Alex Hotel
With its urban design, boutique charm and prime location, Alex Hotel is a stylish escape from the buzz of Northbridge.
The six-storey retreat – by Fremantle-based architects Spaceagency – is edgy and urban, with each floor kitted out in a distinct colour palette. Interiors, courtesy of Sydney-based Arent&Pyke, are outfitted with Breuer-inspired seating, comfy armchairs and velvet upholstery. Communal spaces for work or relaxation, such as the colourful mezzanine lounge, feel like hip members’ clubs, what with rotating local art on the walls, a record player and LPs to sift through, as well as perfectly positioned books and lifestyle magazines. Hanging out is encouraged here, but rooms are just as comfortable and considered, with custom beds and neat touches like earplugs ensuring a deep sleep even within a stone’s throw of the surrounding nightclubs. Sleek bathrooms with rain showers are a definite drawcard, as are the west- and south-facing rooms, which have balconies with CBD views. Much like stepping foot in your very cool friend’s abode, you’ll feel immediately at ease and at home here.
Need to Knows
- 74 Rooms (Small Room, Medium Room, Large Room, Extra Large Room, Family Room, Accessible Room).
- Check-in: 2pm; Check-out: 12pm.
- Rooms feature blackout curtains, rain showers and Vasse Virgin toiletries from Margaret River. Smart TVs are equipped with streaming capabilities and WiFi, beach towels, umbrellas and Dutch-style Lekker bikes are all complimentary. Parking, it’s worth noting, is off-site.
What’s There
You’d be right to expect fine F&B options from the gang behind Little Creatures Brewery, Bread in Common and Coogee Common, who are all at the helm of Alex Hotel. They also own the adjacent Shadow Wine Bar and Dining Room, which doubles as the kitchen for in-room dining. The Lobby Bar is a great chill out space, as is the mezzanine lounge, and a rooftop terrace with west-facing views is perfect for sunset. If you’re here for work, the rooftop’s boardroom can hold up to 20 people.
What’s Around
“What isn’t around?” is a better question given Perth Cultural Centre is mere metres away and comprises The Art Gallery of Western Australia, WA Museum Boola Bardip, the State Library of Western Australia, the State Theatre Centre of WA, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art and The Blue Room Theatre. William Street has you covered for first-class wine bars and top-notch Asian fare, from dim sum to phò. As for shopping, a stroll via Perth Station leads to Forrest Chase, as well as Murray Street and Hay Street Malls.
What’s Super Special
In the warmer months, from October to April, you can grab a sundowner from the bar trolley on the sixth-floor rooftop terrace from 5-8pm. Post-dinner, you can also call for a nightcap or two to be brought up from Shadow Wine Bar and Dining Room so that you can soak up the starry night sky over drinks. “Room service” can also be requested on the rooftop, with access to the restaurant’s full menu and extensive wine list.
Children
A few large rooms can be linked and fitted with two king-sized single beds or a king-sized bed each to accommodate families. Baby cots are also available on request. The nearby museums and galleries are kid-friendly attractions right on your doorstep.
Breakfast
Continental buffet breakfast on the mezzanine is included in the room rate, featuring Bread in Common Bakery bread and pastries, fresh juice and locally roasted barista coffee from Good Seeds. Non-dairy milks and gluten-free granola are also available. Daily newspapers are scattered on the communal table, and the sunlit room’s outdoor terrace also has a few tables if you want to go alfresco.
Eating and Drinking
The Alex Hotel’s Northbridge location puts you right in the heart of Perth’s vibrant cultural and nightlife precinct, with plenty of food options to boot – including Shadow Wine Bar and Dining Room next door. Book a booth under the industrial beams and work your way through the Italian-inspired menu spanning Albany rock oysters and beef carpaccio to excellent house-made pasta with goat ragù. Service is impeccable, and the superb wine list features smart Italian and local WA selections. The hotel’s ground-floor Lobby Bar, meanwhile, is open to guests for wine and cocktails from 12pm until late. The line-up includes organic drops from Margaret River’s famed Stormflower Vineyard, as well as local beers from Little Creatures, Rocky Ridge and Eagle Bay and spirits from Hippocampus – a small distillery founded by the Alex’s co-owners.
Things to Book
Forget uninspiring hotel gyms. Guests at the Alex Hotel have exclusive and complimentary access to more than 30 small group classes at Chris Wilson Fitness Studio each week – think “Box and Burn”, “Abs and Arms” and “High Sweat”. The Alex also has partnerships with neighbouring arts organisations and is happy to suggest the latest shows and help secure tickets. Ask reception for more details
Notes
Sustainability is a big part of the Alex Hotel ethos – from working with local suppliers for farm-to-table dishes at Shadow Wine Bar and Dining Room to ditching minibars and kettles in rooms, in favour of offering free freshly brewed coffee and snacks on the mezzanine and service from the Lobby Bar. There are no takeaway bathroom amenities, either; just ask at reception, and they will deliver. The Alex Hotel’s co-owners are also invested in the not-for-profit Line In The Sand Group, which is dedicated to restoring and protecting local coastlines.