Review: Crown Towers Perth, a luxury hotel like no other in West Australia

Introduction

Perth is a city reborn. No longer the shy and retiring West Australian capital of old, recent years have seen it transform into a rich and varied cultural mecca – a destination where bold architecture is the norm and embracing its unique traits is actively encouraged.

Standing proud amid the city’s increasingly-eclectic luxury hotel scene is the Crown Towers Perth – flagship of the Crown entertainment precinct, which also counts the Metropol and Promenade among its stable. But what sets it apart from its siblings?

Location & Impressions

The most immediate difference is location… and the view. Besides its palm-fringed pool, there’s nothing between the Towers and the snaking Swan River – just an uninterrupted vista stretching from East Perth to Heirisson Island and beyond to the south.

Sunset blazing across the Perth skyline.

Built in 2016, Crown Towers is also much newer – the distinctively-shaped Metropol has been a thread in the fabric of Perth since 1985, when it opened under the name Burswood Resort, while Promenade rebranded from the Holiday Inn in 2012.

Driving along the riverside and up to the porte cochère, you can’t help but stare at the 21-storey tower rising before you, or admire the native planting either side of the road. Luckily, I’m not behind the wheel, so I’m free to take it in.

The distinctive Crown Towers Perth.

The hotel is well-located just 15 minutes drive from the domestic and international airports, and 10 from the CBD. Once you’re here though, it’s designed to be a complete experience, taking you from breakfast to lunch, dinner and maybe even a show afterwards.

The lobby view towards TWR bar.

Stepping into the lobby, it feels like you’ve taken a detour into Bangkok or Singapore. The height and scale is unusual for Australia, reminding me more of hotels like Shangri-La Singapore.

Turning right from the main doors, there’s a bank of reception desks lining the wall, leading on to a corridor stretching far into the distance. (It can be a good five minutes walk to reach the far end, where the lobby of Crown Metropol is your reward for doing so.)

Room

Check-in takes place in the Crystal Club Salon on level 15 – a dedicated reception for guests who’ve purchased access to the exclusive Crystal Club. 

The discreet check-in area allows you to bypass the crowds of the lower lobby.

Think of the Crystal Club as a luxe pay-per-entry Executive Lounge… only, without the executive part. More on this later.

Unlocking the door to the Premier King Room, the first thing to hit you is the light. It’s blinding. Once your eyes adjust (or you pop on sunglasses) the room and the view to the Perth skyline comes into view. And it’s a breathtaking vista indeed.

The view from the Premier King Room.

Reflective surfaces are the mode du jour in this room: mirrored wardrobe doors and hexagonal wall features complement lacquered timber furnishings and chrome legs on the desk.

Immediately to your right is a dressing area, home to a large wardrobe and marble-topped bar – everything needed for a good time is found within a mini fridge, including beers, wines, tonic water and plenty of soft drinks (read: mixers for the spirits on the benchtop).

The minibar and dressing area, separated from the bed by a screen.

Two oriental-style screens rise either side of the king-size bed, dividing the dressing zone from the main living and sleeping area, while also acting as a nice bit of architectural detailing.

Sheer curtains take the edge off the afternoon light.

Moving deeper into the room, an LG television fills a built-in cabinet along the left wall. Below, a study marble-topped desk is flanked by two cushioned seats, and to the right there’s a comfy chaise lounge – perfectly placed to take advantage of the view.

A seat with a view.

If you’re hoping to stream your favourite show though, you’re fresh out of luck… or at least, I am. While the TV does have an option to ‘Connect Media’ via a QR code, it doesn’t actually work during my visit – the QR directs me to a broken URL.

Mood lighting, room temperature and the electric sheers and blackout curtains are all controlled via an IPORT tablet, alongside the bed. It’s easy to use, and also presents detailed information about the various facilities of the resort.

Lighting and temperature is controlled via the bedside tablet.

Master light switches and USB outlets are conveniently within arm’s reach of the bed, if you don’t want to use the tablet. Sadly, the USB outlet on the right hand side has no power. I try multiple cables just to be sure, but it’s dead as a dodo.

Last to be mentioned, but certainly not an afterthought in the room’s design, is the cavernous bathroom.

Sliding doors separate the bathroom from the main living area.

A double vanity ensures there’s no chance of someone hogging the sink, while a separate shower and toilet are discreetly hidden behind glass doors. A deep, oval-shaped bathtub begs out for an extended bathing session.

Rather than a heat-seeping stone bath, the plastic tub retains warmth as long as you need it. With a TV positioned in the wall beside it, you have a good excuse to linger longer.

Work

Wireless internet is free of charge and perfectly fine for general browsing or emails. However, if you want a faster connection for streaming, you’ll need to pay extra – the boosted 15Mbps connection is $15.95 per day.

A slender chandelier hangs above the desk, though it’s more for ambience than direct lighting.

The in-room work desk is a convenient addition to the room, giving flexibility to do a bit of light work if needed. If you’re planning an extended work session though, the low seat isn’t the most comfortable.

Instead, you’ll want to pay a visit to the Business Centre, which is found directly opposite the ground floor ballrooms.

The combined Business Centre and hotel executive offices.

The space houses two meeting rooms equipped with a conference phone, Nespresso coffee and tea. There’s also a work space fitted with four cubicle-style work desks and desktop PCs.

Printing, photocopying and binding are also available in the Business Centre.

Eat

Choice is the name of the game at Crown Perth – dotted with 16 premium and casual venues. Crown Towers houses three of them: signature buffet Epicurean and TWR bar, in addition to the Crystal Club on level 15.

TWR (The Waiting Room) is located right next door to the lobby.

The Crystal Club is a sprawling private lounge and terrace complete with white-gloved service. It’s open exclusively to guests who have purchased access: $135 per adult per day (12 years and above), or $75 per child (aged 6-11). Kids under 5 are free. 

Inside, it’s a picture of elegance: cream and navy leather armchairs flank low-set marble tables; a well-stocked bar offers a choice of spirits, beers and wines.

The Crystal Club is light and spacious, and never feels overly crowded.

And outside? A terrace affording what is arguably the best view in Perth.

The view from the terrace is spectacular.

In the mornings, a complimentary hot and cold buffet spread is laid out for diners. Among the choices are buttery pastries, scrambled eggs and bacon, cut fruit and yoghurt. 

The generous hot breakfast buffet.

An à la carte menu is offered too, featuring the likes of brioche French toast or eggs your way. I opt for eggs benedict, which hits the spot. 

Pre-dinner drinks are served nightly from 5:30pm-7pm, beginning with a glass of champagne at the door and moving onto an assortment of cocktails and canapés. This provides a perfect opportunity to soak up the sunset, which streams directly into the lounge. 

Start your visit with a glass of champagne, then move onto the cocktail of your choice.

Waiters roam the lounge to take your order from the provided cocktail menu.  

Canapés take the form of bite-size poached West Australia prawns and papaya salad, savoury tarts of blue cheese mousse and candied walnuts, as well as assorted antipasto and salad. Deep-fried spring rolls and calamari rings also make an appearance.

The terrace is incredibly bright when the sunset first begins, so you might want to enjoy a few drinks inside amid the air-conditioning before moving outside when the sun is less intense.

Follow the shadow as it moves along the terrace.

From this private vantage point, the breadth of Perth’s transformed skyline – Optus Stadium and the nearby Matagarup Bridge look particularly impressive after dark – is yours to enjoy.

Relax

When relaxation calls, Crown Towers has you covered in the form of a tiered resort pool fringed by palms and plush daybeds...

...and a serene day spa offering wellness and relaxation treatments.

There is also an exceptionally well-appointed gymnasium.

The wider Crown complex boasts a casino and theatre, which hosts an impressive lineup of musical, comedy and theatrical performances.

Verdict

Despite a couple of minor in-room maintenance issues, Crown Towers Perth delivers in every way. The room is luxuriously appointed, and the variety of dining and relaxation options onsite are sure to keep most entertained for the duration of their stay.

Crystal Club access is a great optional extra. While the daily per person price is a little steep, high service levels, a limited guest list and included dining, not to mention exclusive check-in (worth its weight in gold on weekends), do combine into a wonderful experience.

Whether staying for leisure or business, or perhaps a little bit of both, Crown Towers Perth is an exceptional luxury hotel – and one I’d gladly return to.

The writer stayed as a guest of Crown Towers Perth