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Luxury travel inspiration from the Asia-Pacific region

DestinAsian

<h2><strong>Why stay?</strong></h2>
<p>Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, may be blessed with an embarrassment of natural assets (that incredible horizon capped by a domed sky the color of crushed sapphires, for instance), but luxury accommodation remains a rarity. Save, that is, for The Ritz-Carlton, which was the brand’s first property in Australia (and its 100th overall) when it opened in late 2019. Designed by architects Cottee Parker and with voluminous interiors dressed by Lombard &amp; Jack, the 18-story glass tower offers panoramic views of Perth’s skyscrapers, distant hills, and the Swan River.</p>
<h3><strong>The neighborhood</strong></h3>
<p>As addresses go, The Ritz-Carlton is impeccably located, striking a haughty pose right by the water’s edge in Perth’s buzzy Elizabeth Quay entertainment quarter. St George’s Terrace — home to blue-chip law firms, accountants, and Fortune 500 companies — is steps away, which explains the guest mix of business suits and leisure travelers during the week, and staycationers at the weekend. Meanwhile, ferries quietly take off from the jetty to posh South Perth and Rottnest Island.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-138802 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Ritz-Carlton-Perth-Lobby-1.jpg" alt="Inside the high-ceilinged lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Perth." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Ritz-Carlton-Perth-Lobby-1.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Ritz-Carlton-Perth-Lobby-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Ritz-Carlton-Perth-Lobby-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Ritz-Carlton-Perth-Lobby-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h4><strong>The feel</strong></h4>
<p>The hotel bears all the hallmarks of a Ritz-Carlton — high ceilings, dramatic public spaces and extremely polished service — but what really distinguishes it is the commitment of the designers to establishing a subtle sense of place. The pink mirrored glass of the exteriors, for instance, is meant to evoke the Western Australian sunsets, whilst 10,000 pieces of Kimberley sandstone create a subliminal impression of the state’s fabled beaches. And scattered throughout the lobby, corridors, and rooms are striking original works by indigenous artists.</p>
<h5><strong>Guest quarters</strong></h5>
<p>There are only about 12 rooms per floor, each with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame bracing views of the city or river. It’s no surprise that the best rooms in the house (our favorite is 1602) are the corner suites on the higher floors — they offer the best of both vantages. The bathrooms are capacious, light-filled aeries, and the silky soft cotton bed linens promise dreamy slumber.</p>
<h6><strong>Food and drink </strong></h6>
<p>Nobody ever goes hungry at a Ritz-Carlton, the range and quality of its F&amp;B offerings invariably falling into the category of first-rate. The Perth property is anchored by the ground-floor restaurant Hearth where all-day dining segues from a full-blown buffet breakfast to afternoon tea, and finally to a tasting dinner menu drawn from seasonal ingredients and local artisanal produce. The sixth-floor Club Lounge, meanwhile, is a movable feast paired with fab city and river views.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-138803 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Ritz-Carlton-Perth-Outdoor-Pool.jpg" alt="The outdoor swimming pool at The Ritz-Carlton, Perth." width="1200" height="800" /></p>
<h6><strong>Wellness factor</strong></h6>
<p>The spa offers all the usual suspects of opulent (read, expensive) facials and massages, but the literal scene-stealers are the private garden Jacuzzis and the timber-lined saunas that look out over the city and nearby King’s Park. The outdoor swimming pool is on the small side for a hotel of this caliber, making it slightly less attractive on hot days, when it can feel as if every guest in the house is crowded onto the bijou lanai.</p>
<h6><strong>Family matters </strong></h6>
<p>Guests traveling with children can expect the familiar Ritz Kids menu, headlined by a mini-me teepee (for under-fives) set up in the middle of the room, complete with mattress, duvet, and pillow, alongside treasure-hunting trails throughout the hotel. When cabin fever strikes, the entertainment continues outdoors with a small merry-go-round in Elizabeth Quay, and the Perth Zoo just a half-hour door-to-door trip via ferry and a short stroll.</p>
<h6><strong>Sustainability cred </strong></h6>
<p>The hotel runs a familiar menu of energy-conserving features including motion detection– activated lights and air conditioning in guest rooms as well as reusable water bottles. Lesser-known but far more delicious initiatives involve grilling vegetable peelings for jus, and smoking fish bones to make stock for fish sauce.</p>
<h6><strong>What else?</strong></h6>
<p>Perth has always had something of a reputation for being one of the world’s most isolated cities. No longer. Qantas already flies nonstop between the city and London Heathrow, with a direct route to Paris set to follow in the coming weeks. Its low-cost arm Jetstar will then launch flights to Bangkok and Phuket this summer.</p>
<p>Reviewed by <strong>Daven</strong><strong> Wu</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/perrz-the-ritz-carlton-perth/overview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ritzcarlton.com</a><br />
+61 8 6559 6888<br />
<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/nk7EjkcgxjgfkcBo7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 Barrack St., Perth, Western Australia</a></p>


On the balcony of the Club Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Perth.

The Ritz-Carlton, Perth

Australia

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