We’re loving everything this Highlands beauty has to offer
Links House in Bowral has been a part of the Highlands for nearly 100 years!
Fun Fact: It was actually the first ever Aussie hotel with ensuite bathrooms- cool.
Originally built as a getaway for the golfers there’s so much more to this historical beauty and its recent glow-up has made it an awesome spot for locals and visitors to hang out, dine, chill, and soak in the Highlands vibe.
If it’s been a hot minute since your last visit to Links House, now’s the time and here’s why:
1:: The gorgeous refurb
The renovations for this beauty wrapped up in August this year. They collaborated with a local designer named Lisa Madigan, who beautifully incorporated the building’s rich history and stunning architectural features. She tweaked, edited and added in those classic touches while making sure the garden and golf course views were front and centre.
They’ve really put some effort into all the rooms and common areas. There’s been painting, and tiling, and the original floorboards are back out and looking fab.
Walking through the building was a delight, giving us all the cosy and at-home vibes with those charming details that make this an ideal place to spend a lovely afternoon/morning/night/whenever.
2:: The deliciousness of Ethos restaurant
Don’t worry folks, the incredible head chef Jason Hughes is still working his magic in the restaurant. Alongside the refurb, the restaurant had a little nip and tuck but the menu is still bursting with all those amazing flavours.
Open for lunch on Thursday and Friday with their a la carte service and on Sundays for their set menu, this is a dream spot for those lazy lunch vibes we all adore.
Dinner is from Tuesday to Saturday with the 2 or 3-course menu [go the 3 courses, you know you wanna].
It’s a seasonal menu meaning the produce is fresh and fabulous- think dishes like Japanese scallops with green tea noodles, dashi and local lion’s mane mushroom, as well as eye fillet with Paris mash, shitake mushroom, warrigal greens and jus. Oh, and for pud, how exciting does Lavender panna cotta with caramelised pineapple and muscat granita sound?
We adore how this menu changes with the seasons. It’s not just about freshness; there’s always something new to try, which keeps us coming back again and again… and again… and, well, you get the idea. This restaurant is seriously becoming a regular stop on our dining circuit in the Highlands.
3:: A good spot for a cuppa
Great new, this space is open for us all to enjoy, not just hotel guests. So, grab yourself a takeaway hot bevvy here and you won’t be disappointed. On a cold day you can curl up in one of their cosy spaces and defrost as you’re passing through and on those gorgeous sunny days take a sit out in the garden overlooking the golf course.
We loved watching the golfers tee off before checking out the stunning garden itself. The heirloom roses in the courtyard smelt divine and we’re always suckers for a spot of lavender. If you’re near the fishpond keep an eye out for the koi swimming around, they’re actually named after the staff who work there- cute!
Strolling up here for our morning pick-me-up is a wonderful way to kickstart any day.
4:: And a good spot for a cocktail [or two]
We can’t wait to stop at the Leslie Lounge for our next pre-dinner cocky or glass of red. It’s a new spot for locals to taste test their way through the cocktail menu.
We’re obviously in love with the vibe of the place but are also crushing on their new cocktail menu. We’ll start with the Links Garden cocktail please. It’s a mix of Hendriks gin, sparkling apple cider, cucumber and lime ….um bliss!
For all you wine lovers, they’ve also got a well-curated wine list with both local and international drops. Exactly what we like to hear.
During those warm evenings, you’ll definitely catch us sipping away in that gorgeous garden, and on cooler nights, you can bet we’ll be cosied up indoors with something rich and red.
5:: The place to celebrate
We think this is a fantastic spot for most days of the week but also a wonderful choice for your next celebration or event. There’s a private dining room for get-togethers like birthdays, christenings, engagements and any other reason to push the boat out.
And if you’re tying the knot soon, it’s also a popular and pretty wedding venue. Whether it’s an intimate do or an all-in knees-up hoorah, they can cater to your needs. We’ve even heard of couples booking the whole hotel out so that there’s room for a gang of out-of-town relos and friends.
For those big bosses among us, it’s also a favourite spot for conferences with convenient conference facilities. And of course, with Bowral Golf Course just across the road, it’s perfect for letting off some steam after a day of intense brainpower and even for some team bonding moments.
Okay, if it wasn’t obvious before how much we’re digging all the good stuff going on at Links House in Bowral then it definitely is now.
We cannot wait to get our lips around some delish eats and tasty drinkies whilst we soak in the lovely new look of the place.
When you plan your next visit [which we’re sure will be soon] give them a call to book your table as this place gets POP.U.LAR, especially on the weekends and we don’t want you to miss out.
See you there Highlanders!
***
This article features friends and advertisers of The Fold Media.
We strongly believe in the businesses and information we share with you on The Fold and we fully endorse the content we create and share.
We’re excited to share the amazing stories and adventures of our local businesses, and it is our sincere hope is that it helps create more awareness for these local businesses, helps keep them top of mind when locals and visitors next need their products or service, and most of all, contributes to creating a strong and thriving local community and economy.
We are so grateful to the local businesses who choose to work with The Fold Media. Without their belief and support in what we do, we wouldn’t be able to keep doing what it is that we love to do. Which is to create and share information about people, places and businesses in our wonderful region. We want to help everyone #LoveLivingLocal and make the most of this wonderful place we are lucky enough to call home.
And to you, our readers? We want to say a big THANK YOU to you. Firstly for taking the time to read this article, but also for supporting local businesses in general, as well as our sponsors who help make The Fold Media possible.
Together, let’s continue to support our local business community, in turn supporting their team, and our wonderful community overall. So let’s all choose local, whenever we possibly can.