The InterContinental Perth City Centre is ready to reacquaint you with its luxury, and it’s as magnificent as you remember.
Originally built in the 1970s, this 16-storey hotel started life as an office tower, painted a suitably ’70s shade of cendre blue. Since then, it’s been through two significant upgrades: the first converted it into a hotel, and the second saw its transformation into the five-star, 240-room InterContinental Perth City Centre. Opening its doors in October 2017, the arrival of the hotel and its two celebrated restaurants marked the luxury brand’s first foray into the West Australian market.
Uniquely West Australian
The building is the perfect example of mid-century modern architecture, cutting an imposing figure on the Perth skyline. Its façade is a tessellation of ‘squircle’ shaped windows, which give a subtle salute to the shipping company that first occupied the building. Their porthole likeness is the only lasting remnant of the building’s past life.
Its facade is a tessellation of ‘squircle’ shaped windows.
Inside, the hotel assumes a contemporary and distinctively West Australian persona. A cascade of glass leaves crafted by a local glassblower and a sandstone feature wall greet guests in the lobby. They’re joined by artworks curated by Perth art world heavyweights Linton & Kay Galleries. It’s a hyper-local collection featuring more than 300 pieces across the lobby, hallways and guest rooms.
Inside, the hotel assumes a contemporary and distinctively West Australian persona.
The artworks add a touch of colour to the sleek colour palette of the InterContinental brand. Finished in soft neutral tones with accents of wattle yellow, the rooms feel luxurious without broaching the realm of ostentatiousness. They don’t need to be showy and the luxury is in the thoughtful details: the textured wallpapers, silver leaf gilded picture frames, and sumptuous Byredo amenities. There’s an air of luxe in the views, too, with rooms overlooking either the heritage façades of King Street or the wider Perth cityscape.
The artworks add a touch of colour to the sleek colour palette of the InterContinental brand.
The same conscious high-end design choices extend to level 16’s exclusive Club InterContinental, the hotel’s exclusive in-house retreat. It’s the first point of contact for guests checking into their club rooms and suites, and the last when they’re checking out. In the morning, it’s open for an alternate breakfast with a view; post-breakfast, the high standard of hospitality continues with complimentary refreshments available at any hour, as well as a private concierge to assist with your needs. Come sunset, club room guests are invited to sip on local wines and mingle at the daily canape hour.
Marvel at the conscious high-end design choices.
Location, location, location
On the corner of Hay and King, the InterContinental Perth City Centre is in the heart of it all. Just across the road is His Majesty’s Theatre, the magnificent Edwardian Baroque home of the West Australian Ballet and West Australian Opera.
The InterContinental Perth City Centre is in the heart of it all.
The concierge is always up to date with what’s on and can suggest activities that may be of interest. They know the city inside out and are a full bottle on the latest local exhibitions and hidden galleries that speak to particular tastes. They’re even happy to help book bespoke workshops, like a one-on-one glass blowing session in Margaret River with one of the hotel’s feature artists, Gerry Reilly.
Just up the road on King Street, shoppers can add another classic handbag to the collection at Chanel or Gucci.
Just up the road on King Street, shoppers can add another classic handbag to the collection at Chanel or Gucci. The pedestrian malls, lined with high street outposts, are a short stroll in the opposite direction. The serenity of Kings Park and the Swan River is also within walking distance, and some of Perth’s finest eateries are, at most, a five-minute Uber away. Others are mere metres from the elevators in the hotel lobby.
Stroll along the pedestrian malls, lined with high street outposts.
Dine fine
Within the city’s bounds, most cuisines have been covered. But authentic Spanish is well and truly the domain of the expert chefs at InterContinental Perth City Centre.
Authentic Spanish is well and truly the domain of the expert chefs at InterContinental Perth City Centre.
Heno & Rey is the more casual of the hotel’s two restaurants, a favourite local hangout when the night calls for endless plates of tapas and sangria by the jugful. The open plan dining and alfresco areas come to life post-5pm with a healthy mix of hotel guests, locals and the after-work crowd.
Heno & Rey is the more casual of the hotel’s two restaurants.
Inside, the chefs prepare the likes of spicy patatas bravas and Rey Pollo (the restaurant’s famed king chicken) from their open kitchen. It’s a unique setup that provides a rare insight into the cooking processes and the people behind the food.
Share some tapas at Heno & Rey.
Guests are also invited into the kitchen at fine dining Ascua, with the restaurant’s signature woodfire grill positioned for all to see. Flames dance and lick at Flintstonian dry-aged tomahawk steaks – their signature dish – as they’re chargrilled to perfection in front of your eyes. The centrepiece also imparts its flavours on the likes of whole fish, Fremantle octopus, squid, king prawns, and West Australian crayfish, blurring the lines between Spanish and modern Australian cuisines.
Guests are also invited into the kitchen at fine dining Ascua.
It’s a fitting fusion menu for a hotel that effortlessly embraces a West Australian aesthetic.
Flames dance and lick at Flintstonian dry-aged tomahawk steaks.
