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Summary of reviewsBriars Country Lodge, set between the charming towns of Bowral and Moss Vale, offers a serene and picturesque countryside retreat. The lodge’s prime location allows guests to easily explore the Southern Highlands’ various towns, villages and wineries, while providing a restful escape with beautiful views of the well-maintained grounds, a tranquil pond and the surrounding countryside. The historic Briars Pub and an excellent on-site restaurant enhance the accessibility and attraction of the lodge with first-class dining options and cozy spots to enjoy a drink by the open fire.
Guests often praise the spacious and comfortable accommodations, highlighting the modern amenities, cleanliness and welcoming atmosphere. The rooms are large, well-equipped and ideal for families and groups with many featuring beautiful views of the lake and countryside. The friendly and professional staff, including standout individuals like Gabby, Flora and Rosie, contribute significantly to the positive experience, ensuring a smooth and welcoming stay for visitors.
Dining at the lodge, whether at the on-site restaurant or the adjacent Briars Inn, is frequently noted as a highlight. Guests appreciate the excellent meals, modern bistro choices and the cozy, country charm with open fireplaces. The dinner experience is enhanced by the quality of service and the delightful ambiance of both dining spots.
While breakfast reviews are mixed, many guests enjoyed the variety and quality, particularly noting the buffet’s simplicity and taste. Some appreciated the environmental mindfulness in reducing packaging.
Despite some inconsistencies in the Wi-Fi quality and occasional concerns with the parking setup and bed comfort, the overall experience at Briars Country Lodge remains positive. The lodge’s blend of boutique charm, tranquility and excellent service makes it an attractive destination for a romantic getaway, family stay or social gatherings amidst the scenic Southern Highlands. Show more
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Lodge with Parking
Parking facilities are provided on site at this lodge for the convenience of its guests.
Accessible Lodge
Briars Country Lodge Resort & Historic Inn is listed as having accommodation with disabled access.
4-Star Lodge
Briars Country Lodge provides a quiet and relaxing experience, set away from the town center. It features spacious rooms and a stunning garden area, making it a comfortable and well-equipped choice.
Boutique-style Lodge
Lodge for Honeymoon
Romantic Lodge
Cheap Lodge
Lodge with Tennis Courts
Room Types
King RoomThis air-conditioned room features lake views. It offers a mini bar and a satellite TV.
This room can be made into Twin Bedding configuration for $20 per stay. Please advise the property beforehand if you require Twin Beds.
King Room with Roll-In Shower - Disability AccessLocated on the ground floor this room offers beautiful views of the lake. It offers a satellite TV, tea and coffee making facilities and a roll-in shower. Free parking is available at the front door.
Deluxe King SuiteThis air-conditioned suite features a patio. It offers a minibar, satellite TV, sofa and double shower.
Standard Three-Bedroom ApartmentLocated on the 1st floor, this 3-bedroom apartment features a balcony, a fully equipped kitchen, satellite TV, a minibar, air-conditioning, heating, ceiling fans and a bathroom.
Please note that this apartment is accessible via stairs only.
Guest Reviews
8.3
Very Good
Location
Nestled in a picturesque setting between the charming towns of Bowral and Moss Vale, Briars Country Lodge offers a serene country atmosphere that guests find both quaint and spectacular. Its prime location makes it an exceptional base for daytime activities with various towns and villages just a short drive away. The lodge is conveniently close to the historic Briars Pub and an excellent on-site restaurant, which provides guests with first-class dining options and a pleasant spot for pre- and post-dinner drinks by a cozy open fire.
Visitors rave about the beautiful scenery with the property featuring lovely views over a tranquil pond and well-maintained grounds that are perfect for a peaceful stroll. The serene and quiet location ensures a restful stay, away from the hustle and bustle of city life but still easily accessible to nearby shops and essentials. The outlook from the rooms is particularly appreciated with many offering picturesque views of the lake, lawns and surrounding countryside.
Briars Country Lodge is perfectly positioned for exploring the Southern Highlands, providing a convenient and comfortable retreat with a fantastic rural ambiance. Whether enjoying a cozy room with a view or venturing out to the nearby wineries and attractions, guests consistently praise this location for its beauty, tranquility and excellent proximity to local highlights.
Breakfast
Guests at Briars Country Lodge have varying opinions on the breakfast offerings with a notable split between positive praise and some dissatisfaction. A significant number of reviews highlight a good variety of breakfast options, describing it as excellent, delicious and substantial. Many appreciated the breakfast buffet, noting it to be simple yet tasty and the experience of dining in the Conservatory received particular acclaim. Several guests commented on the value for money for the breakfast provided with some highlighting how enjoyable and well-cooked it was.
However, not all reviews were glowing. Complaints included the breakfast finishing too early for some guests and others expressed disappointment with the value and service. The absence of a cooked breakfast and quality coffee was a sore point for some with multiple mentions of the coffee being subpar or not available at all. The lack of provisions for a hot breakfast led some guests to seek alternatives outside the hotel.
Despite these criticisms, there were commendations for the environmental mindfulness, such as the reduction of packaging. Overall, while the breakfast experience at Briars Country Lodge has been mixed, the positive aspects show that many guests still found it satisfactory and enjoyable.
Dinner
Briars Country Lodge offers a delightful dining experience with its onsite and nearby restaurant options. The dinner at the hotel's restaurant consistently wins high praise for its exceptional and beautiful food, boasting excellent meals, a great menu and modern bistro choices. The atmosphere contributes significantly to the dining experience with guests enjoying the country charm, open fireplaces and lovely surroundings.
One of the standout features is the convenience of Briars Inn, just a short walk away, which provides fantastic food and beverages in a charming, old pub setting complete with fires and a great menu. The fact that there's a pub on the premises or very close by is often noted as a significant bonus, enhancing the overall appeal of the stay.
Though a few reviews mentioned that the dinner prices were high and the service could be improved, the general consensus is overwhelmingly positive. The staff and service at the bar and restaurant are frequently complimented, adding to the appeal of dining at Briars Country Lodge. Overall, the combination of excellent food, welcoming service and a cozy atmosphere makes dining here a memorable part of the stay.
Rooms
Briars Country Lodge offers guests spacious and comfortable accommodations with beautiful views, particularly of the lake which adds a touch of tranquility to the experience. The rooms are noted for being large, well-equipped and featuring modern amenities, making them ideal for both families and groups. Many rooms have attractive layouts, such as split-level designs, separate lounge areas and terraces that enhance the overall comfort and usability. Cleanliness and well-maintained interiors are consistently praised, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere.
Guests frequently highlight the pleasant decor and the ample space available with suites that often come with thoughtful facilities including walk-in showers, fireplaces and large televisions. The lodge maintains a warm and cozy feel, ensuring a comfortable stay for visitors. However, a few reviews pointed out that some rooms look a bit dated and could benefit from upgrades or a thorough spring clean. Despite these minor drawbacks, the quality of the rooms largely meets or exceeds expectations, offering all the essentials for a serene country retreat.
Beds
Briars Country Lodge is a charming destination that offers a mixed experience when it comes to bedding. Guests frequently mention that the beds are comfortable with several highlighting the king-size and queen-size beds as particularly enjoyable. The majority found the beds to be a significant positive aspect of their stay with many describing them as very comfortable, cosy and even something to look forward to.
However, not all reviews were glowing. Some guests noticed that certain beds were uncomfortable, sagging or too close to the walls. A few pointed out issues like lumpy mattresses and outdated bed linens, which detracted from their overall comfort. Cleanliness also emerged as a concern for some, particularly regarding the bedspread and linens. Instances of musty or stained bedding indicate that housekeeping could be more meticulous.
Nonetheless, positive remarks about additional bedding options and the freshness of clean linens say that, despite some inconsistencies, Briars Country Lodge generally provides a pleasant sleeping experience. The comfort of the beds, combined with attentive customer service, ensures that most guests can look forward to a restful night's sleep amid the lodge's serene environment.
Cleanliness
Briars Country Lodge often garners recognition for its good, clean and value-for-money accommodation with many guests praising the cleanliness of the rooms and bathrooms. Descriptions such as spotless, very clean and clean and comfortable frequently appear in reviews, highlighting a consistent standard of cleanliness across various areas. The kitchen and bathrooms, in particular, are noted for their pristine condition with statements like spotlessly clean and bathroom was spotless appearing multiple times.
However, while many guests found their rooms and common areas to be clean, there were some concerns raised about specific aspects. The guest laundry was repeatedly mentioned as needing a good clean and some reviews pointed out issues like dusty balconies, dirty windows and housekeeping lapses, such as dirty linen and leftover cleaning materials. Various comments also highlighted the presence of cobwebs, dust build-up and the need for better vacuuming or steam cleaning of carpets.
Despite these concerns, the overall impression remains positive with many guests enjoying the clean and spacious rooms, the pleasant and well-maintained grounds and the excellent value for money offered by the lodge. The general trend suggests that, while there are areas for improvement, particularly in certain specific cleaning tasks, the Briars Country Lodge provides a generally clean and comfortable stay for its visitors.
Staff
At Briars Country Lodge, the service stands out as a significant highlight according to guests. The staff are frequently described as friendly, welcoming and accommodating. Reception staff, in particular, receive high praise for their professionalism, efficiency and helpfulness, ensuring a smooth and quick check-in and check-out process. Many visitors appreciate the warm and cheerful greetings that set a positive tone for their stay.
Bar and restaurant staff also contribute to the lodge's high service standards, being noted for their brilliance and welcoming demeanor. Guests often mention specific staff members, such as Gabby, Flora and Rosie, who go out of their way to make stays special and memorable. This family-run establishment is lauded for its great atmosphere with staff adding an extra special touch to both the service and the overall experience.
Although there are occasional mentions of less helpful interactions, these instances are significantly outnumbered by the positive comments. The overall impression is that the staff at Briars Country Lodge are a major asset, making the lodge a place where hospitality and excellent service are guaranteed.
Wi-Fi
The guest reviews for Briars Country Lodge reflect mixed experiences with the hotel's Wi-Fi. While some guests experienced slower speeds, particularly for internet streaming on the TV, others noted that the signal could be weak or absent in certain rooms. Despite these issues, it's clear that a portion of the guests did not use or need the Wi-Fi during their stay. Overall, the Wi-Fi service at Briars Country Lodge does have room for improvement to meet the expectations of all guests.
Parking
Briars Country Lodge offers convenient and accessible parking options for its guests. Many reviewers noted the ease of parking with some rooms benefiting from parking right at the door or just outside the room, such as Room 17. Multiple comments highlight the convenience and availability of parking spaces throughout the site. The lodge provides assigned or designated parking spaces, which contribute to a more organized parking experience. Additionally, the on-site parking is plentiful and typically not crowded.
However, some guests faced challenges with the parking setup. Issues included poorly marked and designed parking spots, small parking spaces and a limited parking area. There were also occasional problems with the parking situation being unclear or other vehicles occupying designated spots.
Overall, the parking at Briars Country Lodge is largely positive with many guests appreciating the ease and convenience, despite a few concerns about the size and clarity of the parking arrangements.
4 Star
Briars Country Lodge offers a charming and authentic country stay in a great location near historical towns. The hotel features comfortable, spacious rooms with efficient layouts and free parking, contributing to an overall great experience. Guests appreciate the quiet and peaceful ambiance of the property. However, some visitors believe that the hotel's four-star rating may be overstated, citing issues such as thin walls and the need for renovation. While the staff are generally helpful, their service did not quite meet the typical four-star standards for some guests. Despite these critiques, the hotel provides a generally good experience consistent with a four-star hotel.
Accessible
Briars Country Lodge offers several accessibility features that cater to guests with disabilities. The property accommodates individuals using walkers and is generally wheelchair accessible. However, there are notable drawbacks, such as the lack of walk-in showers and the presence of combined bath/showers, which might not be ideal for elderly guests. Additionally, there are no elevators, making upper levels less accessible. Some rooms have steps without handrails and low lounge seats, which can be challenging for guests with mobility issues. While there are positive aspects, the property has areas needing improvement to better serve disability users, like ensuring cleanliness and minimizing noise disturbances from neighboring rooms.
Honeymoon
Briars Country Lodge offers an ideal setting for a romantic getaway in the countryside. Guests have praised it as picturesque and enchanting with breathtaking views, especially around the lake. The atmosphere exudes a distinct feel suitable for honeymooners, creating an unforgettable experience for couples looking for a serene and romantic escape. The overall consensus is that the lodge truly provides a perfect honeymoon stay.
Boutique-Style
Briars Country Lodge exudes a stylish and atmospheric charm that captivates its guests. The inn consistently delivers a friendly and homely atmosphere, striking a fine balance between boutique elegance and comfort. The quirky decor and unique personality of the lodge contribute to its distinct appeal, making it a delightful destination that people love to visit repeatedly. With reviews highlighting its quaint and charming boutique feel, Briars Country Lodge offers a lovely atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression on its visitors.
Luxury
Briars Country Lodge offers a delightful setting with a refined ambiance and a luxurious feel. The property and its location are consistently praised as lovely, contributing to an overall delightful stay. Rooms furnished for three are noted for their exceptional quality and the decor is described as outlandish and luxuriously arrayed. Guests also appreciate the safety of their vehicles, which are kept out of sight. However, some feedback indicates that while the lodge provides quality and comfort comparable to a 5-star resort and offers luxury services, it requires some updating to fully achieve its 4-star status.
Romantic
Briars Country Lodge offers a distinctly romantic experience characterized by its beautiful atmosphere and picturesque surroundings. Guests often highlight the calming and relaxing decor, which contributes to a cosy and tasteful environment perfect for unwinding. The gardens and grounds provide a romantic outlook, further enhancing the idyllic ambiance. Pre and post-dinner drinks in the lounge, particularly by the open fire, add a cozy touch to the overall experience. The setting of the lodge itself consistently receives praise as an ideal location for a romantic getaway.
No, Briars Country Lodge doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Briars Country Lodge.
No, Briars Country Lodge doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Briars Country Lodge.