Hotel Ernest Bendigo

Our very comfortable room had a balcony from which we took in the view of the lovely Rosalind Park in the centre of town, while sipping our 1980 Grange and reflecting on the Paris exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery next door. Yes, all very civilised though the disintegration of the cork necessitated the purchase and employment of a $2 tea strainer to separate the liquid from the floating debris.

We stayed 2 nights at this hotel as part of a family celebration. The hotel is centrally situated in Bendigo and close to the Art Gallery which we were keen to explore . The gallery is very well appointed and current exhibitions did not disappoint. Our suite (#9 of ten suites) was very comfortable in all respects, decorated with interesting works of art. While on the main street, double glazed windows maintained a quiet environment. We enjoyed off street parking, quite useful in a busy place like Bendigo. Unfortunately, the hotel has no kitchen functioning at present however there are plenty of breakfast and dining options nearby. We understand a kitchen installation is on the drawing board. The owner and staff were extremely helpful and we were thoroughly satisfied with our stay.

Ernest Hotel is situated right in the centre of Bendigo so it's a great location and there's free car parking available for guests which is good. The welcome we received was excellent and the quality of the rooms is very high. However, it's not really an hotel. There's no bar, no restaurant and if you want breakfast you have to order it 24 hours in advance which they don't warn you about in the welcome emails. I got the impression they don't actually want to provide breakfast. Given its location it's easy to find somewhere for dinner and breakfast nearby (Alium across the road was a very good dinner venue) but Ernest is really only somewhere to sleep. A very good place to sleep but not an hotel.

This hotel is seriously stunning. There is not much more you could ask for in a room when travelling as a couple. The bed is big, comfy and made with beautiful linen bedding. There was plenty of space to put our bags and items of clothing. The entire building smells incredible as soon as you walk in. The staff upon check in and check out were so lovely, we had a tour of the old bank vault and it didn’t feel like a transaction, more of a “welcome, we’re so glad you’re here”. The chilled water in the fridge was especially nice after getting back from a wedding. This will be the first place I look for availability if I need to stay in the area again.

In Bendigo for an engagement party and thought we’d try somewhere new and boy oh boy are we glad we did. Opulent but not pretentious, luxurious but homely, private but welcoming - everything you look for in a top tier stay. Being country folk we wondered if we might find being in the heart of town noisy but no! These old bank walls and windows block everything out - just an occasional tram bell and chimes from the nearby clock tower - nostalgic and charming!! Worth noting this was on a night when the Glow Festival ran until 11pm so close we could see it from our windows. If you’re considering booking just lock it in now - you can thank me later. If you own or run accomodation come and meet David & Martin and discover how bespoke accomodation SHOULD be done. Definitely an 11/10 - with 2 extra points for Fletcher the Goodest of Good dogs! That’s a 13/10 rating from us. We’re already planning our next trip!

Wow. What a fabulous hotel. There is so much to say about this hotel. We were greeted by David (one half of this amazing duo/owners) who proudly showed us around this tasteful and quality driven hotel. Original artworks don the walls proudly depicting life, struggles and inspiration. Then we met Martin, the other hand of this amazing duo. These guys are personable, talented and sophisticated. The decor in the rooms is perfect. Everything is carefully selected to create an amazing space as well as impact on our environment. Towels, crockery, bedlinen, (all matching), real plants, original artworks, funky furniture, lighting. The beds are so comfortable (it was hard to leave them). We had the corner room (10) which was huge and overlooked the park. An added bonus was the corner spa, real flame gas fire and dining table and chairs. This style of hotel has brought accommodation into the modern world. Will definitely be back. Thanks David, Martin and your amazing team.

Fabulous! Sophisticated and Stylish! Welcoming, Warm and Wonderful! Chic, Calming, Cool and Classy! So many superlatives to describe both the hosts and the hotel. You are made welcome from the moment you enter - by the four legged and two legged hosts. David and Martin are so welcoming it’s a pleasure to meet them. The hotel is in the best location - walking distance from all the places you need. The art works, perfumed atmosphere and finishing touches stand out. I can’t wait to visit again. I’m also looking forward to meeting Vera when she comes along in Ballarat to see if she is as winning as Ernest.

Such a beautiful restoration of a wonderful old building. A perfect location in View st with proximity to restaurants and the Bendigo art gallery Rooms are spacious with lots of extra touches. Loved the artwork on every level, and the plants and greenery. Also loved that dog… Would love to return

We loved our stay. From the very warm welcome by Ella who gave us a history lesson of the building which was very informative to our very spacious room. We stayed in suite 6, which had a cute balcony, great kitchenette and a large bathroom. Double glazed windows resulted in the best sleep, no noise, comfortable bed and lovely linen. The Wine Bank is across the road, Bendigo gallery is a two minute walk, perfect location and great parking behind the hotel. Can’t wait to see the restaurant completed.