---
title: "Darwin City Hotel vs Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin: which hotel is better?"
description: "Darwin City Hotel or Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin in Darwin? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/darwin-city-hotel-darwin-vs-mantra-on-the-esplanade-darwin-darwin/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-10
---

# Darwin City Hotel vs Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin

Both are in Darwin, 240 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Hotel · ★★★★ · Darwin City
## [Darwin City Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/darwin-city-hotel-darwin/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.6 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 7.2

- **Score by category:** 1 of 5

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1342221/agoda/?lang=en)

Hotel · ★★★★½ · Darwin City
## [Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mantra-on-the-esplanade-darwin-darwin/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.6 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 7.1

- **Score by category:** 0 of 5

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1821452/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Too close to call

Neither hotel has a clear edge on the facts we have. Your priorities decide. 240 m apart.

### Choose Darwin City Hotel if you want

-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 91 / 204)
-   a newer or recently renovated building (2018 / 1997)

### Choose Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin if you want

-   a spa and wellness
-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 204 / 91)

### Why is Darwin City Hotel better than Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin?

1.  More guest reviews (617 vs 267), so the rating is more reliable (×2.3)
2.  Newer or more recently renovated (2018 vs 1997) (+21y)
3.  Offers an airport transfer
4.  8 more listed amenities (24 vs 16) (+8)
5.  Has a gym
6.  Later check-out (11:00 vs 10:00) (+1h)
7.  A smaller, more intimate hotel (91 vs 204 rooms) (−113)

### Why is Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin better than Darwin City Hotel?

1.  Has a spa
2.  Higher star rating (4.5★ vs 4★) (+0.5★)
3.  A larger hotel with more facilities (204 vs 91 rooms) (×2.2)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Darwin City Hotel | Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Location | 7.2 | 7.1 |
| Facilities | 8.3  (+2.5) | 5.8 |
| Spa & wellness | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Beach access | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Guest rating | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Number of reviews | 617  (+350) | 267 |
| Rank in Darwin | top 23%  (+6%) | top 29% |
| Location |
| Location score | 7.2 | 7.1 |
| Distance to Darwin City centre | 450 m  (−240 m) | 690 m |
| To the beach | 2.0 km | 1.9 km  (−80 m) |
| To the airport | 6.9 km | 7.1 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 147  (+19) | 128 |
| To the nearest food shop | 100 m | 120 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 14  (+3) | 11 |
| Sights within 1 km | 10 | 10 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★½  (+0.5★) |
| Rooms | 91 | 204 |
| Floors | 5 | 8 |
| Newest building or renovation | 2018  (+21y) | 1997 |
| Listed amenities | 24  (+8) | 16 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Check-out until | 11:00  (+1h) | 10:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Parking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airport transfer | ✓ | – |
| Car hire | ✓ | – |
| Concierge | ✓ | ✓ |
| Laundry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Room service | ✓ | – |
| Outdoor pool | ✓ | – |
| Sauna | ✓ | – |
| Massage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gym | ✓ | – |
| Terrace | ✓ | ✓ |
| Meeting rooms | ✓ | – |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Balcony | ✓ | ✓ |
| Minibar | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-room safe | ✓ | – |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | ✓ | – |
| Spa | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Business trips | ✓ | – |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Nightly price by month

Darwin City HotelMantra on the Esplanade Darwin

          

Nov

-   Darwin City Hotel is cheaper in 7 of 8 months
-   Darwin City Hotel: €120 a night on average · Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin: €136 a night on average

Pick a month to check today's price for its cheapest date.

[Hotel prices in Darwin by month](https://stayversus.com/en/australia/darwin/prices/)

Averages of real one-night prices for two adults on Agoda, a Tuesday and a Saturday in each month, last checked 21 October 2026. In euros; the final price is shown before you book.

[Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mantra-on-the-esplanade-darwin-darwin/prices/)

## Location

240 m apart

Darwin City Hotel: city centre: 470 m, Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin (DRW): 6.9 km, beach: 2.0 km, 147 places to eat within 500 m, 10 sights within 1 km.

Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin: city centre: 620 m, Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin (DRW): 7.1 km, beach: 1.9 km, 128 places to eat within 500 m, 10 sights within 1 km.

## Weather in Darwin

[Darwin weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/australia/northern-territory/darwin/weather)

## Darwin City Hotel or Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin: common questions

### Which is better, Darwin City Hotel or Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin?

Darwin City Hotel leads in 1 of 5 categories, including facilities.

### Which is cheaper, Darwin City Hotel or Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin?

Over the year Darwin City Hotel costs about €120 a night on average against €136 at Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin, and it is cheaper in 7 of the 8 months we checked. Pick your dates above for today's prices.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Darwin City Hotel is closer: 450 m from the centre, against 690 m for Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin is 1.9 km from the nearest beach; Darwin City Hotel is 2.0 km.

### How far apart are Darwin City Hotel and Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin?

The two hotels are 240 m apart in a straight line.

## More match-ups

-   [Darwin City Hotel vs Comfort Inn Darwin](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/comfort-inn-darwin-darwin-vs-darwin-city-hotel-darwin/)
-   [Darwin City Hotel vs Rydges Darwin Central](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/darwin-city-hotel-darwin-vs-rydges-darwin-central-darwin/)
-   [Darwin City Hotel vs The Leea Resort Darwin](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/darwin-city-hotel-darwin-vs-the-leea-resort-darwin-darwin/)
-   [Darwin City Hotel vs Palms City Resort](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/darwin-city-hotel-darwin-vs-palms-city-resort-darwin/)

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/darwin-city-hotel-darwin-vs-mantra-on-the-esplanade-darwin-darwin/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/