EOS by SkyCity, Adelaide: Hotel review

Adelaide’s casino hotel, EOS by SkyCity, is undoubtedly luxurious. But the cold décor is not going to be to everyone’s taste.

EOS by SkyCity is Adelaide’s casino hotel, although it goes to great lengths to pretend the casino has nothing to do with it. (Not that it’s exactly Las Vegas in the first place).

This starts at check-in. The casino entrance is at ground level, while the reception is on the concourse level below. This is where cars and taxis drop off, underground.

**15 fabulous Adelaide experiences to supercharge your visit**

DOLPHINS 🐬: Swim with wild dolphins, kayak with the resident bottlenose pod or watch them on a dolphin cruise.
FOOD AND WINE 🍷: Indulge on Adelaide food tour including Adelaide Central Market. Or try a wine discovery tour with tastings at the National Wine Centre. Or the ultimate Penfolds Magill Estate experience with full estate tour & Grange tasting.
WILDLIFE 🐨: Spot koalas on a guided Morialta nature hike. Or walk from Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty with entrance to Cleland Wildlife Park.
CRUISES ⛵: Watch the sun set on a twilight coastal cruise, get to know the city on a Torrens River cruise or take a high tea cruise aboard the Popeye.
SPORT 🏏: Dare to take on the Adelaide Oval Roofclimb or enter the fabled scoreboard on the behind-the-scenes stadium tour.
ACTION 🚵‍♂️: Descend Mount Lofty on a downhill mountain bike tour or kayak along the Torrens River.

Check-in at EOS by SkyCity

The weird vibe of the underground check-in isn’t helped by the staff uniforms. They’re dressed in all-white, and the atmosphere feels like a clandestine Eastern European plastic surgery retreat.

EOS by SkyCity is unquestionably luxurious, but there is an icy coldness about it. The rooms are huge, but feel somewhat empty. Greys and silvers dominate the colour scheme, with occasional blues to break the monotony. There’s a mild Bond villain feel – like a billionaire tech bro is showing off just how tastefully austere they can be.

There are some undoubtedly good touches – giant, well-equipped bathrooms, free mini bar snacks, air-conditioning controllable from a bedside tablet.

Top Adelaide hotel recommendations

For the beach: Oaks Glenelg Plaza Pier Suites. For families: Big4 West Beach. Most fun: Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets. For setting: Oval Hotel. For heritage: Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury.

EOS by SkyCity location

The location is also good, next to Adelaide Railway Station and across the River Torrens from the Adelaide Oval.

There’s also a pool, although it’s perhaps not as big as could be reasonably expected for the luxury bracket EOS by SkyCity aims at.

Ultimately, EOS by SkyCity is a matter of taste. Some people will love this Adelaide casino hotel. Others will find the lack of warmth off-putting. Even the rooftop Sol Bar is grey and glacially cold – there’s no feeling of fun about it.

Pick your perfect Adelaide day trips

Barossa Valley tours: 1. Wine-tasting with lunch 🍷. 2. Food and wine tour. 3. Small group wine tour with exclusive VIP tastings.
Kangaroo Island in a day – including sea lions 🦭, koalas 🐨and national parks.
Adelaide Hills tours: 1. Sights plus Murray River lunch cruise combo. 2. Small group cheese, chocolate & wine tour with Hahndorf German village.
McLaren Vale tours: 1. Small group wine tour with lunch. 2. Hop-on hop-off wineries tour 🍷. 3. Food and wine indulgence tour, including the gloriously weird d’Arenberg Cube.
Victor Harbor and southern highlights tour – including the Granite Island horse-drawn tram.

EOS by Sky City rates

Rooms at EOS by SkyCity cost from $429 a night, and can be booked online.

That’s a lot, and you may find that the Oval Hotel, the Adina Treasury, and Hotel Indigo offer more character, even though they’re not quite in the same five star bracket. The Crowne Plaza is blander.

Things to do in Adelaide include Torrens River cruises, swimming with dolphins and a cultural walking tour.