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’
Fitzrovia: 155 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda VIC (03) 9537 0001 or www.fitzrovia.com.au Paul Jewson and Marco Pugnaloni have resurfaced with a brand new all-day eatery, after having wowed the crowds cramming into the all-too-small Outpost. For South Yarra locals, the tiny triangle tenancy (co-owned with Salvatore from St Ali) was the perfect introduction to Jewson’s
Bar100: 100 George Street, The Rocks VIC (02) 8070 9311 or www.bar100.com.au There are certain elements about Bar100 that feel a little left of centre. Staring deep through the eyes of a stain-glassed Jesus while sipping on something a little more substantial than communion wine could raise more guilt then even a Catholic could bear.
Half Moon: 120 Church Street, Brighton VIC (03) 9591 0611 or www.halfmoon.com.au Always considered somewhat of a sister venue to The Botanical while Paul Wilson was heading both ships, Brighton’s Half Moon pub is really quite distinct. In full view of the railway station, on a street lined with European cars, Half Moon is open,
The Pier: Cunningham Pier, Eastern Beach Rd, Geelong VIC (03) 5222 6444 or www.thepiergeelong.com.au Photos: Shannon McGrath Endearing himself to Geelong locals is Cameron Ling’s stock and trade. With two AFL premierships under his belt, if it hasn’t earned the footballer keys to the city by now, it certainly has opened a few doors. The
Chin Chin: 125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC www.chinchinrestaurant.com.au I imagine Chris Lucas sitting cross-legged, chin-stroking Monkey-style, pondering how he was going to import the simple naivety of South East Asian eating houses and still have it fall within the Lucas lexicon. By the hair of his chinny chin chin, Lucas realised the only real way