Sitting right in the heart of Denmark, The Denmark Hotel is a classic coastal pub, that has been a main character of the town’s story since 1926. Now, a bold new creative team is gearing up to lead The Denmark Hotel into its next 100 years of bringing locals together with the many travellers and wine-lovers who flock to experience the sprawling Great Southern region.
All under one roof, The Denmark Hotel will keep on serving as the town’s top bar and bistro while becoming home to The Lodge and Denmark Drops. These three operate as one harmonious experience, thanks to a collaborative design process between Benson Studio and See Design Studio. The Lodge offers destination accommodation for quick weekender of casual comfort, or a longer stay filled with winery tours, stunning hikes and swims in William Bay National Park. Denmark Drops is the community’s newest cellar-slash-bottle-o, curating a thoughtful selection of local wines and artisanal beer and spirits.
The Bar & Bistro: Same local character, brand new digs
The Denmark Hotel is a gathering place that champions the best of the Great Southern region and Western Australia. Its ever-evolving menu highlights seasonal produce and, in turn, supports local farmers and growers. Whether it’s locals catching up with loved ones or sun-kissed travellers relaxing after a day of adventure, the Bar & Bistro is where Denmark comes to unwind, reconnect and indulge.
Co-General Managers Ryan O’Meara and Andries Mostert are both keen for the Denmark community to see how the renovations all came together.
“We know locals won’t be disappointed by this upgrade to the Denmark Hotel,” says Ryan. “The authenticity of the town’s pub has been retained, but we’ve taken the food offering to the next level and created this modern, relaxed setting for it.”
“The Denmark community deserves somewhere like this,” adds Andries. “It’s the kind of place that acts as a meeting place, where everyone is welcome, as well as providing a focal point for guests visiting the region. That’s something the whole town can benefit from.”
Both men know that wine and viticulture are the lifeblood of all venues in the region. Plus, as winemakers themselves, they’ve got skin in the game: Ryan is behind Express while Andries runs Brave New Wine. The pair have led a curation of the Bar & Bistro’s wine list that will evolve over time and from season to season, but always bring together iconic local varietals with rarities from around the world.
This collective knowledge of the Great Southern terroir has also been a boon for Ali Osborne, The Denmark Hotel’s Executive Chef. Ali is already well known in Denmark, having slung for locals an infinite number of brekkies from the kitchen of nearby cafe Mrs Jones.
“At the Denmark Hotel, making food is a labour of love,” Ali explains. “We’re surrounded by pristine land and sea that inspire us daily. Our local growers provide us with the finest produce, including prime meat, seafood, fruit, vegetables, grains, and nuts – all sourced from our own backyard. I feel fortunate to be able to craft fresh, vibrant dishes alongside comforting pub classics, showcasing the best our region has to offer.”
The Lodge: Redefining the South Coast road trip
While the Denmark Hotel has always offered cosy lodgings, these 24 meticulously renovated spaces (with three different types of rooms available) are a new kind of casual comfort for one of Western Australia’s most charming coastal towns. With this new accommodation benchmark, Denmark will be ready to meet the ever-growing seasonal crowds who journey along the South Coast in search of rest, relaxation and revelatory food and wine experiences.
“Our vision was to reveal the essence of the original hotel,” says Michael Benson, Creative Director of Fremantle-based Benson Studio. “Each guest room has been inspired by the natural beauty of the region: the colour palette draws from the land and sea, where sandy shores meet the bush. We wanted to create relaxed, inviting spaces designed for comfort and adventure, places where guests can truly unwind without feeling constrained by formality.”
This sense of laidback comfiness unites The Lodge with the Bar & Bistro, making sure guests intuitively understand that they’re staying within the social and cultural hub of the Denmark community.
“One of our first steps was removing ceilings, cladding and floors that had concealed any historic character,” Michael continues. “This revealed The Lodge’s heritage features like the original balconies, now proudly showcased in the Bar & Bistro, old lighting fixtures and timber floors.
This process, combined with our contemporary application of traditional materials, and the restoration of fireplaces throughout the venue, has resulted in a warm and inviting space for all.”
Denmark Drops: This is a viticultural reset
The Great Southern is the largest wine region in Australia. Luckily, Denmark is perfectly located as a basecamp to experience it all. If when you’re staying at the Lodge, or just passing through town, and need to find the exact wine you’re after, Denmark Drops has you covered.
This new boutique feels like the kind of cellar you might find in Perth’s Northbridge or Melbourne’s Fitzroy, but sitting alongside the cloudy bottles of orange wine – de rigueur for any picnic in 2024 – are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and the other varietals for which the Great Southern is internationally renowned. Denmark Drops also contains a bookable tasting room that’s geared up to function as a centralised cellar door for smaller, local operators and artisanal producers, or even as a small function space for events.
“As local winemakers ourselves, we could not be more excited about championing the Great Southern’s producers of wines, but also local beers, spirits and cider,” says Ryan. “In addition to all the regional representation on the wine list and the taps at our Bar & Bistro, Denmark Drops brings this super eclectic range of drinks from around Australia and the world – the kinds of rarities you really can’t find anywhere else in the region. You’ll also get able to grab some locally produced cheeses, small goods and other delicious snacks from the Drops’ own pantry.”
“Whether you need a longneck of Swan Draught to quench a thirst after a hard day, or maybe an interesting artisan bottle of wine to impress dinner guests, we’re going to have something for you. And for any budget,” Andries explains. “Plus, with Denmark Drops we can offer a really in- depth level of local wine knowledge, and trustworthy advice on pairings, that feels accessible for everyone.”