In the heart of the red zone that was ravaged by the devastating earthquake of 2010, the sumptuous George was only closed for a month. Filled with lithographs created by local artist Ralph Holere and with just 53, airy rooms enveloped in soft grey and cream tones, the whole hotel has a sleepy, utterly sybaritic vibe where nothing is too much trouble and nothing ever gets too noisy. Views from the bedrooms look out over leafy Hagley Park and the conservatory on the ground floor is home to Darren Conole’s 50 Bistro serving up locally caught grouper and south island cultivated black truffle risotto.

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