By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
The Central Coast has long been synonymous with sun-drenched beaches and weekend escapes, but this Summer, it gains a new benchmark in hospitality with Voco Gosford, the crown jewel of The Archibald Precinct, which promises a refreshingly sophisticated experience just 60 minutes from Sydney.
At the pinnacle of the precinct, literally and figuratively, sits Astra, the Central Coast’s highest rooftop bar and Japanese-inspired izakaya. Here, Michelin-trained Executive Chef Maxime Chasseriaud and former Black at The Star Chef Dany Karam, with Sous Chef Harry Cho, have created a menu that balances precision, restraint and theatre.
Binchotan charcoal forms the backbone of the kitchen, where seafood and meat are first seared over a hibachi grill, then finished in a charcoal oven to lock in juices and layer subtle smoky notes. The result is a dining experience defined not by spectacle alone, but by an acute sensitivity to texture, temperature and umami. Each dish reflects a mastery of fire and technique, inviting diners to savour both simplicity and nuance.
Yet Astra is more than a culinary venture - it is a space calibrated for contemplation and social energy alike. From the rooftop terrace, sweeping views over Gosford and the bay frame the evening, while cocktails are composed with equal attention to balance and composition, encouraging golden-hour sipping that feels unhurried, deliberate and elevated.
Beyond Astra, The Archibald Precinct is a microcosm of diverse culinary expression. Ironbark places woodfire at the forefront, transforming the classic steakhouse into a stage for flavour. Smoke is integral, infusing both contemporary Australian dishes and traditional pub classics with a resonance that celebrates both technique and instinct.
Paolo’s, by contrast, is intimate, unassuming, and exacting: hand-rolled pasta, trattoria-style dishes and wood-fired pizzas emerge from a MorelloForni oven with a rustic elegance, delivering authentic Italian taste elevated by precise execution. For casual gatherings or family-friendly conviviality, Archie’s offers a more relaxed environment, while the Pool Bar & Lounge injects a subtle resort ethos into the precinct with swim-up service and curated refreshments.
The precinct thrives on contrasts: intimate versus expansive, performance versus stillness, fire versus finesse. Dining here is inherently theatrical yet never ostentatious. At Astra, diners witness transformation in real time - the rise of smoke, the sear of seafood, the final flourish on a cocktail - while Ironbark and Paolo’s offer a more grounded intimacy where the craft of cooking is apparent but not performative. Together, the precinct offers an ecosystem of experiences that encourage exploration, lingering and discovery.
Beyond the restaurants, the hotel itself is a study in considered hospitality. Its 130 guestrooms are luminous and airy, the interiors informed by the surrounding landscape and the brand’s hallmarks of ‘Come on in’, ‘Me time’ and ‘Voco life’.
Here, sustainable luxury meets coastal ease: plush bedding, modern bathrooms and balconies framing vistas of either city or bay invite reflection and relaxation. It also presents a podium-level pool, wellness centre and six distinct dining and bar venues, ensuring that every guest's need is anticipated and met with considered detail.
Voco Gosford is also part of the IHG One Rewards network, offering access to a global portfolio of more than 6700 destinations, making it both a destination in its own right and a gateway to further exploration. Every detail, from room layout to natural light, is curated to provide a sense of connection and comfort, whether for a single night’s stay or a multi-day retreat.
Voco Gosford and The Archibald Precinct redefine what a coastal hotel precinct can be: a synthesis of refined hospitality, culinary rigour and elevated social spaces, all imbued with a sense of place.
It is a destination where fire is both instrument and inspiration, where views frame moments and where each detail - from charcoal-grilled seafood to hand-rolled pasta - is executed with quiet precision.
This is the Central Coast, reimagined: less about spectacle, more about the art of doing things exceptionally well.
