Paul Kelly, Director of Paul Kelly Design, talks venue through his design of Sokyo. Sokyo is a modern Japanese restaurant and the original design brief from Echo management was ‘Modern Tokyo with a Wild Edge’. So you’ll find dynamic design/sharp lines combined with representations of Japanese landscape — something which totally infuses the Japanese culture.
The Darling: The Star 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont NSW 1800 800 830 or www.thedarling.com.au Sydney’s ‘most lovingly detailed hotel and spa’ shakes up the Australian scene with an international splash. It’s hard to recall such an utter transformation. The old Star City has been quietly retired (a ‘red dwarf’ perhaps?) and, supernova-like, The Star has
The Burbury Hotel: 1 Burbury Close, Barton ACT (02) 6173 2700 or www.burburyhotel.com.au I’m not the first one to say it, but Canberra is a peculiar place. Normal ‘rules of engagement’ don’t necessarily apply. And as you get sucked nearer the Parliament Hill vortex those rules become more and more elastic. The area I’m referring
2B Designed Director, David Bird, first began architectural lighting design 23 years ago. He’s watched it grow in style and sophistication. He is now a leading Australian designer with vast experience in hotel lighting. When I started in this industry 20-odd years ago, there seemed to be very little demand for lighting design in
Mercure Melbourne Treasury Gardens: 13 Spring Street, Melbourne VIC (03) 9205 9999 or h2086-RE02@accor.com Newly refurbished and launched on February 29th, Mercure Melbourne Treasury Gardens is the new name for a hotel that has seen a number of transformations over the 50 years since it was first built. Given the hotel’s prime position on the
Top hotel operators are turning to psychographic profiling — relax, it’s for your own good. Next time you’re in a hotel room and think ‘sexy taps’; wake up to a great playlist; or love the fact you don’t need to bring a computer, even though you’re on business — you’ve been successfully psychographically profiled. ‘Psychographics’
The Mayor 400 Military Rd, Cremorne (02) 8969 6060 or www.themayorbar.com.au From VENUE Issue 48 Jorge Marrero wanted to open The Mayor Bar and Dining without too much fanfare and wait on a “slow burn” of success, and has been rewarded for his patience. Since October last year the venue has been serving food, wine
Saké Restaurant & Bar Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 3004 (02) 9259 5656 or www.sakerestaurant.com.au Saké Restaurant & Bar will take a riverside promenade berth at Arts Centre Melbourne’s new Hamer Hall in early August to serve up its unique version of contemporary Japanese cuisine. With a Chef’s Hat at each of the Sydney
QT Port Douglas 87 Port Douglas Rd, Port Douglas QLD 4877 (07) 4099 8900 or www.qtportdouglas.com.au The new QT Port Douglas is the second resort to open for QT Hotels and Resorts, following the launch of QT Gold Coast last year. The sophisticated new resort is like Mad Men meets the Hamptons, featuring light timber floor coverings
Harbour Rocks Hotel 34 Harrington St, The Rocks NSW 2000 1800 251 210 or www.harbourrocks.com.au Australia has its own historic palace in the recently rejuvenated Harbour Rocks Hotel. Comprising of a colonial three-level building as well as six adjoining terrace buildings built in 1887, the 59-room boutique hotel sits on the site of what was