By Trudi Jenkins
The architects behind Marriott International's first Luxury Collection hotel in Australia have reinvented, beautifully and sensitively, a former hospital.
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History, architecture and design buffs alike will find a lot to enjoy at The Tasman, set within three adjoining buildings on Parliament Square, just a block back from Salamanca Place. The architects (fjmtstudio) and design consultants (Joseph Pang) behind Marriott International's first Luxury Collection hotel in Australia have reinvented, beautifully and sensitively, a former hospital, St Mary's (dating back to the 1840s) and an art deco wing that used to house various government departments including a printers office. The gleaming new steel and glass Pavilion completes the trifecta. You'll find smart, modern plaques with black and white photos and notes explaining the older buildings' storied past dotted around the hotel.
THE LOOK
The interior-design ethos of the Heritage, Art Deco and Pavilion buildings reflects their era but in a quiet way so that moving between them feels seamless. Warm tones, velvet cushions, Italian Frette bedlinen, marble bathrooms and intuitive technology feature throughout, whether you've got floor-to-ceiling harbour views from a Pavilion room or the gently curved furniture and geometric patterns of an art deco one. Works by local artists, Tasmanian wood and repurposed sandstone sit happily alongside state-of-the-art inclusions.
THE ROOM
I'm staying in one of the new suites, the St David's Park Suite, at one end of the Heritage building and, as the name suggests, with a quiet, leafy outlook. Generous proportions, high ceilings and huge windows combine with luxe furnishings to evoke the most covetable Manhattan or Milan apartment. An inviting lounge area with a press-of-a-button fireplace would be cosy on cooler days while the sleek four-poster bed is hard to leave. There is also an enormous walk-in wardrobe and an even bigger marble bathroom with a handcrafted blackwood timber bath. Bespoke toiletries from Grown Alchemist and Beauty & the Bees incorporate Tasmanian botanicals and honey.
If your preference veers more towards acres of sunlight and clean, modern lines, The Pavilion has two corner suites with expansive views as well as the rooftop Aurora Suite with its impressive outdoor terrace.
FOOD + DRINK
Somewhat unusually for a hotel, The Tasman nails the F&B offering. Mary Mary bar has a speakeasy feel with original sandstone walls, parquet flooring and seductive lighting. The drinks list features local distillers and includes a selection of low-alcohol cocktails including the Revival, a delicious version of a Kir Royale. Peppina, the generous and airy modern-Italian restaurant, is packed with locals enjoying chef Massimo Mele's seasonal, produce-driven menu and an exciting wine list by sommelier Michael Fisher. Striped trumpeter with shaved kohlrabi, broadbeans, capers and vinaigrette is fresh and summery while a Tassie sparkling works both as an aperitif and with the fish. Heartier dishes include lamb rump with salsa rossa plus tiramisu, torta Caprese or formaggi to follow. A green-walnut liqueur from winemaker Stefano Lubiana is a nutty, spicy digestivo. There's also the indoor/outdoor Deco Lounge for all-day coffee, drinks and small bites.
OUT + ABOUT
The location is pretty much perfect - you're a short walk from the waterfront (and the Brooke St ferry terminal for MONA), just up the hill from Salamanca Place and its Saturday market, and an easy stroll from Battery Point and picturesque Arthur Circus. Nigel Helyer's lovely Two Islands sculpture, representing Hobart's Aboriginal and European settler cultures, can be found in nearby Franklin Square, while the English-style walled St David's Park is a pleasant escape on a warm day. Good Food Guide-recommended restaurants Fico and Institut Polaire are also close, and over the road, Daci & Daci Bakers has excellent French patisserie - or try the quiche lorraine for something savoury. If you're browsing for artworks or homewares, design store Becker Minty recently opened at Salamanca Place near two good galleries, Colville and Despard.
THE VERDICT
The Tasman is a rare find among city hotels - a beautiful, unique property that celebrates its buildings' origins while cleverly incorporating the new and the luxurious. Every detail has been thought through, and the laser-like focus on quality, craftsmanship and provenance creates an indulgent stay that is very much of its place.
THE ESSENTIALS
Rooms from $358 a night. The St David's Park Suite is from $2,000 a night.
The Tasman, 12 Murray St, Hobart. See marriott.com
THE SCORE
★★★★★
Trudi Jenkins stayed as a guest of The Tasman.
HIGHLIGHT
Peppina's breakfast buffet is one of the best I've encountered, and includes viennoiserie from Hobart's renowned Pigeon Whole Bakers.
LOWLIGHT
The tourist loudly FaceTiming her friend at breakfast (not The Tasman's fault, obviously).
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