I remember a time when the Parmelia Hilton Perth was the fanciest hotel in town. It still is to me as it’s the hotel where I spent my wedding night. More recently, I enjoyed a city staycation with my husband after a recent facelift (the hotel’s, not mine) and once again the Parmelia Hilton Perth outdid itself in the romance department.

Originally built in 1968, the $45 million transformation in 2020/2021 included upgrades to its guest suites plus 32 new executive rooms, public areas including the grand lobby, executive lounge and Samuels on Mill restaurant. Evoking the hues of the Western Australian landscape, the lobby offers a sense of arrival reflective of the coast and desert composed of marble, timber, wool and leather balanced with bronze metals and glazing.

I’m particularly fond of the artwork including a mixed-media piece by Margaret River artist Leon Pericles titled Spirits Within. Honouring the land’s traditional owners to present-day generations, it’s a complex interpretation of a map of Western Australia. Also in the foyer and running along the main thoroughfare, the wood panelling carries on the theme of the desert and the coast depicting the different colours and regions of Western Australia shifting from the rich reds of the Kimberley to our coast’s turquoise.

Cox Architects worked in conjunction with Carr Design for the guestroom interiors. Our King Executive room offered a luxurious amount of space with a cloud-like King bed and plush robes to cosy up in. As we were in a corner suite, our bathroom had wrap-around windows frosted for privacy and the Crabtree & Evelyn products are always a welcome touch.

It was comforting to discover the Parmelia Hilton Perth participates in the Hilton CleanStay Program. Even the remote control for the 50-inch HDTV was wrapped and the door to our room had a security sticker and touchless digital key technology including a remote check-in service.

The upgrades also included something unique to Perth. As part of the City Laneway revitalisation project, from the hotel, there is a direct thoroughfare to Mercantile Lane and Brookfield Place. This precinct is teeming with bars and eateries, and during our stay, the Winter Lights at Brookfield Place.

Not that you need to go far for outstanding cuisine as the hotel’s Samuels on Mill delivers on that front with a menu showcasing some of the state’s best produce including Margaret River venison and Treeton Farm beef within its industrial glam walls. I always enjoy sampling dishes that I wouldn’t normally try to make at home, so we opted for the tasty house-made Duck Liver Parfait with red onion and ciabatta to share as a starter. The Fremantle Octopus with chorizo and romesco sauce took me back to the Mediterranean. The Scallops with cauliflower, bacon, walnuts, chive oil and pickled shemji was a refined playfulness of sweetness and nuttiness.

It was a hard choice between Western Australian wines and the innovative cocktail list. But who doesn’t love a bit of drama with a Salted Honey & Wattleseed Old Fashioned and the Samuel’s Smoked Negroni served in an intense cloud of Applewood Smoke? Mind you, we had already kicked off the night with canapes and cocktails in the Executive Lounge, which resembled a swanky airport lounge. We momentarily pretended we were about to board our flight off to some far-flung destination.

Instead, we made use of the easy access to Brookfield Place and its connection to the city. Our late-night stroll led us to a secret bar recommended to me by a friend who had joined a walking tour with Hidden deTours. At a non-descript entrance at 101 St Georges Terrace and down a staircase to a basement is where you’ll find the bar Foxtrot Unicorn. Hidden underground in an old bank vault and at the site of where the Western Australian Club once was, this jarrah-clad enclave is a mix of vintage decor and top-shelf wines and spirits. On the night we were there, the ever-changing menu included a Honeycomb Old Fashioned served with honeycomb and a green mango rum-based Columbian Neck Tie. Just as well there are jaffles and nibbles to see you through the night.

Many new hotels adorn Perth’s skyline and while the Hilton brand hardly needs any introduction, for me, it’s all about the warm and unpretentious service that makes all the difference. From the friendly front desk staff who offered us an even later check-out of 2pm to the concierge who chatted about the many local attractions while we waited for our car to be collected from valet parking. It’s all in the details.

As the most centrally located hotel in the CBD, Kings Park and Elizabeth Quay, their address is a unique selling point along with the Executive Lounge.

The next morning, I loved awakening to the hum of the city coming to life in new-day vitality. Breakfast was a lingering affair over the buffet at Samuels on Mill, named after Samuel Kingsford who built a flour mill in 1833 on Mill Street.

The Parmelia Hilton has been hosting appreciative customers since 1968, and I have no doubt it will serving Perth for many more decades to come.

The Parmelia Hilton Perth offers great value for money with their staycation packages, including an overnight stay, breakfast, valet parking, a welcome drink, late checkout and discounts off your dining bill at Samuels On Mill. For more details please click here.

“It has been, and continues to be, our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.” Conrad Hilton, 1954.

Click here to find out more about the Hilton Honors Reward program, a brand synonymous with elegance and seamless hospitality.

If you’re a loyal Hilton fan, you’ll probably already be awaiting the opening of the new Hilton Garden Inn Busselton in November 2023. In the wake of Hilton Garden Inn Albany, Hilton continues to expand its regional properties. Overlooking the Busselton foreshore, million-door views of Geographe Bay and the iconic Busselton Jetty can be admired from the spacious rooms, rooftop function room, outdoor heated swimming pool and the Together & Co Restaurant and Bar.