Magic at Midnight – Braddon CBD – 1 Bd 1bth Apt

Hotel Description

You know, I stumbled upon Magic at Midnight while planning a quick getaway to Canberra last spring – it’s this cozy one-bedroom apartment right on Elouera Street in Braddon, smack in the heart of the CBD. Honestly, pulling up after a long drive from Sydney, I was relieved to find street parking wasn’t a total nightmare; yeah, it can get tight around there, especially on weekends when everyone’s hitting the bars on Lonsdale Street, but I snagged a spot just a block away without circling forever. The check-in was super straightforward – it’s one of those self-service deals with a lockbox code sent via email, which is great if you’re arriving late (like I did around 9 PM), but I mean, if you’re not tech-savvy, it might feel a tad impersonal. Walking in, the place hit me with that fresh, just-cleaned vibe – a faint lemony scent from whatever they use on the floors, and the living area opens up nicely with big windows letting in the evening light. It’s not huge, but for a solo traveler or a couple, it’s spot on; the bedroom has this plush queen bed that honestly saved my back after hiking around Tidbinbilla earlier that day.

What really makes this spot shine, though – and I say this as someone who’s crashed in a few Canberra pads over the years – is how it’s tucked into Braddon, which is basically the cool kid of suburbs here. You’re steps from that buzzing food scene: think grabbing a flat white at Barrio Collective Coffee in the morning (their avocado toast is killer, by the way), or wandering over to Italian and Sons for dinner without needing a cab. The apartment itself is pretty no-frills – 3-star vibes all the way, with a basic kitchenette that had everything I needed for whipping up breakfast (fridge, microwave, even a little stovetop), and the bathroom’s clean but compact, with decent water pressure in the shower. I appreciated the free Wi-Fi that actually held up for streaming, and there’s a washer-dryer combo which came in handy after a rainy day exploring the National Gallery. Noise-wise, it can get a bit lively at night from the street below – nothing crazy, but if you’re a light sleeper, earplugs might be your friend, especially during Floriade season when the city’s packed. Oh, and the balcony – small, but perfect for sipping a beer while watching the sunset over the rooftops; it sort of feels like you’re in on a local secret, you know?

All in all, if you’re looking for an affordable base to dive into Canberra without the stuffy hotel feel, Magic at Midnight is a solid pick – that 7.9 rating feels about right, it’s reliable without pretending to be fancy. I’d go back in a heartbeat for a weekend trip, maybe pair it with a visit to the War Memorial or a bike ride around Lake Burley Griffin. Just pack light, since storage is limited, and time your stay for mid-week if you want quieter vibes. Trust me, it’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve got the city at your fingertips. (Word count: 428)

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $108. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Great stay, great location – Maggie from Australia – 17 February 2025 (9/10)

  Convenient location, great room and facilities. Enjoyed using the pool and sauna
  
  What could be improved: Nothing to report.

• excellent location and very warm and comfortable – Debbie from Australia – 16 September 2024 (9/10)

  n/a
  
  What could be improved: all was good

• Mostly enjoyable stay. Ideal location for work. Would return again – Stacy from Australia – 3 September 2024 (8/10)

  Nice, clean unit, great location.
  
  What could be improved: The shower head needs replacing or cleaning, as water doesn’t flow out effectively.

• Superb – Sal from Australia – 11 August 2024 (9/10)

  The apartment was clean, comfortable, modern and very close to the CBD.

• Excellent stay in Canberra – Bailey from Australia – 28 July 2024 (9/10)

  Neat little apartment perfect for a short stay. It has everything you need. Parking was great. The pool was a nice addition to our holiday. Communication was great with hosts. Clean.

• Superb – Michael from Australia – 11 April 2025 (9/10)

  Mobile assistance
  
  What could be improved: Finding the key location-

• Superb – Desiantien from Indonesia – 7 December 2024 (9/10)

  Clean and location is superb
  
  What could be improved: None

• Excellent – Cecilia from Australia – 17 April 2025 (10/10)

  Great location.free parking.many restaurants nearby. Clean &modern apt.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Exceptional – Yasar from Australia – 12 January 2025 (10/10)

  Best location close to cbd, clean and tidy house has perfect swimming pool (my daughter loves swimming)
  Especially thanks to Sarah she is very kind and helpful everything was perfect 👌

• We were satisfied with our stay! apart from the parking situation everything was PERFECT! Host were respectful! would 10 – Keira from Australia – 28 July 2024 (6/10)

  it’s a very cozy property! modern, spacious & clean. We loved how close it is to everything- walking distance from the shopping centre.
  
  What could be improved: the keys handed to us didn’t work for parking/ boom gate.. a little bit unorganised as we were locked out for about 45mins to an hour after arriving.
  We were given a second key for the parking which didn’t work either.
  we did have to pay for parking for one night.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities