10 of the best hotels in Perth

Until recently, Perth seemed to exist inside its own bubble – some 2,000 miles west of Sydney and one of the most isolated cities in the world, Western Australia’s capital seemed largely indifferent to the rest of the country. However, the past decade has seen untold millions spent to boost the city’s reputation as Australia’s under-the-radar hotspot, accompanied by an unprecedented hotel boom, with 45 new properties opening their doors to guests. Base yourself in glitzy central or boho Fremantle to access the city’s desirable neighborhoods, from hipster Leederville to grungy Northbridge and Cottesloe Beach.

Best for: Skyline views
Hundreds of broken ceramic shards line the foyer of the world’s 100th Ritz-Carlton hotel, which opened in 2019. Made into an art installation, the ceramic pieces were reclaimed. during excavations to create Elizabeth Quay. The waterfront precinct frames the Swan River, reimagining the land that it once served as a gathering place for Aboriginal people in pre-colonial times. These days, it’s neon-lit in myriad colors, making for exciting evening strolls. dip take in the views from the 18-story hotel at the rooftop Songbird Bar & Lounge, Hearth Lounge and floodlit pool facing the quays. Rooms: from A$529 (£275).

Best for: Heritage
True story: A ghost hunter has been hired to clear any lingering spirits from these heritage terraced houses that once housed the warders of nearby Fremantle Prison. Don’t let that put you off, because the boutique rooms – in duck blue or dusty rose – couldn’t feel more peaceful. They combine reclaimed wood planks with luxury bedding and copper pipes that create linear sculptures along the thick limestone walls, which date back to 1851. There’s no need to incur the wrath of any of the remaining spectral guards by stealing the contents of the minibar or the products of breakfast pastries – all free – while a bustling Asian dumpling shop downstairs will deliver your cocoon with the touch of a QR code. Next door is the Fremantle Markets, selling everything from fashion to local produce. Rooms: from $299 (£155).

Best for: quokka-spotting
If grinning marsupials aren’t enough to get you to Rottnest Island, maybe this plush retreat will be. The visionaries behind the first luxury accommodation to ever open in the quokka-dotted nature reserve took 13 years to achieve their goal – obstacles such as a 12-mile ocean channel and a global pandemic had to be overcome before so that Samphire can place its A$30 million. (£15.8 million) of bony elegance in the Rottnest landscape. Named after a native succulent, the ocean-view resort—a 30-minute ferry ride from the mainland—has 80 rooms surrounding two lagoon-style pools. With plenty of waterfront dining and drinking options – in a minimalist, understated setting – it’s almost too easy not to explore the rest of the island, with guided walks, e-bikes and a Wadjemup Aboriginal tour. Rooms: from $249 (£129).

Best for: cool couples
Cockatoo wallpaper? Check. Snakeskin elevators? Check. Black ties? Check. Personality oozes from the surfaces at QT Perth, creating an opulent, grown-up and seductive atmosphere. There are nods to Western Australia throughout: in guest rooms, there’s metal artwork that references the local mining sector, native wildlife on the wallpaper, and jewel tones in luxurious fabrics inspired by the diamonds found in the north. The QT’s 18th-floor rooftop bar is decked out in the colors of the state’s Kimberley region. The rust-red and turquoise hues – evoking rocks and the ocean – contrast with the surrounding skyscrapers, so close you can almost touch them. On the first floor is the Santini Grill, one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. Rooms: from A$314 (£163).

Best for: Flashpackers
The floor-to-ceiling windows in this stylish block might make you forget you’re in a hostel. Occupying one and a half floors of a central Perth skyscraper, the private rooms here have high ceilings, black steel bed frames, pine shelving and vinyl flooring. Each also has air conditioning and a private bathroom. In the polished concrete common areas, there’s a cinema screen with cushioned patio seating, a café serving breakfast staples and a games center with an old-school Pac-Man table. Rooms: from A$129 (£67).

Best for: Affordable chic
If fashion, architecture and design books are your thing, you may never leave Tribe. Large, shiny cardboard is stacked around the idiosyncratic cafe-bar-lounge, which is dotted with stylish furniture – plush plush chairs, an electric blue sofa that resembles clam lips, bright gold accents and neon strips. It’s also great value – minibar removal, concierge and porter offer discounted rates. Rooms are compact with smart design elements and floor-to-ceiling windows. Rooms: from $179 (£93).

Best for: Neighborhood vibes
Six friends imagined they were contestants in a reality TV renovation competition when they took over this beachside pub, set beautifully on the eclectic South Fremantle cafe. Each handled the decoration of a single guest room. As a result, no two are alike. Some sports beds with four-poster frames, others have historic fireplaces or curiosities from the owners’ homes. The “Elephant Suite” is particularly coveted for its giant wallowing pachyderm mural, painted by local artist Anya Brock. With light flooding in through sash windows and elegant decor, it feels right at home, a feeling carried over to the downstairs bar. The watering hole is a hub for a colorful cast of regulars, including musicians, craftsmen and artists. Rooms: from A$155 (£81).

Best for: luxury wellness
Red cedar saunas are attached to the three rooms that make up this adults-only retreat tucked away in Perth’s Swan Valley wine region. Fittingly, the newly opened freestanding Wine Barrel Room resembles a giant wooden barrel, twinned with a barrel-shaped sauna. Its tall space and rural views are contrasted by a host of smart features, including automatic blinds. An outdoor hot tub, private golf cart and nearby spa with floating bridge round out the experience. Rooms: from A$445 (£231).

Best for: Design lovers
Playfulness is at the center of Alex, via a record player here, a velvet love seat there, and all manner of designer jewelry. The boutique haven is as craft-run as its founders, the original owners of Fremantle’s world-renowned Little Creatures Brewery. The six-storey building – located in the Perth Cultural Center – is perfectly placed to explore the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the Boola Bardip Museum of WA and the State Theater of WA Centre. Inside, the focus on common areas, from the artistic mezzanine to the skyline-wrapped rooftop, gives guests reasons to linger. Minimalist rooms are small but fun: double-glazed, glass-encased showers cheekily look out at the outside world (electric modesty blinds optional). Bonus touches include Alex’s attached restaurant, Shadow wine bar, and lunch checkout. Rooms: from A$270 (£140).

Best for: Subtle elegance
Being located on Point Zero — the central point of the city, from which all distances to Perth are measured — is an element of this five-star hotel’s story that is almost forgotten once you step inside. Built in the 1890s to house the original State Treasury Buildings and General Post Office, today’s iteration brings a palpable sense of refined luxury to downtown. The hotel is home to 48 voluminous rooms – no two alike – four top restaurants, an indoor swimming pool overlooking the historic rooftops, a day spa, a private library and, on the public floor, a collection of boutique shops that vary from florist to tailor to chocolatier. For the understated wow factor, there’s nowhere better. Rooms: from A$895 (£465).