It’s high time someone was brave enough to have some fun with politicians. From Tony Abbott quotes about election campaigns being “budgie smuggler free zones” in the in-room guide; to crazy past’n’present Prime Minister wallpaper; to press pack paparazzi bursting from the lifts; this hotel takes a youthful, pop-art approach to reflecting its location in our nation’s capital. Without reinventing the universe, QT Canberra have refreshed the old Rydges Lakeside property, making it all the more joyful just by teaming their trademark bright yellow against a bevy of black and white. The Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned kit with instructions that begin with ringing for ice is a nice way to get your room stay off to the right start. Though if you can’t be bothered mixing your own, downstairs in the Capitol Bar & Grill, you can take your Old Fashioned ($19) barrel aged on Woodford Reserve. Moving from the bar through an impressive array of meat slicers, you enter the dining room proper. You’re greeted with an extensive please-all selection of Chicago-Italian inspired dishes, from updated Oysters Florentine ($26), to a ‘Butchers’ Tomato Salad ($21) with blue cheese dressing poured tableside, to thick slabs of coal grilled Tuna ($44). While everything’s generous, you do need the Mac’n’Cheese ($16) with your Rib Eye ($48) steak before you waddle to bed upstairs.
QT Canberra
1 London Circuit, Canberra City
Ph: (02) 6247 6244 qtcanberra.com.au
American, Italian, Cocktails $$$$
