QT Perth offers a juxtaposition of contemporary cool and cosy classicism

Antonino Tati checks into Perth’s QT hotel for a one-night staycation and feels like he’s a thousand miles from home.

Aside from its bold brass doors, the entry to boutique hotel QT Perth is relatively minimal in design. Inside, though, every design detail has been carefully considered, with form playing as much a part in architecture and interior as style.

Despite being situated in the heart of the bustling CBD, there’s a certain sense of cool and calm and when we arrive at check-in. The concierge is smiley and she even eyes off my Louis Vuitton overnight carry-all, saying something about us looking ‘posh’.

QT itself is kind of posh, but in a good, postmodern way. Two architect groups – Indyk and Candelapas Architects – along with Nic Graham and Associates worked together to ensure the original façade of the building remained in place, allowing the 19-level hotel and apartment space fit in nicely with Perth’s classic-meets-contemporary architectural landscape.

Inside the hotel, the decor is warm and cosy, which is in contrast to the design I remember being surrounded by during my stay at QT Sydney. Perth, it seems, is all about bits of pleasure amid the business; Sydney, it’s all about the party.

The lobby of QT Perth where even the colour scheme is paired back compared to other QTs peppered around the country.

Practicality is paramount at QT Perth. Even the key you are given to your room is a small round wooden chip that you simply hold up to your door to open.

The smallest of fittings in each room appear to have a practical purpose, like the coat hangers on the wall at the entry that double up as mini mirrors. After all, you’ve gotta check that lippy one last time before stepping out!

Guests are taken aback by the explicit attention to detail at QT, which is reminiscent of what the W Hotel group do around the world, but here things are less ‘mass’ looking and more unique per room. Not one element in the rooms have been casually overlooked, from the welcome note that awaits guests (mine included a cool Nintendo keychain as a personal gift since the manager “read somewhere” that I was into collectibles) to the well-stocked toiletries in the bathroom and at the vanity.

We enjoyed staying in a Luxe King room, which boasted generous space around the king bed, enough to fit two handsomely upholstered wingback chairs, a small reading table, mini fridge, bar and snack station, side table at each side of the bed, and even a vinyl record player that urged me to nick back home and retrieve a couple of classic LPs to play on my mini holiday.

Then there’s the bathroom space – plenty of it, thankfully. The key feature of the bathroom is the bathtub itself which, while it looks kinda small, actually fits two grown peeps comfortably. It might have been nicer if there were jets and bubbles, but even just being in this tranquil space with lavender salts soothing your body, you feel miles away from the big city as you soak in splendour surrounded by subtle black stone walls.

The walk-in rain shower provides ample space, for two people even, and the toiletries are minimal but practical, with Kevin Murphy being the main provider.

Even beneath pin spotlighting (adding a chiarroscurro vibe), the room furnishings appear as though they’ve been pilfered from various decades of the 20th century. Indeed, this place is postmodernity at its practical best. Rich, dark hues have mostly been used for each room and suite – from the floorboards to the arty wallpaper behind the bed headboard featuring camp cockatoos, giving the room a quintessential West Australian touch.

At night, you’d think guests would have to content with rowdy bar-goers on the street – what with the hotel being slap-bang in the middle of the city, but instead sound-proofed glass blocks out pretty much all that inner-city noise.

There’s ample space in the wardrobe for both you and your guest at QT Perth, especially for an impromptu one-night stay.

With 200 rooms in various styles, you can count on having a different visual experience during each stay at QT Perth.

Breakfast at QT is a far more special affair than in most city hotels. The menu boasts exotic interpretations of foods otherwise considered staple in other quarters of the world. A la carte options include “brain-food” bowls and breakfast burgers, but we opted for the big QT breakfast via room service.

Comfortable, practical seating at QT Perth’s Santini Grill.

Lunch at QT Perth is a decidedly more decadent cultural affair, with the main restaurant – Santini Grill – opting for Italian as its signature cuisine. Thursday in particular is very Italian in flavour, where Santini offers a ‘Pronto Pranzo’ (translation: ‘lunch-ready’. Guests can enjoy a two course meal for just $58 or three courses at $75 per person.

Entrees at Santini Grill are perfect for sharing.

We relished sharing delectable entrees as crocchette di rapa (beetroot and feta potato croquettes served with pecorino cheese and basil) and the always-reliable calamari fritti (semolina crumbed baby squid served with squid ink and lemon aioli).

For main, I opted for the cotoletta di maiale alla Milanese (pan-fried crumbed pork cutlet with oregano, lemon and brown butter, pictured above) while my partner enjoyed the rather more daring oxtail ravioli in a rich stracciatella and pecorino sauce.

Ordinarily we wouldn’t do dessert in the middle of the day but one look at the triple cannoli on the menu – flavoured with lemon, orange and original ricotta – and we were sold.

With any stay or visit to QT’s Santini Grill you have got to sample the cannoli, but even I’d have to agree a trio of cannoli is difficult to fit in. I wanted to take the third one back to my room to snack on later but was too embarrassed to ask for a takeaway bag in such a prestigious dining environ.

QT Perth has done a dandy good job at keeping its premises accessible to the young and trend-following demographic while also catering to your more serious business folk who flock here in droves of a weekday lunch break and after work.

Whether you’re visiting Perth for a couple nights’ stay, or living locally but desiring a cheeky weekend in the city, you ought to put QT at the top of the accommodation wish-list. Start maybe with a booking for lunch, or pop into the vibrant rooftop cocktail bar for a drink. One peak into one of their cosy rooms, though, and you’ll definitely be wanting to stay the night.

QT Perth is situated at 133 Murray Street, Perth.

Bookings and enquiries on (08) 9225 8000 or visit qthotels.com.au.

Rooms are available from around $450 a night, with discounts offered to QT members. 

Santini Grill offers its ‘Pronto Pranzo’ menu each Thursday from 12pm.