Inside a Heritage Blue Mountain Hotel’s Fresh, Multimillion-Dollar Revamp

Hidden in the serene bushland of Katoomba, Lilianfels has long been an icon of Blue Mountains hospitality. Now, the hotel has been reborn after a luxe, multimillion-dollar transformation – one that’s big on character and whimsy, while retaining an atmosphere of old-world charm.

Inspired by its 19th-century origins and the grandeur of English country estates, the hotel’s transformation has been overseen by Salter Brothers Hospitality and has relaunched as part of its Ardour Hotels & Estates collection. Inside, high ceilings, heritage detailing, English and French antique furniture combine with unexpected fabrics and finishings for a curated, lived-in feel.

Design firm Luchetti Krelle revamped the estate’s 89 guest rooms and suites. Aiming to create interiors which feel personal rather than generic, it has introduced three distinctive colour palettes to the rooms, inspired by Victorian-era interiors and reinterpreted for modern tastes.

The first sees a classic blue-on-blue palette with walnut joinery softened by off-white and striped upholstery and textural details like an embroidered-style bedhead. Meanwhile, the second plays with shades of coral, eucalyptus and warm peach for a lively atmosphere reminiscent of the quality of light found in conservatories. The final palette combines muted greens, dusky blues and warm coral tones with touches of dark blue to ground the space.

Not everything has been revamped. The designers aimed for a sense of “layered history” by retaining key elements such as the original front desk, enhanced with an antique mirrored face, and the historically significant pendant lighting throughout the property. The original back bar, with its patina marked by years of use and countless interactions, has also been maintained. It serves as a reference point for new joinery and ensures a continuity through old and new elements that feel connected rather than imposed.

The dining destinations – Darley’s Restaurant and Miss Lilian – remain untouched, while The Lounge, a moody new bar at the heart of the estate, offers everything from pre-dinner cocktails to a proper three-course meal and a leisurely late-night whisky. Here, the hotel retained its original tables for a sense of continuity and history, while duck-egg-blue walls, custom floor lamps with scalloped shades, and a mix of antique and new waiter stations add a distinctive sense of character. Underfoot, a custom-designed carpet, featuring a tonal, abstract pattern, echoes the garden forms framed through the expansive windows.

The Lounge’s French-inflected all-day offering spans hotel classics, like a generous grilled caesar salad elevated by umami-rich cured egg yolk; a Wagyu beef cheeseburger with Roquefort sauce; and steak frites with chimichurri. A caviar service, local truffles shaved tableside and a roving cheese station bring a sense of theatre to the proceedings, while a daily high tea offering nods to the hotel’s refined heritage.

Located just 90 minutes’ drive from Sydney, Ardour Lilianfels Blue Mountains offers a gateway to explore the best the region has to offer. If you’re after views, a short walk to Echo Point offers a magnificent outlook over the Three Sisters. The Tallawalla lookout, with views over Leura Falls, is also in easy reach. Once you’ve explored Katoomba, the mountain towns of Leura and Blackheath beckon – or simply stay in and enjoy the relaxed, country estate atmosphere.

To mark the hotel’s relaunch, you can enjoy a complimentary glass of Taittinger champagne, $100 credit to spend on food, buffet breakfast for two and a midday late checkout for stays booked between June 23 and September 30, 2026. Time to start planning that mountain retreat.