Novotel Brisbane has unveiled the River City’s newest urban dining and wining space with the launch of its GourmetBar.
Located in inner-city Spring Hill (currently undergoing an exciting transformation and update), the GourmetBar by Novotel has been created to deliver signature tastes sourced from Queensland producers for simple balanced meals best shared with family and friends.
Taking just over two months to complete, the eatery is situated within the open plan lobby area of the four and a half-star Novotel Brisbane hotel on Creek Street. Representing Novotel Australia’s newest GourmetBar offering, the venue boasts a relaxed yet modern, urban décor and design, the centrepiece of which is a fabulous central counter for convivial meal times.
A welcoming bar area with floor to ceiling windows, warm timber tones and gorgeous greenery has been added, conducive to casual catch-ups over easy eats and afternoon drinks, while high backed two-seater sofas and slick two and four seater standalone seating and table arrangement sit adjacent to an informal library area – ideal for other meal and meeting times.
GourmetBar venue manager, Alisha Brennan, said, ”We are very excited to unveil Novotel’s new eat/bar experience in Brisbane for and informal yet lively experience, backed by our must-try, en trend drinks list and ‘eat simple’ food philosophy.
“Celebrating our relaxed Brisbane lifestyle and love for fresh, healthy food our ingredients are proudly local: much better for the taste buds and the planet. Our menu takes its inspiration from global themes with a unique twist/take on the classics. We hope people will drop by to enjoy our simple and authentic cuisine inspired by international and local culinary themes, while sampling our stand alone specialty items for something different.”
Dynamic chef duo Simone Zechner and Boris Villier will work together to serve up a progressive day to night menu that transforms to cater to all variety of dining needs and meal periods, from breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea through to evening meals, drinks and share plate preferences. The result – a selection of fresh, local food developed around thematic menus and dishes to share at the bar (think epic burgers, pasta, tapas, Mozzarella cheese and Italian favourites, and comforting home-style desserts).
In addition, a dedicated barista team have been enlisted to service the morning crowd with Australia’s first Slayer Steam coffee machine, while a passionate bar crew excited by mixology, specialty spirits, fine wines and craft beers; will guide patrons through their drink and cocktail options each night.
Brisbane’s GourmetBar is somewhat of an Australian first for the international hotel brand. While technically the third Gourmet Bar to be unveiled in Australia, following on from the Novotel Darling Harbour Sydney and the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, Brisbane’s new $350,000 outlet in fact spearheads a new generation of revised and refined GourmetBar concept venues that prioritise shared drinking and dining spaces at Novotel locations around the world.
“What guests should know is that it’s not only the menu that moves with the da at the new GourmetBar in Brisbane,” explains Alisha. “We’ve put a lot of thought into the design of the space so that the overall ambiance, mood and décor of the GourmetBar in fact evolves subtly throughout the day to deliver a different experience, depending on the hour and occasion. Behind the service area for example we’ve installed a state of the art revolving display, that moves from modern homewares to match the mood of the breakfast bar crowd during morning trade to a full display of whiskey and wine items for those coming in for an evening bar experience when the sun goes down.”