If you live in Sydney, there’s nearly a hundred percent chance that you’ve had a conversation about housing in the last week. In at least half of those really fun chats, conversational roads will inevitably lead to the same destination: Newcastle. Everyone seems to be moving to Newcastle.
Including QT Hotels, which opens in the seaside city this week. This is a big deal for the esteemed hotel brand: almost all of the chain’s ten or so other Australian hotels are concentrated in the country’s capital cities. With the Newcastle opening, QT is taking its first steps into the regional market.
QT Newcastle occupies the former David Jones building.
(Photo: courtesy of QT)It’s taken over the former David Jones building, in Hunter Street mall, right in the thick of town. The heritage-listed building is over 113 years old, and boasts prime water views out over the harbour. It’s a key part of the East End precinct development, an ambitious multi-stage plan to revitalise Newcastle’s old CBD. There are 104 rooms and suites, each fitted out in QT’s modern, sleek-but-quirky style. It’s a fun juxtaposition with the heritage exteriors.
Dishes at Jana.
(Photo: courtesy of QT)As with QT’s other locations, the hospitality line-up is a big part of the appeal – for both guests and locals. And Jana, the signature restaurant, should prove popular. It’s a modern Australian bar and grill, with some serious firepower in the kitchen: executive chef Massimo Speroni, who joins from brassy and boisterous Brisbane fine diner Bacchus. Speroni has also worked at two of Italy’s finest restaurants – he spent time in the kitchen at Café le Paillotes in Pescara, and was sous chef at San Domenico in Imola, which have one and two Michelin stars, respectively.
The view from the rooftop.
(Photo: courtesy of QT)At Jana, Speroni has designed a menu with a nice range of local, dry-aged steaks, and an overall emphasis on simple dishes that hero ingredients from around the Hunter region.
It’s all capped off by a rooftop bar. For food, there’ll be a range of izakaya-style snacks, complemented by a range of Japan-inspired cocktails. Plus, the spirit line-up will include sakés, umeshus and Newcastle’s largest range of Japanese whiskies.
QT Newcastle
185 Hunter St, Newcastle
