61 Vibrant Vincent

VIBRANT VINCENT

Crystalbrook Vincent brings art, sustainability and a touch of Italy to inner-city Brisbane.

EXPERIENCING CHALLENGING TIMES of late combined with too much time couped up at home, my husband and I were in need of a getaway to energise our mind and soul.

Just a short trip from Gold Coast, we ventured to a boutique Brisbane City hotel along the river.

Our destination – Crystalbrook Vincent.

Carved into the cliff under the majestic Story Bridge, let me tell you, this place was great for invigorating all the five senses.

Crystalbrook Vincent is located within the trendy Howard Smith Wharves precinct, home to a number of entertainment and dining places.

Formerly known as The Fantauzzo, the hotel was named after the well-known Melbourne artist Vincent Fantauzzo, with over 500 of his giclee prints and original art colouring the walls of the venue.

Paintbrush and camera aside, as a trained chef with Italian roots, Vincent’s influence is apparent.

A highlight of any visit would have to be the popular Fiume Rooftop Bar.

Meaning ‘river’ in Italian, Fiume boasts unbeatable views of the meandering waterway. WORDS ZOE LISTER

There’s a killer cocktail list and I was more than tempted to taste a few while taking in the city atmosphere.

By night, you can admire a backdrop of stars and the bridge’s twinkling pink lights.

In the same hue, there’s a cocktail named the Pink Koala, with some of the proceeds going towards supporting the charity, Wildcare – a cause I’m sure we could all toast to.

My favourite cocktail was Crystalbrook Vincent’s take on the Espresso Martini which uses Wattle Toffee Liqueur.

The liqueurs are sourced from Tamborine Mountain Distillery, with the distillery itself a leader in the way of sustainability.

My husband enjoyed tasting some of the craft beers including one from the neighbouring Felons Brewing Co.

The Crystalbrook Collection portfolio promotes an emphasis on responsible luxury and I was interested to learn more about what that really meant.

One way they’ve adopted this philosophy is by ‘keeping it local’ and partnering with local businesses, groups and suppliers.

While enjoying the finer things in life, you can feel more at peace knowing that a large portion of the produce is sourced just a few hours away – like the grazing platter for example.

Served on a wooden board, the antipasti were a delight for the taste buds.

We indulged in assortment of cheeses, like Taleggio, as well as artisan salami, Mount Zero olives, Noosa mushroom arancini, Moreton Bay calamari fritti with fennel seed aioli – simply delizioso.

I also loved the Bee One Third honey that’s derived from some of Brisbane's most unique city locations.

The Polpetta restaurant embraces Italian food to share, creating a more sociable experience.

A real fan-girl moment for me was seeing actor Asher Keddie.

Perhaps not in person but in a towering 1.7 x 3m masterpiece – Fantauzzo’s award-winning painting of his wife and muse titled ‘Love Face’.

If you’d like to rub shoulders with celebrities, you can almost live vicariously through the artist’s representations of Matt Moran, Baz Luhrmann and the like.

Known as one of Australia's most prominent artists, having won the Archibald People's Choice Award more than any other painter, Fantauzzo’s works include the renowned painting of Heath Ledger.

I was moved to stand eye to eye with lifelike portraits of Aborigines.

With such detail of their hands and face, you could almost feel the wiry beard of an Elder for example.

The framed surface reflected the vibrant colours of the painted Australian earth that hung on the opposite walls.

As I wandered through the hallways in awe, I imagined what stories these souls and soils could tell.

The hotel itself is vibrant and moody, unique, with a modern funky exterior.

Our room had a luxurious industrial feel with pops of bold colour with a great view out the main window.

Some of the eco-conscious features in the room include sustainable amenities, large pump bathroom products to avoid single use products, non-plastic water containers and recycling bins.

After a wonderful night’s sleep with the most dreamy pillows, we sipped on coffee made with the in-room Nespresso machine (with zero waste pods).

We could push the window ajar to take in the morning buzz below.

I liked being able to hear the goings on of the world, while also being able to block out the hustle when wanting to unwind in peace.

Ironically, marathon runners passed the wharf in the morning as I was wondering what I might order for a ‘naughty’ Sunday breakfast.

Our second caffeine fix was a St Dreux brew in the hotel’s Polpetta.

The crispy Beechwood double smoked bacon was amazing and I was delighted to learn that it’s made in Bronte, Sydney by a family owned business of 40 years.

All along our dining discovery we were impressed with details like these.

After breakfast, my husband had a dip in the infinity pool while I decided to soak up the vitamin D on the deck.

At the rooftop oasis in the daylight, you can look out to the grandeur of the arched pillars of the bridge, and the cliff behind – in fact, the view would almost span 360 degrees.

We were lucky enough to end our stay with an incredible brunch experience, La Dolce Vita at Fiume.

A live DJ entertained us with ambient music while we worked our way through a tasty three courses, with Aperol Spritz in hand.

On the menu was Barambah Greek yoghurt with seasonal fruit; mini Italian-style doughnuts with ricotta, pistachio and lemon; a fresh Caprese salad; brunch torte and baked gnocchi… if you have the chance, you must try this for yourself.

A vibrant urban energy, sustainable ethic, award-winning art and Italian flair, make for a mix unique to Crystalbrook Vincent.

When you depart, you can’t help but leave feeling more inspired.

Not only for the creativity of the art, design and food, but to make more sustainable choices including travelling with a lighter footprint. crystalbrookcollection.com