FV by Peppers hotel review, Brisbane: Bringing a splash of New York to Brisbane

Poolside at FV by Peppers.

THE LOCATION

FV by Peppers is in the steadily gentrifying inner-city suburb of Fortitude Valley, about two kilometres north-east of Brisbane's CBD.

THE SPACE

The hotel is part of the $600 million, three-tower FV apartment complex by Melbourne developer GURNER. The centrepiece is the triangular Flatiron tower – modelled on the Manhattan landmark of the same name – which has made a bold impression on the city skyline since opening in September 2017.

The tower shimmers in bronze, its standout feature a 65-metre skyline pool that bends around the nose of the building on level six. This floor is the resort hub and also features a commercial-sized gym, yoga studio, restaurant, bar, private 20-person cinema and a breezy tropical lounge that connects to the second tower, Valley House.

There are three VIP spa lounges, which can be booked for four hours and enable you and up to nine friends to enjoy a soak with city views and the option of food and beverage catering. Cinema and spa lounge hire are free for guests. FV, designed by architects Elenberg Fraser, encompasses almost 1000 apartments across three 30-storey towers. There are 120 hotel apartments all up, mixed with residential living and ground-floor retail spaces.

The yoga room at FV by Peppers

THE ROOM

FV is a design-led property, but my apartment's greatest asset is without doubt the views. I'm on floor 26 and have spectacular views across the city to the Meriton Infinity tower and Story Bridge.

The two-bedroom apartment is sleek and bright with a designer kitchen (coffee machine, tick) and European laundry tucked in the bathroom. An enclosed balcony with opening windows stretches the length of the living spaces, offering great vistas, but it's very narrow in parts. The bedrooms have small windows and no real views but are lovely and quiet.

My only complaint is the bathroom, which suffers from a case of fashion over function. There is no nook or amenities holder in the shower for even a bar of soap, and I can't wash my face or brush my teeth over the basin without banging my head on the shaving cabinet. Apart from that, I could happily wake up here for several weeks or months (as do the residents).

THE FOOD

On level six, Foresters Restaurant & Bar serves up gastropub fare from breakfast until dinner as well as room service, but it's not open when I visit. Café Monk & Grind 63 is a stone's throw away, as is Chinatown, and there are many cafes, restaurants and burger joints within a 10-minute walk. For steak and chips with a twist there's Le Bubbles, a Parisian-inspired steakhouse housed in a former illegal casino, brothel and bathhouse (you can still have a soak in the downstairs spa). One night we catch a taxi to Eat Street Northshore, a pop-up food and entertainment village spread across 180 shipping containers on a decommissioned shipping wharf. There's street food from around the word and a lively riverfront ambience.

STEPPING OUT

Fortitude Valley is Brisbane's entertainment precinct and if you're after a night out drinking in bars, checking out live music or clubbing, you've come to the right place. James Street, with its designer stores, is the place to shop, while the delightful Winn and Bakery lanes are incubators for local creatives, offering interesting boutiques and eats. FV by Peppers is a short walk from Fortitude Valley Station (under a shopping centre), and a quick train ride from the CBD or South Bank. Riverside Ferry Terminal is a 20-minute walk and connects with the CityCat, which is a pleasant and efficient way of getting to South Bank Parklands via the Brisbane River. Worth exploring here are the gardens, Streets Beach swimming lagoons, the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) and the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre.

THE VERDICT

Bringing a splash of New York to Brisbane, FV by Peppers is a stylish property with a convenient location, enthusiastic service, fabulous views and impressive extras.

HIGHLIGHT

The spa lounges are a wonderful, luxurious touch but it's best to book ahead.

LOWLIGHT

The residences attract young tenants and you can be privy to some balcony antics on weekends, but it was always quiet sleeping.

ESSENTIALS

FV by Peppers, 191 Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley. Two-bedroom apartments from $274 a night. See peppers.com.au/fv

OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE

★★★★½

Catherine Best was a guest of FV by Peppers.