Doubletree by Hilton: a welcome addition to Perth’s ever-expanding (and rather spectacular) waterfront

By creammagazine, December 5, 2020

It’s full name reads Doubletree by Hilton Perth Waterfront. A mouthful of a title, yes, but you’ll be lost for words once you check into this new hotel on the Perth hospitality scene.

A welcome addition to the fledgling Perth cityscape – and the only hotel to have opened in all of 2020 – Doubletree by Hilton Perth Waterfront (and from now on I’ll be referring to it as Doubletree Waterfront) shows that progress can defeat even the most stubborn of pandemic setbacks.

Situated next door to the Bell Tower and flanked by heritage riverside jetties, there’s a certain familiarity sensed when setting foot here.

The lobby is spacious and welcoming, paying tribute to our original Indigenous landowners – complete with a lighting motif that borrows its design from the Aboriginal boomerang.

The first thing you notice about any new hotel, of course, is that ‘new’ smell. Or lack of smells, for that matter. Then its minimalism and cleanliness.

A recent study showed that over one in two Australians (56%) believe space, cleanliness and safety to be priorities when booking a hotel, while 68% said location was the most important factor.

Of these two criteria, Doubletree Waterfront delivers in spades. Having just opened its doors, it can boast being the cleanest building on the block, and of course it’s fully equipped with hand sanitiser stations and promises rigorous cleaning standards for patrons’ peace of mind.

As for location, well you can hardly beat 360-degree views of the Swan River and Perth CBD. There’s simply no room left on the compass!

Above video: Enjoy 360-degree views of the Swan River and Perth CBD. Footage taken on a hard-hat tour of the premises in November 2020.

Doubletree Waterfront consists of 18 floors, housing a total of 229 rooms in nine configurations from Twin Deluxe to King, with many of the rooms offering awe-inspiring views.

Like Doubletree in Northbridge, practicality has been key in the hotel’s design. Each room has been outfitted with economy of space and ease of movement in mind, keeping necessary furnishings sturdy, and doing away with the novelty add-ons.

Guests are provided with a ‘digital key’ and can use their smartphone to enter their room – without the hassle of old-school checking in. It’s a tactic that has worked wonders with Doubletree’s sibling in James Street, and feedback from patrons has been most positive in the digital-versus-hard-key debate.

Speaking of the practical, there is high-speed wireless internet access at every point, as well as on-demand movies with multiple channels viewable on a maneuverable large monitor. A radio with MP3 connectivity allows for a more personal soundtrack to the norm, and thick soundproofed glazing in the windows means the city noise stays at bay.

In the bathroom, Crabtree & Evelyn take care of guests’ hygiene needs, and the shower space is pretty big compared to other city hotels we’ve stayed at.

Room service is of course an option, but why stay in when you can enjoy the decadence of a full menu in the hotel’s restaurant, Reel Kitchen.

Its name playing on a fishing necessity, Reel Kitchen sees seafood peppering much of its a la carte menu. Try the mouth-watering barramundi to see why chef Mohammed Mussadiq has stuck to sourcing fish locally, and sync this with a great white from Reel’s expansive selection of W.A. wines. 

But what to do in the heart of the big city? You’ll find boutiques, restaurants and nightlife just a hop, skip and jump away from Doubletree Waterfront. But if Covid-19 has got you used to ‘staying in’, you can always enjoy the hotel’s inhouse amenities.

An outdoor infinity pool is located on level 5, and is the perfect place to take a dip while watching the sun set . Or for those feeling a little more energetic, there’s a river-facing fitness centre that’s open 24 hours a day.

As for quenching your thirst, the quirkily named 18 Knots bar on the 18th floor offers an array of delicious cocktails, like the lavender-infused vodka concoction, pictured here. Yes, it’s difficult to stop at just one.

Back to that big name now… Doubletree by Hilton Perth Waterfront is the only new hotel to open in Perth throughout all of 2020. The place is officially open for business on December 15, offering stays right on the waterfront adjoining Barrack Square and the Elizabeth Quay dining and entertainment precincts.

Opening just in time for the festive season, there will be a Christmas Day Buffet lunch in Reel Kitchen and a New Years Eve party at rooftop bar 18 Knots.

If you don’t get to sneak in a look by the end of this year, put it in your must-do list for the start of 2021. After all, a 360-degree clear view is just what the doctor will be ordering after the hell of a year 2020 has been.

Antonino Tati

 

Doubletree by Hilton Perth Waterfront is situated at 1 Barrack Square, Perth.

For room pricing and further information visit their website here.

Photography by Antonino Tati & Ben Roccamante.