Thebasepaletterunscharcoal,punctuatedby
timberfloors,thecreamyleatherbedhead,andpops
ofemeraldgreenvelvet,goldandmarble.Floor-to-
ceilingcustomcabinetryhideshotelessentialsand
crystalglassware–perfectforthenegronipremix
cocktailfoundintheminibar.
AsIgetsettled,subtlequirksmaterialise,
likedrippinggoldcoathooks,anartist’scanvas
intheminibar,anda“Yes...wecleanheretoo”
notetuckedunderthebed.Itrevealspersonality
withoutbeingOTT.
Onlyopenafewdays,somepiecesoftheservice
piestillseemtobeontheirway.Iflickthroughthe
roomservice,GoogleChromecastandweatheron
theTVbutcan’tfindtheartchannelI’dreadabout.
AtreceptionthenextmorningI’massuredartguides
andtourswillarrivesoon.
Ijointhethrongoflocalsstrollingandcycling
underablueautumnskytoexploretheimpressive
wharfredevelopmentandfindacrowdcongregated
aroundARCDining’scoeecounter–oneoffour
newrestaurantsandbars.
BackathotelrestaurantPolpetta,anàlacarte
menudeliverstoastedryewithcrushedpeasandfava
beans,andabreakfastcaprese,butportionserron
thesmallside.Beforebiddingadieu,Iheadtolevel
threewhereallRedHotChiliPepperconnotations
ofbeing‘underthebridgedowntown’aresmashed
bytheshinyblack-tiledinfinitypool.I’dquitelike
toreturntostakemyclaimonasunlounger–and
anegroni–andletBrisbaneplaymuseagain.DETAILS
THEFANTAUZZO
5 BoundaryStreet,
BrisbaneCity;Qld
artserieshotels.com.au
Verdict:A sophisticated
staywitha doseof
contemporarypop
culture– TheFantauzzo
willappealtothose
wantingtoexperience
Brisbanelikea local.
Score:
We rated: The mood,
access to the action of
Howard Smith Wharves
and the rooftop pool.
We’d change: The noise
from Felons Brewing
Co. opposite. Perhaps
earplugs are needed?
Notes: We paid $217
for a Studio Promenade
room on an opening
special, $60 for breakfast
for two in Polpetta and
$35 for self-parking.A RAINBOW BLAZES over the Story Bridge as
our Uber pulls up to the geometric facade of The
Fantauzzo, sitting snug underneath Brisbane’s metal
coat hanger. A reprieve, after a day of deluge. Around
us, families, well-heeled wedding guests and revellers
coming two-by-two descend on the city’s hottest new
address – Howard Smith Wharves – to kick o their
Saturday night. If atmosphere could be bottled, it
would be eau de electric.
Inside, Asher Keddie steals the show. Her larger-
than-life portrait hangs beside a great hulk of
angular stone doubling as reception desk – mirroring
the chiselled cli face behind the hotel, showcased
through oversized windows. It’s a dramatic welcome
to the second Art Series hotel for Brisbane – one
conceived in homage to Keddie’s artist husband,
Vincent Fantauzzo.
Young and edgy, -year-old Fantauzzo is an
Instagram infl uencer in a stu y traditionalist gallery
world. Favouring fame over pretence has still won
him plenty of favours in the art world, though.
He’s been awarded the Archibald People’s Choice
Award four times and his photorealistic pieces
command anything from ¡¢,¢¢¢ upwards.
If you’re not familiar with his work, you will be
after a stroll down the hallways here. The curation,
by Keddie, is Australiana by way of celebrity portrait- Heath Ledger, Matt Moran, Baz Luhrmann
among them – with ¤¢¥ pieces hung throughout the
hotel. Artworks vary in each of the ¡¡ individually
designed rooms.
AUSTRALIANTRAVELLER.COMAll AT reviews are conducted anonymously and our writers pay their own way – so we experience exactly what you would.g f f zz; y
palette; The hotel’s pool under the bridge; A warm welcome; Vincent Fantauzzo’s paintings adorn the walls.WEEKENDS |Reviews
THEFANTAUZZO–embracesitsdramaticlocaleas
secondary MUSE, discovers CELESTE MITCHELL.
UNDER THE BRIDGE