The welcome at the InterContinental Perth City Centre is akin to that warm, fuzzy feeling you experience when gathered around a campfire, toasting marshmallows with mates from out of town. This upmarket hotel nails the brief when it comes to making good first impressions – from the moment I stepped out of my Uber (only a speedy 20-minute drive from Perth Airport), I knew right away that I was in for a five-star stay.
Nothing is ever too much trouble for the InterContinental’s friendly team, who are on-call 24/7 to take care of my every need (from delivering cutlery for a midnight snack just shy of 12am, to recommending the best local running routes, to offering a generously late check-out time of 12.30pm). Upon arrival, a smiling concierge leads me through two oversized doors into a sophisticated lobby, adorned with sandstone walls and calming tones. Check-in is a breeze and within minutes, I’m ascending to floor 14 where I’ll be staying in a King Cosy Room.
Staying in the ‘heart of the city’ may sound cliché, but it’s a bang-on description of the InterContinental’s prime location on the corner of King and Hay Street. Guests are mere footsteps from buzzing galleries, impressive shows, alfresco dining, colourful street art and spectacular shopping, with the hotel located just across the road from His Majesty’s Theatre, one block from Hay Street Mall, a 12-minute walk from Elizabeth Quay or Perth Cultural Centre, and an eight-minute walk from Perth Railway Station. (Note: the InterContinental doesn’t have a pool, so the station will become your best friend for trips to seaside suburbs like Cottesloe and Fremantle).
I can see all the city action glittering below from my room’s floor-to-ceiling glass window, with the view slowly unveiled by an automatic blind that rises as I enter. A luxury window chaise is positioned just in front of it, and I can already picture myself lounging there at sunset – wrapped in the plush robe and enjoying a local Little Creatures bevvie from the mini-bar, of course.
While the hotel’s 240 rooms are polished and practical, they break free from the brand’s cookie-cutter mould, with 300 magnificent artworks decorating the walls. These works were exclusively commissioned by 13 West Australian sculptors, ceramicists and painters, giving the space a contemporary yet homely feel. And with rainfall showers, a flat-screen Smart TV, designer Byredo toiletries, a Nespresso machine and down feather bedding, you’ll have absolutely no problem making yourself feel right at home.
For business travellers, the InterContinental Perth City Centre offers spacious suites with an additional living area and access to the members club. There’s also the penthouse on level 16, for those who like the finer things in life.
Hotel restaurants can be pretty hit or miss, but the InterContinental Perth City Centre hits it out of the park with not just one, but three exceptional dining and drinking venues. You can soak up the alfresco Spanish atmosphere at Heno and Rey, as you share tapas and sip Sangria on bustling Hay Street. There’s also Ascua, a captivating theatre-style open kitchen, where you’ll find dry-aged Western Australian meats and premium seafood cooked over a sizzling wood-fired grill. Wherever you end up, finish the night with a classic cocktail or two on the outdoor terrace at The Loft Lounge and Bar, which is open until midnight daily on level one.
