By Ute Junker
Tribe Hotel, Perth. The rooms are compact but well-designed.
THE PLACE
Tribe Hotel Perth
HIGHLIGHTS Few hotels offer such a welcoming shared space as Tribe's lobby-cum-lounge-room.
LOWLIGHTS Its West Perth location is more convenient for business travel than holidaymakers.
OUR RATING 4/5
TRIPADVISOR RATING 4/5
THE LOCATION
As West Perth has never been a hotspot for holidaymakers, Tribe Perth is clearly pitching for the business market. You would never guess it, however, from the hip interiors and the cool beats on the soundtrack, which seem designed to lure stylish travellers.
THE SPACE
It is a good trade-off for a hotel: pare back the room space and encourage your guests to hang out in the foyer instead. Done badly, that often means cell-like rooms and crowded common areas. Tribe, however, nails both parts of the equation. The ground floor is loosely divided into areas to suit different moods. There are rustic wooden tables and massive marble slabs; there are low velvet sofas for lounging on, banquettes and bar stools, even high-backed blush pink '50s armchairs. Every time I walk through people are using the space – some working away on their laptops at one of the long tables; others flipping through the library of design books or sharing a drink with colleagues – but it never feels crowded.
THE ROOM
Tribe's philosophy could be summed up as "hotels without the unnecessary bits". One of the bits it deems unnecessary is space – each room is a tiny 18 square metres. That sounds cramped but solo travellers will find it surprisingly comfortable, thanks to clever design. There is ample storage for suitcases under the bed; (luxuriously thick) towels are hidden away behind the bathroom door; the mirrored panel behind the bedhead lets you do a final check before you head out (although you will have to take it on trust that your bottom half also looks fine). The floor-to-ceiling windows make the room feel bigger and – this is a nice touch – there is a choice of blinds. Lower the semi-opaque blind to wake with the sun, or choose the black-out option if you want to sleep in. Wi-fi is free, there are Kevin Murphy toiletries in the bathroom, and the reading lights, which an astonishing number of hotels get wrong, are perfect. There is a range of complimentary movies on demand as well as pay TV, and while the mini-bar is sparsely stocked – Capi mineral water, Asahi beer, Coke – all of it is free.
THE FOOD
There is no in-house restaurant as such, but in the foyer you will find grab-and-go snacks for sale, as well as a small range of cafe-style dishes, from spicy pumpkin soup and a beet and goats cheese salad to a selection of sandwiches, including an NY-style reuben on rye. The breakfast buffet offers plenty of choice when it comes to bread and pastries, less so on other items, although fresh fruit and a few mini hot plates are on offer.
STEPPING OUT
You can be in the heart of town in just 10 minutes by taking one of the frequent buses (added bonus: travel in inner city Perth is free). The shops and bars of Subiaco are also nearby; you might want to cycle there on one of the hotel's free bikes. The green expanse of Kings Park on your doorstep is the perfect place for a morning run or an afternoon stroll.
THE VERDICT
This hotel will be a hit with travellers looking for high style on a low budget.
ESSENTIALS
Special opening rates start from $149 (Friday to Sunday) and $169 (Monday to Thursday). 4 Walker Avenue, West Perth. Phone (08) 9267 4878, tribehotels.com.au/hotels/tribe-perth
Ute Junker was a guest of Tribe Hotels and Tourism WA.
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