The Grand Hotel

Wandering down Akaroa’s Rue Lavaud, it’s hard not to stop outside the Grand Hotel and take in its historic charm. With a storied history and many custodians over the years, one thing has remained constant: the hotel welcomes guests with open arms, whether that’s staying a night in the accommodation quarters or enjoying good food and drinks in the restaurant.

The site the Grand Hotel occupies first saw a hotel built back in 1860 by Christian Waeckerle. In the more than 165 years since, different buildings and iterations of hotels have stood in its place. The Grand Hotel officially came into existence as we know it today in 1918, and around 100 years later, it was bought by the current owner, bassist of rock band Zed, Ben Campbell.

Passionate about growing the hospitality industry in his home of Akaroa, Ben is also the owner of Ma Maison and co-owner of Mandala restaurants, both in town. His vision for The Grand is to be a “place of recharging and rebalancing”, and he loves that it is so entrenched in the history of this seaside village. It’s no surprise, given his extensive musical past, that hosting musicians and concerts is important to Ben, so you can be guaranteed there’s always some kind of performance waiting in the wings.

From the outside, The Grand Hotel oozes character; from its elegant balconies, classic proportions and an architectural connection to the town’s French colonial roots. Walk inside, and The Grand’s welcoming bar and dining spaces will have you wanting to linger a few hours. The food menu offers up a range of burgers, tacos, loaded fries, healthy bowls and salad, and house classics like good ol’ fish and chips. It’s the kind of food you feel like after spending a morning or afternoon exploring Akaroa, and The Grand is just the place to refuel. Plus, it’s perfect for the whole family, kids and dogs included! If you’re after a longer stay, the rooms upstairs provide Queen, King and Family Rooms, so you can make even more out of your time in Akaroa and at The Grand Hotel.

Blending legacy and history with modern menus and accommodation offerings, Ben Campbell and his team are ensuring that the next chapters in The Grand Hotel’s story are some of its best yet.