Colonial Hotel: 156 Victoria Rd, Werrington NSW (02) 9623 1384 or www.vlandisgroup.com.au The Vlandis Group is rounding up its cattle and re-‘branding it’. Last time we checked in, Vlandis had overhauled The Three Swallows in Bankstown and now it’s the Colonial Hotel’s turn. Bergstrom Architects took care of the transformation. Being way out West (of
Phamish: 30 The Esplanade, St Kilda, VIC (03) 9534 3800 or www.phamish.com.au Across the road from the fledgling restaurant Phamish sit two enduring St Kilda icons; the gaping clown mouth of Luna Park and the old world Palais Theatre. Beyond these gatekeepers, the streetscape melds into a wake of eclectic venues left by the gentrification
Mr B’s: 396 Pitt St, Sydney NSW (02) 8080 7777 or www.mrbshotel.com.au The old Mandarin Club was a Sydney CBD institution. Founded in 1965, it was situated at the corner of Pitt and Goulburn Streets until a relocation in 2009. The place to be for the who’s who of the entertainment industry in the ’60s
Mango Hill Tavern: Cnr Anzac Ave & Halpine Dr, Mango Hill QLD (07) 3482 1500 or www.mangohilltavern.com.au Mango Hill Tavern is Brisbane’s newest family hotel, and it’s already proving itself a big achiever, taking out the QHA award for Best New Hotel. Brand & Slater spent 16 weeks designing the cosy ambience of the tavern
Albert Park Hotel Oyster Bar & Grill 83 Dundas Place, Albert Park VIC (03) 9690 5459 or www.thealbertpark.com.au The Melbourne Pub Group knows how to do a gastro pub. Spearheaded by Julian Gerner, Melbourne Pub Group has been busying itself turning old titles into new gold, and The Albert Park Hotel is one of
The Prince: 2 Acland St, St Kilda VIC (03) 9536 1111 or www.theprince.com.au The Prince of Wales has a split personality: for Melbourne rock fans, it’s a rite of passage that leads straight out of the front bar, past security, and upstairs to the band room. If you let it out of the bag that
Norman Hotel: 120 Ipswich Rd, Woollongabba QLD (07) 3391 5022 or www.normanhotel.com.au ‘The worst vegetarian restaurant in Brisbane’, trumpets the proud calling card of the Norman Hotel. Those looking for rabbit food, can well, just sod off — the Norman is all about meat! When the Hotel caught fire recently — right in the middle of
Club Blakehurst: 12 Merriman Street, Blakehurst NSW (02) 9546 4731 or www.clubblakehurst.com.au Club Blakehurst in New South Wales succumbed to fire in 2007, but its spirit did not. While the club was being rebuilt by Tony Owen Partners, the bowlers kept bowling and the club adjusted its focus towards families. venue talked to Greg Payne,
Pendolino: The Strand Arcade, 412 – 414 George Street, Sydney NSW (02) 9231 6117 or www.pendolino.com.au Juliet draped over her balcony waxing lyrical to a bleeding-hearted Romeo is probably the only scene of Verona most could conjure up. And it seems Italian restaurateur Nino Zoccali is tapping into that sentimentality with his latest venture, Pendolino:
Martin Place Bar: (02) 9231 5575 or www.martinplacebar.com.au The Martin Place Bar has revealed a hidden gem: its ‘Luxe Spirits’ Private Back Bar. Designed by SJB Interiors, the Private Back Bar provides a separate area for pre-dinner drinks, bar dining, event location, private dining room and lounging. Martin Place Bar owner Peter Wynne commented: “While it’s