From a modern hostel to art hotels, Fremantle and Perth have accommodation to suit every taste.
The Adnate, Perth.
The Adnate
900 Hay St, Perth; (08) 6371 1000; artserieshotels.com.au
THE LOCATION There’s no chance of missing The Adnate in Perth’s CBD skyline – the southern hemisphere’s largest mega-mural, by namesake Matt Adnate, stretches 25 floors on the $90-million hotel’s east-facing facade.
This mega-mural on Perth's The Adnate is the largest in the southern hemisphere.
THE PLACE Perth’s first Art Series hotel (and the brand’s first to be dedicated to a street artist) has 250 art-filled rooms, and an outdoor pool on level one, accompanied by the playful Hyde Perth Kitchen + Cocktails. You’ll find the Hyde brand in party destinations across the US and on the Gold Coast, where the concept, promising DJs and a “summertime” atmosphere, is a perfect fit. In Perth, the pastel lounges, gold finishes and striped day beds are a breath of fresh air.
THE EXPERIENCE You don’t need to be an art lover to love staying here; you can’t help feeling inspired by the scale of Adnate’s work (murals also adorn the driveway, lobby and main staircase), along with the extra touches, such as the small canvas in each room.
DON’T MISS A Perth street art tour led by the in-house art curator; keep an eye out for Matt Adnate himself, who will pop in for a few special guest experiences.
FROM $179 a night. - Lisa Perkovic
The Quay Hotel Perth
18 The Esplanade, Perth; (08) 9325 2000; quayperth.com
The Quay Hotel Perth.
THE LOCATION Perth’s CBD rolls down the hill to the newly transformed Elizabeth Quay,
and just before you hit the water you’ll find Quay Perth. Looking straight out to the precinct’s 25-metre arched Spanda sculpture, the hotel has the best of both worlds: direct city access and waterfront views. Throw in the ferry terminal, with direct departures to South Perth and Rottnest Island, and you’ve got a lot of sightseeing at your fingertips.
THE PLACE The 80-room hotel underwent a multi-year, multimillion-dollar overhaul, transforming what was The New Esplanade Hotel from a run-of-the-mill, three-star property to a smart boutique hotel, co-working space, and watering hole. It’s the first Australian property from Singapore-based group Louis T Collection.
THE EXPERIENCE Industrial metal, exposed wood and native plants tick the boxes for a contemporary stay, especially on Level Nine, the hotel’s full-service, 24/7 co-working space. Guests and locals drop in, hire a window seat (or boardroom) and let their creative juices flow. But it’s not all work, no play: on Saturdays the rooftop HQ Bar & Kitchen buzzes, serving cocktails and Asian tapas in front of the city’s best waterfront views.
DON’T MISS Curl up in the window seat of an Elizabeth Quay Luxury Studio room; from the highestfloors, the views of the Swan River are a treat.
FROM $200 a night. - Hannah Barry
Hostel G, Perth.
Hostel G
80 Stirling St, Perth; 0402 067 099; hostelgperth.com
THE LOCATION This modern place is a short stroll from the main entertainment hub of Northbridge, with the city at your door.
THE PLACE Perth’s high-end hotel scene has been booming in recent times, but this newcomer adds some sizzle to the budget end of the spectrum. Taking two floors of a drab former Telstra building, Hostel G has been reworked for a fresh take on a shoestring stay. The room categories include Great, Greater and Greatest, with Good dorm rooms sleeping two to eight. The Glam Room, sleeping four, is for ladies only – a welcome addition for solo female travellers.
THE EXPERIENCE The spaces are sleek and chic, with aircon, charging ports and hairdryers; a far cry from the dingy hostels of old. Hostel G’s motto is “Live your best life”, and plenty of visitors certainly do. Pool tables, board games and the Lazy Lee Urban Eatery’s cocktails and burgers set the tone for a lively stay.
DON’T MISS Catch Australian comedians and singers 10 minutes down the road at the Astor Theatre.
FROM $24 a night. - Cameron Myles
The National Hotel Fremantle
98 High St, Fremantle; (08) 9335 6688; nationalhotelfremantle.com.au
THE LOCATION This Federation-style, heritage-listed landmark occupies the prime corner position of Fremantle’s High and Market streets with pride.
THE PLACE With a 151-year history that’s included four fires, a murder and a rooftop that earned the nickname “Widow’s Walk” (after the sailors’ wives who used it as a lookout to await the return of ships), The National Hotel certainly has a colourful backstory. A $7-million makeover has returned this grande dame to glory, with the help of a gastropub, a 12-room hotel and Freo’s first rooftop bar.
The National Hotel Fremantle has a colourful 151-year history.
THE EXPERIENCE Restored original features embrace the building’s past – think grand fireplaces, French doors and high ceilings. The Rooftop Garden’s low-rise lounges showcase the 360-degree views; sample the gin menu, then head down to the first-level restaurant that offers dining on the verandah.
End the evening on the ground floor with live music, bar food and bevvies.
DON’T MISS There’s even more colourful history at Fremantle Prison, a short walk away. Try the after-dark Torchlight Tours if you’re feeling brave.
FROM $155 a night. - Hannah Barry
TO READ WHILE YOU’RE HERE by Nicole Abadee
Tim Winton's Breath and Robert Drewe's The Shark Net.Credit:
Few novelists capture the exhilaration of surfing as well as Tim Winton does in Breath, which netted him his fourth Miles Franklin Literary Award in 2009, and in 2018 was made into a movie starring Simon Baker. Winton’s descriptions of the ocean will have you reaching for your board, but he also explores the dark side of endlessly searching for the next adrenaline rush.
Another popular WA writer, Robert Drewe, captures the state evocatively in his 2000 memoir The Shark Net, in which he writes of growing up in the coastal suburbs of Perth at a time when a serial killer, who murders a boy he knows, is on the loose. Drewe’s warm, witty writing is a delight.
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