare and a tempting selection of wines – including a bespoke beer created especially by Goodieson Brewery in McLaren Vale.

In a destination often labelled ‘The Festival State’, there’s plenty to celebrate. And, when the city is just a short skip from world-famous growing regions – think the Barossa Valley – you can only assume such provenance will be put to delicious use in the kitchen. Market & Meander serves as an all-day dining spot, with signature dishes featuring slow-cooked, smoked brisket and free-range chicken prepared on a parrilla grill. The venue will be run by Italian chef Gabriele Pizzimenti who cut his teeth at three Michelin-starred restaurant Da Vittoria in his hometown of Bergamo.

You might not be able to guess by looking at it, but the restaurant’s pink colour scheme has been inspired by Don Dunstan – the long-standing South Australian premier who was known for wearing flamingo-pink shorts (and when we say ‘shorts’, we mean it). In the dining space, guests will make use of hand-made crockery and glassware from local maker Caslake and Pedler Glass, alongside knives forged from recycled materials by Dog Boy Knives.

At the top of Hotel Indigo Adelaide Market is Merrymaker, the city’s highest rooftop bar. Offering more than captivating views of the CBD and the Adelaide Hills, the 16th-floor bar will serve up fresh vibes and food – including Coffin Bay organic oysters, cured meats from the markets below, local cheeses and a selection of more than 25 gins. Naturally, South Australian wines and craft beers will be proudly poured at the design-savvy bar with its retro-futurist flair.

Not only has the boutique stay centred its attention on local producers, makers and artists, but its fit-out honours its locality too. Patterns used throughout the building reflect a tessellated tiling pattern found in many Adelaide homes, the state’s copper mining heritage echoes in its room fixtures and colourings, and eco-friendly bathroom amenities have been chosen in keeping with the hotel’s environmentally minded ethos. The hotel also presents 25 suites with minibars that proffer locally sourced items – from a premade Wattleseed Negroni from Lot 100 in nearby Adelaide Hills, to Floral as Hell Gin by Blend Etiquette and a Inch Licorice Block by Adelaide’s beloved Melba’s Chocolates.

For those who fancy a spot of exercise while eating their way around Adelaide (or just eating your way around the hotel, if you’re not inclined to leave), a 24-hour fitness centre is on site, as is an inviting outdoor infinity pool – whether you use it for people watching, poolside lazing or vigorous laps (no judgement).

To learn more, visit hotelindigo.com/storiesforthecurious and to book a stay, contact reservations.indigoadelaide@ihg.com.