Perth’s high density of hotels has dramatically pushed up competition within the city’s hospitality scene over the past few years. Quality accommodations aren’t hard to come by in the most isolated city in the world, one that is incredibly becoming one of Australia’s most exciting and creative destinations, and that sizable bank of worthy digs certainly includes the very valuable and smartly positioned Fraser Suites Perth.
The brand, a collection of award-winning serviced apartments, is beautifully expressed in Australia’s west, standing tall at 19 storeys on East Perth’s Adelaide Terrace. It’s not quite in the heart of the CBD, but not at all out of the way either, pushing the property’s location as one of its strongest points. Beautiful views over the Swan River are a given, while you’re also a stone’s throw from Perth’s historic WACA Ground (and elegant WACA Museum), a 10-minute skip to Heirisson Island (great for Kangaroo spotting), and a very short drive to both Perth Stadium and Crown Casino. Not to mention there’s a free Red Cat (one of the city’s free bus services) stop across the street for those who aren’t too keen on the brisk walk to CBD, and there’s some comfortable bicycles with which guests can explore the nearby areas.
Foodies will enjoy being so close to Fraser Point’s celebrated dining precinct by the water, though the hotel boasts its own popular dining destination. Heirloom Restaurant & Bar calls Fraser home, and takes care of both the Lobby Bar menu and 24-hour room service as well. The menu reads like healthy competition for Perth’s biggest players, with dishes like Pan Seared Lime Gnocchi with portobello purée, chorizo, pumpkin, pine nuts, rocket and basil; Lentil and Quinoa Oat Cake with pumpkin, pea purée, tuscan kale and sumac vinegarette; and Five spiced pork belly with bok choy, pear and apple chutney, fermented baechu, honey soy and crackling.
The Lobby Bar, by the immaculate glass staircase, is somewhere you’d actually want to sit and drink, a stylish extension of the impeccably polished lobby where stopping by for some cocktails scored by a breezy pianist is a very attractive option before a night out. Elsewhere, there’s an indoor heated swimming pool in a space that pulls in plenty of natural light during the day, nearby a spa, sauna and 24-hour gym. There’s much more than luxury apartment-style accommodations here, and nothing feels like an afterthought.
But such is expected from Frasers. The consistent award-winner has developed a reputation for luxury accommodations that somehow avoids the skyrocketing price tag and still manages to offer the more valued aspects of a typical high-end hotel. There’s just no spa; but that’s not a necessity, especially when you have a Balinese spa right next door.
Of the 236 serviced apartments in the hotel, I stayed in a 55 sqm One Bedroom Executive, which can either be formatted with one king bed and two singles. While the bedroom and its nearby bathroom are spotless and, though lacking character, charmingly simple in presentation, it’s the lounge room and attached, fully stocked kitchenette, that’ll impress the most though. Beautiful and spacious with a smart mix of blacks, whites and greys, the scene looks like it was ripped from magazine, presenting the ideal home-away-from-home with an aesthetic greatly elevated by the outside scenery. Depending on your room, you may have a direct birds-eye view of WACA Stadium from one of the corner windows, which of course makes this a very tempting option during Cricket season for those who want to watch a live game from the comfort of the apartment. That feature is unique to this property, a nice little consequence of the its height and location that should keep sports fan very happy.
A washer/dryer make this a great option for long-term stays, while the kitchenette is so well equipped you could easily save quite a bit of money with a bit of culinary know-how and few ingredients.
For families or staycations, this one is a no-brainer. Competitively priced with a lot to offer, you’d be hard-pressed finding something with this much value in the area, with some of the best Perth has to offer on the fringes of the CBD.
FOUR STARS OUT OF FIVE
The average nightly rate for a suite starts from AU$195.
Address: 10 Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6004
Contact: (08) 9261 0000
Website: frasershospitality.com
The writer stayed as a guest of Fraser Suites Perth.
Feature image supplied.
