Penny Blue and Exchange Lane offer modern dining with an eye to the history of Adelaide's old General Post Office.

Hotel restaurants usually concentrate on experiences for hotel guests, but that mantra is changing. We’ve seen it with places like Hotel Alba’s ela and the Pullman Hotel’s Parc Brasserie & Bar.

As the Marriott Hotel – designed by Adelaide architect Baukultur – opens up in Adelaide today, it will be no different.

Located in what was once the General Post Office building, executive chef Alexandre Katsman says the hotel will have “nostalgic pieces [and] links” to its past through its two hospitality ventures: Penny Blue and Exchange Lane.

“Since we are based in one of the most heritage buildings in South Australia, and we’re trying to bring the story through that link,” Alexandre says.

The two places are two separate offerings, though.

Penny Blue

Alexandre says the post office links are specifically shown through the restaurant Penny Blue, which sits in the 152-year-old building.

“It’s named after a very iconic, rare stamp, which is very hard to find, and it’s been through the post office here as well,” Alexandre says.

“The menu we are trying to create is linking it with the whole story of the GPO, bringing the nostalgic pieces for the menu, bringing the classical dishes, which are loved by everyone.

“These classical dishes will bring the old childhood memories for the guests.”

Though it’s not fine dining, the restaurant will serve modern-Australian food and Alexandre says the menu will include things like cob loaf with rosemary and potato, and beef Wellington which will be “one of the main showpieces”.

“We literally make the whole thing from scratch: prepping the meats, creating the mushroom duxelles, making chicken liver parfait, wrapping all in these ingredients, pancetta and puff pastry and baking it,” he tells CityMag.

“We will be cutting it pretty much to order, and it will be nearly a silver service to the table with that dish as well. So really creating that grand experience.”

Other classic dishes on the menu are prawn cocktails and French onion soup.

Alexandre describes the Penny Blue setting as “absolutely beautiful”, with dark colours like navy and moody lighting creating a grand atmosphere.

“The building is modern, but it has a very classical feel to it with a very comfortable setting,” Alexandre says.

Exchange Lane

Also opening today is Exchange Lane, an all-day-dining offering, with coffee and light snacks in the morning and cocktails at night.

“By the bar, there’s definitely beverages,” Alexandre says.

“But in the mornings we’ll have a light selection of bakery produce, and we will do like small à la carte breakfast offering as well: things like egg and bacon roll. You know, nostalgic, classical bits and pieces.

“During the day as well, we’ll be offering sort of a focaccia sandwich because we have about 6000 people around us in office hours, so a lot of the clientele will be from that.

“And in the evenings, we are offering snacks, sharing style dishes [like] kingfish, self-saucing croquette [and] masterstock beef cheek sliders.”

Unlike Penny Blue, Exchange Lane is in the new part of the hotel and therefore has lighter and brighter interior choices, with warm tones throughout.

Both ventures open today inside the Adelaide Marriott Hotel located at 141 King William Street, Adelaide. Penny Blue is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 5:30pm until 9:30pm, while Exchange Lane opens every day from 6:30am until 11pm.