So when the opportunity arose to stay at Launnie’s newest boutique accommodation offering, Hotel Verge, I was delighted to get back up north and not only check out the new digs but also savour some of the riverside city’s latest food and drink options.

The wholly Tasmanian-owned and operated Hotel Verge opened in September and has been built in an old carpark that was once home to the Saturday farmers market.

It is ideally located in the heart of the city, across the road from the grand, classical Victorian-era Albert Hall and City Park.

We arrived on a lazy, sunny Saturday afternoon just as the stallholders at the Harvest market, which still exists on a site right next to the hotel’s Cimitiere St side, were packing up.

As we were a little too early to check in and too late for any market treats, my husband and I decided to grab a coffee and pastry at the Bread + Butter cafe, which had been recommended to me by a friend.

The cafe/bakery, which uses its own hand-cultured butter, is a stone’s throw from the hotel on Cimitiere St and sits within a cool, industrial warehouse – the type you’re more accustomed to seeing in the hipper suburbs of Melbourne or Sydney.

And the recommendation was spot-on, as the latte was very good and the flaky, buttery chocolate croissant certainly hit the spot and kept the hunger pangs at bay.

Then it was onto the five-storey hotel, a classy, architecturally impressive and funky building inside and out.

The fit-out of the Verge was designed by Tasmanian firm Cumulus Studio, the architects behind the design of Pumphouse Point, and it shows.

We stayed in one of the hotel’s Luxe suites, which featured a generous comfy bed with luxurious king-size, feather-down pillows and stylish modern furniture such as mustard-coloured leather chairs.

All rooms also contain brass lamps and fittings that immediately reminded me of Pumphouse’s industrial-chic style, and is no doubt also nod to the city’s past, which benefited from a rich railway, hydro and tin and gold mining heritage.

The interiors also have a modern feel to them with lots of natural timbers, such as the much-admired wormy chestnut featured on the dados in the rooms, and smart black joinery.

The bathrooms, with their exposed polished concrete, luxurious products and towels, are artfully illuminated with moody, soft LED strip lighting and really add to the hotel’s overall appeal.

In fact, all the rooms have a minimalist and sleek look, yet feel warm and inviting and not at all cold and clinical, which can be a flaw in some modern buildings.

It would have been tempting to stay in that fancy hotel room all afternoon and grab a nanna nap but as we hadn’t explored the city for a while we thought we’d better make the most of our limited time and venture out.

The afternoon was spent walking around the dramatic, natural amphitheatre of the Cataract Gorge and the historic Duck Reach Power Station.

We then headed back into the city and freshened up at the Verge before setting out on foot to check out some of the city’s newer bars and eateries.

And it seems there’s a lot going in Launnie these days food and drinks-wise including several new cool little bars such as the Saint John Craft Beer Bar, Havilah wine bar and Red Brick Road Ciderhouse, to name a few.

We enjoyed a beer and G&T at the James Boag Brewery Bar’s beer garden as the sun was setting and then a great pub meal at O’Keefe’s Hotel. But if you’re after something a little more up-market I hear the restaurants Black Cow, Stillwater and Grain of the Silos are all top-notch.

On this trip we also checked out the 80s-themed Arcade Bar in York St, which is a fun little nostalgic trip down memory lane.

The small bar is full of pinball machines and classic 80s games such as Donkey Kong and Pac-Man, which amazingly cost the same amount to play as they did back then (for the younger ones out there that’s 20 cents, yes, 20 cents, a game!).

It is also decked out with loads of TVs playing videos of all those songs from the decade (think Duran Duran, Tears For Fears and Men Without Hats) that anyone who grew up glued to Countdown and Sounds with Donnie Sutherland on the telly and listening to the American Top 40 with Casey Kasem on the radio, like I did (really showing my age now!), will really appreciate.

We finished our exploration of the CBD with a trip to the popular Charlie’s Dessert House and enjoyed a shared waffle plate loaded with plenty of fresh fruit and sugary treats, which was a great way to top off a great night out.

Then it was back to our plush room where we had a lovely, deep, uninterrupted sleep as even though the Verge is in the middle of the city we found the rooms to be blissfully peaceful and quiet.

The real beauty of the Verge is that not only are the rooms luxurious and, starting at $179 a night, quite affordable for a new hotel, but the building itself is so central – everything is within walking distance. So once you park your car underneath the hotel you can ditch the keys and easily explore the city on foot.

Thanks, Launnie, we had a great time, we’ll be back.        

*The author was a guest of Hotel Verge

MAKE A NOTE

■ GETTING THERE: Launceston is about a two-and-a-half hours drive (200km) from Hobart.

■ STAYING THERE: Hotel Verge, is located at 50 Tamar St, Launceston

The opening rate for rooms at the Hotel Verge is currently $179 a night, this rate is valid until December 24. The Luxe suites are $219 a night and the Ultimate rooms which are bigger and have a larger lounge area, bathroom and freestanding bath are $279 a night.

The Diverge restaurant will offer evening drinks and tapas style food in the next few weeks in its courtyard and this is in addition to the current a la carte breakfast offering.

To book or for more information phone 6310 8100, or go to info@hotelverge.com.au

■ WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Launceston is also a great place to base yourself while you explore the Tamar Valley Wine Region, The Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania and the Hollybank Wilderness Adventures and the Penny Royal Adventures.