A stunning U-shaped pool offering far-reaching views over Brisbane River and the city, a cosy private cinema, luxury private spa rooms for hire, and ultra-modern apartments in two of three thirty-storey towers that have been built across 5000 square metres. FV by Peppers is an enormous and incredibly impressive development from Australian real estate mogul Tim Gurner. Permanent residents reside in the building alongside apartment hotel guests, opening up the latter to a very comfortable option in Brisbane’s often hectic Fortitude Valley and the area’s various yearly events like BIGSOUND.
The $600 million developments still isn’t fully realised though. A third tower will be completed in 2019, but there’s little in the way of disturbance to guests and residents as they check-in on the sixth floor, the same level as most of the first tower’s amenities. Street-level entrances are rather awkward and bare, vastly different scenes to the vibrant lobby with a reception desk that doubles as a bar and sits in a quiet space in between the pool area and a beautifully landscaped outdoor communal space that connects two towers.
Rooms available to guests are split between one and two-bedroom apartment, each with fully equipped modern kitchens. My one bedroom apartment is a small (especially when considering Peppers’ other properties) but functional space with a cube-like layout encompassing a large bedroom, kitchen, lounge room, balcony, study area, and bathroom. The fashionable, ultra-modern interior is largely unconcerned with any extra trimmings, making up for lack of character with a neat aesthetic that looks as if it was ripped straight from the pages of a home style magazine.
The bedroom is rightfully given ample space that would have been even larger if a fraction wasn’t take up by a separate study area, an oddly empty space that’s really just a desk and a chair. The bed soaks in plenty of natural light thanks to the leafy windowsill and is fantastic to sleep on with a supportive mattress and cloud-soft pillows.
The room’s view is of the opposite tower, but instead of obscuring the scene, it has been designed in a way that splits into two vistas, both discernible from the quaint balcony. It’s a clever little architectural oddity from Gurner, who has also worked it so you aren’t just peering directly into other people’s rooms.
FV’s aforementioned U-Shaped pool is something that has been getting a lot of attention as of late, and rightfully so. The non-traditional design that wraps around an open-air balcony with shimmering blue water is as stunning in real life as it is in the photos. They aren’t taking their position as one of the area’s only rooftop pools lightly either; there’s a swim-up bar in the centre – although it was yet to be fully functioning on my visit – and a nice, small amount of cushy deck chairs dotted around the small space. Residents are truly spoilt, although those who like to actually use a hotel’s pool for swimming rather than dipping may leave a bit disappointed; wide columns create tight squeezes at the corners of the pool so anyone planning to swim around it may have a hard time.
Just before the pool are a few doors leading to those luxury private spa rooms, which can be rented at a very affordable rate for both hotel guests and residents. They rooms are spacious and rather European in style, looking like secret modern bath houses with a big flat screen TV, Bluetooth speakers, a large cushioned seating area, glassware for the BYO crowd, and of course the beautiful spa which looks out over a wall which peels back with the touch of a button, revealing a beautiful view out across Brisbane. Sitting in the spa sipping wine and watching a storm unfold is unequivocally the perfect night-in her. Follow that up with a film at the moonlight cinema right next door and you’re set.
A gym that’s so well-appointed it could easily be a commercial fitness centre and a dedicated yoga studio should keep fitness-minded guests very happy, making FV one of the most well-appointed modern hotels in the city and surely an essential stay for any short-term visitors who like to indulge a little bit. Undoubtedly it’s going to be a hugely sought-after stay for those heading up to BIGSOUND each year from now.
Rooms at FV by Peppers start at $249 per night for a one bedroom apartment.
FV by Peppers
Address: 169 Alfred Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006
Contact: 1300 987 600 (AU); 0800 275 373 (NZ); +61 7 5665 4426 (International)
Website: peppers.com.au
The writer stayed one night as a guest of FV by Peppers.
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