Photo: Avon Dissanayake.
There are Melbourne Cup celebrations and then there is the Hyatt Hotel Canberra signature Melbourne Cup “The Garden Celebration”!
I have always loved the Hyatt as an art deco oasis. Long before you step out into The Rose Courtyard, you are engulfed by the beauty of the building, and before you know it, it has already begun working its magic on you.
Walking through the beautifully manicured front entrance into the spacious lobby, there is an immediate feeling of tranquil luxury. The gentle chatter of patrons at the tea lounge accompanied by the hotel’s signature scent (stop and see if you can pick the fragrance next time you step inside) combined with the art deco architecture strikes just the right ambience for me.
So when I received an invitation to attend the Melbourne Cup celebrations there this past Tuesday, I quickly cleared my schedule as I knew the tone would be set for a wonderful afternoon of indulgence.
Walking out into The Rose Courtyard, the gardens were looking lush and spectacular from the rainfall the day before. The tables were set with freshly pressed linens, bouquets of blooms and Moet sparkling glasses waiting to be filled.
From the set-up of the bar and generous buffet lunch featuring active cooking stations including freshly prepared sashimi, dumplings, sliders and bao, a cold seafood selection featured overflowing plates of oysters and fresh prawns and the familiar smell of the BBQ was wafting through the air. It was clear nobody was leaving the event hungry or thirsty!
The day is as much about the clothes as the horses and we got treated to a show from the team behind ‘Fashfest’. Canberra’s annual glamorous red carpet fashion experience celebrated the day by showcasing local labels, Zilpah Tart and Braddon Tailors.
Photo: Avon Dissanayake.
Local label Zilpah Tart. Photo: Avon Dissanayake.
Local label Braddon Tailors. Photo: Avon Dissanayake.
Explosion of energy from Kokoloco Dance Studios. Photo: Avon Dissanayake.
To really kick the party up a notch, there was an explosion of energy from Kokoloco Dance Studios injecting a little Brazilian Carnaval experience to the day with their spectacular costumes, exotic drums, and professional dancers.
And then there was dessert! If you ever attend a function at Hyatt Hotel Canberra always leave room for the sweet stuff. Among tarts and mini pavlovas, they had a fresh waffle station and a Movenpick ice cream cart.
For the race that stops a nation, we were in good stead for the excitement that is the main event of Melbourne Cup as it was screened via a giant outdoor display, but not for long because there were still some fresh churros made to order to top off a wonderful afternoon.
How did you spend Melbourne Cup? Let us know in the comments below.
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