First built in the 1840s as a flour mill and water supplier, this historical building at the mouth of the Cataract Gorge has gone on to become one of Launceston's premier destinations for fine dining and boutique accommodation. Stillwater Restaurant opened in 2000, and the architects at Cumulus Studio were tasked with designing the seven luxurious suites that are now known as Stillwater Seven.
Stillwater Restaurant
The front entrance opens directly into the restaurant, which is helmed by executive chef Craig Will and features an ever-changing seasonal menu centred around locally sourced produce and highly respected local tipples. You can dine in for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and choose between sitting in the light-drenched sunroom or the more intimate dining area.
The breakfast menu includes classics like sourdough toast with your choice of spread, fruit toast with cinnamon sugar and eggs your way on toast, but there are also a few unusual offerings and twists on classics. The smoked salmon eggs benedict is placed on malty rye waffles, and for those who prefer a heartier breakfast, there's a 'red bowl' of wagyu chilli con carne, fried eggs, polenta chips and avocado salsa.
For lunch, the menu is designed for sharing and features a variety of snacks, small dishes and large plates. If you're just after a snack, pair a serve of Tasmanian oysters with a glass of crisp sparkling or orange vino, or get the moreish gnocco fritto with parma ham. Keen for a feed? Mains include wallaby wings coated in a sticky, sweet and tangy tamarind barbecue sauce, an Asian-inspired tartare using Cape Grim beef, gochujang, sesame wafer and pickled radish, and crispy-skin pork belly on a bed of white quince puree and black barley and charred fennel salad.
Peckish evening diners can opt for a two-course menu for $80 per person, and those who've come hungry can get all three courses for $99 per person. The menu is a mix of modern Australian and pan-Asian, and highlights include the Tasmanian wallaby cooked to medium rare and sliced over macadamia cream, barbecued zucchini, fermented peppers and quinoa, and the Koji-aged Cape Grim eye fillet with garlic custard, roasted baby dutch carrots, mustard seed jus and kale. For dessert, refresh your palate with yuzu ice cream topped with shiso granita, raspberries and yoghurt crémeux, or indulge in the rich chocolate dulce de leche tart that was so delicious, that we got it twice.
The drinks menu is stocked with all manner of elevated classic cocktails, local wines by producers like Stoney Rise and locally made beers and spirits. If you're not sure where to start, the River Tamar region is especially renowned for its exceptional pinot noir and chardonnay, and your servers and the sommelier are all happy to assist.
Stillwater Seven
Cumulus Studio, the firm behind the minimalist, eco-friendly cellar doors for Stoney Rise and Devil's Corner, weaved contemporary design features with the building's surviving elements for a result that's both fresh and pays homage to the space's rich history. Weathered corrugated iron, heritage sandstone and giant oregon trusses are juxtaposed with textural paintings in deep, bold colours and playful lighting and bright walls and ceilings.
There are seven suites to choose from, including a singular courtyard (and pet-friendly) suite, three deluxe rooms and three premium rooms. When you book a stay, you'll receive a confirmation email from hotelier and co-owner Chris McNally that asks you a variety of questions to help tailor your stay to your preferences. Let the team know whether you prefer gin to whisky or wine to a cleansing ale, what your favourite genre of music is and what kind of magazines you like to read, then prepare to arrive at a space that's somehow both homey and has that fresh hotel feel.
Upon arrival, you'll receive a bowl of seasoned popcorn and a loaf of sourdough that was freshly baked in house with a pat of cultured butter. Travel can make you a bit peckish, so it's the perfect way to refuel — and if you're still hungry, you can raid the in-room pantry and mini-bar that are stocked with sweet and savoury snacks and a host of beverages. The television will be tuned into playing the genre of music you said you liked, and the room will also have an abundance of magazines and books, and our top tip is to pick a favourite, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy a long soak in the bathtub.
The bathroom is stocked with nourishing Lentara products made from extra virgin olive oil, including a jar of fragrant bath salts, so tip some in, prop your drink and book on the wooden table and enter relaxation mode. When you're ready to venture out, you're just a short walk from the Cataract Gorge trail and chairlifts, art galleries, city parks and the CBD.
