Mr & Mrs Smith

NB City was established as a downtown escape for the owners of North Bundaleer (www.northbundaleer.com.au), a lavish guesthouse in the Clare Valley north of Adelaide (North Bundaleer = ‘NB’, kapish?). But rather than have it sitting vacant when they weren’t in town, they decided to rent it out as holiday accommodation. Lucky you!

Almost invisible from the street behind a tall timber fence, this townhouse is on a quiet road in a mellow part of town where nothing much at all transpires – if you were expecting to be in the thick of the action, think again. This place is all about removing yourself from the fray and holing up inside, away from the throb of city life, yet close enough to engage with it as and when you see fit. The nondescript address, sheltering fence and absence of signage ensure you can’t be found if you don’t want to be.

Once you’re inside, the temptation to stay put overwhelms. From the living room with its plush rug and gas fire, down the hallway to the romantic bedroom, through the kitchen and out onto the back deck, the sense here is of indulgent privacy: a stylishly designed renovation of an historic terrace house that spins the emphasis from history to hedonism. Contemporary art lines the walls and mod-Asian decor touches lend global appeal.

Enjoy a long twilight dinner on the deck out the back (followed by coffee and newspapers in the morning); a trip to Adelaide’s superb Central Market to make a few select purchases (cheese, fruit, seafood, meats…); or a lazy night in front of the fire with a good book or a movie on the big screen. This place is a real urban haven – you’ll have to force yourself to go out the door, let alone explore Adelaide or further afield.