Overview
Luxury Australian hotel chain Crystalbrook has opened its flagship rooftop restaurant on top of its Newcastle outpost, Crystalbrook Kingsley. Roundhouse is the new sky-high eatery perched above the harbour city with a strong focus on hyper-local produce.
The newly opened restaurant boasts a modern Australian menu with 80-percent of its produce sourced from within a three-hour drive of the hotel. Local farmers, fisherman and artisans all make up the kitchen's bank of suppliers that come together to form dishes that celebrate the region's great produce.
Drop in for a meal and enjoy the panoramic views of Newcastle and its surroundings, with local landmarks like Nobby's Head and the vast wineries of the Hunter Valley visible from the restaurant.
Heading up the kitchen is chef Natalie Bolt who has previously worked in United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Thailand.
"We have created a menu that celebrates native Australian ingredients and the world-class produce grown in our region," Bolt said. "It's an exciting new chapter for Newcastle and I'm loving working on the ground with incredible producers and providers."
On the menu you'll find highlights like lamb rack from Pukura Estate served with smoked eggplant and wattleseed pickle, or sustainably caught Paperback market fish, baked whole and served with harissa duck fat potatoes. If you come for breakfast, you'll be treated to a tower of early morning treats and selections from the la carte menu like house-made waffles and breakfast bruschetta.
Accompanying the dishes is an extensive wine list that is, of course, hyper-local. The wine on offer showcases the breadth of different wines currently being produced a stone's throw from Newcastle in the Hunter Valley.
The Newcastle hotel is one of six locations owned by Crystalbrook Collection around Australia, with a seventh appearing in Brisbane next July. Earlier this year, the boutique hotel chain offered free hotel upgrades to fully vaccinated guests in a push to help encourage Australians to get out and get the jab.
Bookings for Roundhouse can be made online and are recommended as the restaurant is known to book out.
Roundhouse is located at Level Nine, 282 King Street, Newcastle. It's open for breakfast 7–10am Saturday and Sunday, and dinner 6–10pm Thursday–Saturday.