--- title: "Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin vs Novotel Darwin CBD" description: "Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin or Novotel Darwin CBD in Darwin? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mantra-on-the-esplanade-darwin-darwin-vs-novotel-darwin-cbd-darwin/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-22 --- # Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin vs Novotel Darwin CBD Both are in Darwin, 100 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. 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:** 1 of 5 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1821452/agoda/?lang=en) Hotel · ★★★★ · Darwin City ## [Novotel Darwin CBD](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/novotel-darwin-cbd-darwin/) - **Guest rating:** 8.1 · Very good - **Location score:** 7.1 - **Score by category:** 2 of 5 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1906310/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Novotel Darwin CBD It leads in 2 of 5 categories. 100 m apart. ### Choose Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin if you want - the more consistently praised stay (8.6 / 8.1) - a newer or recently renovated building (1997 / 1989) ### Choose Novotel Darwin CBD if you want - free parking ### Why is Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin better than Novotel Darwin CBD? 1. Higher guest rating (8.6 vs 8.1) (+0.5) 2. Higher star rating (4.5★ vs 4★) (+0.5★) 3. Newer or more recently renovated (1997 vs 1989) (+8y) ### Why is Novotel Darwin CBD better than Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin? 1. Offers an airport transfer 2. Has free parking 3. 9 more listed amenities (25 vs 16) (+9) 4. Has a gym 5. Has 24-hour room service 6. Has an on-site restaurant 7. Later check-out (11:00 vs 10:00) (+1h) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin | Novotel Darwin CBD | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 8.6 (+0.5) | 8.1 | | Location | 7.1 | 7.1 | | Facilities | 5.8 | 10.0 (+4.2) | | Spa & wellness | 5.5 | 7.0 (+1.5) | | Beach access | 3.8 | 4.1 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.6 (+0.5) | 8.1 | | Guest rating | 8.6 (+0.5) | 8.1 | | Number of reviews | 267 | 295 (+28) | | Rank in Darwin | top 29% (+44%) | bottom 27% | | Location | | Location score | 7.1 | 7.1 | | Distance to Darwin City centre | 690 m | 740 m | | To the beach | 1.9 km | 1.8 km (−90 m) | | To the airport | 7.1 km | 7.1 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 128 (+10) | 118 | | To the nearest food shop | 120 m | 220 m | | Shops within 500 m | 11 (+3) | 8 | | Sights within 1 km | 10 | 10 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★½ (+0.5★) | ★★★★ | | Rooms | 204 | 140 | | Floors | 8 | 6 | | Newest building or renovation | 1997 (+8y) | 1989 | | Listed amenities | 16 | 25 (+9) | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 11:00 (+1h) | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Concierge | ✓ | ✓ | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ | | Bar | ✓ | ✓ | | Swimming pool | ✓ | ✓ | | Spa | ✓ | ✓ | | Massage | ✓ | – | | Terrace | ✓ | ✓ | | Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | | Balcony | ✓ | ✓ | | Minibar | ✓ | ✓ | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ | | Free parking | – | ✓ | | Airport transfer | – | ✓ | | Car hire | – | ✓ | | Restaurant | – | ✓ | | 24-hour room service | – | ✓ | | Hot tub | – | ✓ | | Gym | – | ✓ | | Kitchen | – | ✓ | | In-room safe | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Spa & relaxation | – | ✓ | ## 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 Mantra on the Esplanade DarwinNovotel Darwin CBD - Novotel Darwin CBD is cheaper in 8 of 12 months - Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin: €145 a night on average · Novotel Darwin CBD: €146 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/)[Novotel Darwin CBD prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/novotel-darwin-cbd-darwin/prices/) ## Location 100 m apart 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. Novotel Darwin CBD: city centre: 620 m, Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin (DRW): 7.1 km, beach: 1.8 km, 118 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) ## Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin or Novotel Darwin CBD: common questions ### Which is better, Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin or Novotel Darwin CBD? Novotel Darwin CBD leads in 2 of 5 categories, including facilities, spa & wellness. Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin is stronger in guest rating. ### Which is cheaper, Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin or Novotel Darwin CBD? Over the year they cost about the same: €145 a night on average at Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin, €146 at Novotel Darwin CBD. Pick your dates above for today's prices. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? Novotel Darwin CBD is 1.8 km from the nearest beach; Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin is 1.9 km. ### How far apart are Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin and Novotel Darwin CBD? The two hotels are 100 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin vs Darwin Esplanade Central](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/darwin-esplanade-central-darwin-vs-mantra-on-the-esplanade-darwin-darwin/) - [Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin vs Darwin City Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/darwin-city-hotel-darwin-vs-mantra-on-the-esplanade-darwin-darwin/) - [Mantra on the Esplanade Darwin vs voco Darwin Suites by IHG](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mantra-on-the-esplanade-darwin-darwin-vs-voco-darwin-suites-by-ihg-darwin/) - [Novotel Darwin CBD vs Darwin Esplanade Central](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/darwin-esplanade-central-darwin-vs-novotel-darwin-cbd-darwin/) - [Novotel Darwin CBD vs voco Darwin Suites by IHG](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/novotel-darwin-cbd-darwin-vs-voco-darwin-suites-by-ihg-darwin/) - [Novotel Darwin CBD vs Comfort Inn Darwin](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/comfort-inn-darwin-darwin-vs-novotel-darwin-cbd-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/mantra-on-the-esplanade-darwin-darwin-vs-novotel-darwin-cbd-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/