Take Hobart's sexiest waterfront hotel; add a restaurant that focuses on the finest Tasmanian produce; throw in the local fishing fleet and Salamanca Market - both just a short stroll away - and consider several nearby bars and eateries.
I'm staying at the Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart's first genuine five-star destination, and dining on the new menu at in-house restaurant Peacock and Jones; a Tasmanian-focused selection curated by former MasterChef Australia star Ben Milbourne.
Milbourne doesn't actually do the cooking. He sources the produce from the likes of Lyndall Lamb, Tongola Goat Cheese, Truffles of Tasmania and Meander Valley Diary.
"I really have searched from the top to the bottom of Tasmania to find the best suppliers - and the menu will change seasonally featuring new producers each time," says Milbourne
Chef Ishan Archarya, ex Bistro Moncur and Bathers' Pavillion in Sydney, mans the pans and did a sterling job at Friday's launch of the new summer menu, which was accompanied by wines from small local producers including Utzinger, Kate Hill Wines and Quiet Mutiny.
Peacock & Jones is open Wednesday-Saturday evenings. Phone (03) 6210 7730 to check. Tasting menus cost $95 per person or $105 per person with an added cheese course.
Think starters like stracciatella with purplette onion, kombu and Flinders Island evo; or French onion souffle with Heidi gruyere and petit herbs (above).
Mains may include Lyndall Farm lamb with fermented black barley, spinach or Strelleyfield free-range duck with radicchio and sweet potato (below). A range of vegetarian options are also available.
And whatever you do don't miss out on the Bombe Alaska with almond, yuzu and verbena.
This is seriously good food, beautifully presented.
See https://peacockandjones.com.au
After dinner just head upstairs to one of the individually styled rooms in a hotel full of history, art installations and a clever aesthetic appeal. There is often an artist in residence who you can watch in action in the lobby.
Hobart’s oldest waterfront warehouses have been reimagined as what was Australia’s first dedicated art hotel with modern touches like fast wifi and USB chargers allied to the building's industrial past.
Sir Henry Jones’ IXL jam empire was once based where you now find galleries, award-winning restaurants, bars and cafes.
Hotel room views feature the bustling port with kunanyi/Mount Wellington beyond - and the staff are uniformly excellent in a state where that is not always the case.
The Henry Jones represents a fusion of old and new, art and design, indulgence and discovery and all the rooms were completely refurbished in 2018. Rooms start from $320 a night.
Other dining options on-site include the Landscape Restaurant and Grill and the IXL Long Bar - so you can make a weekend of your visit without heading more than a few metres from your room.
See https://thehenryjones.com/ for more details and bookings.
# The writer was a guest of the Henry Jones Art Hotel
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