This luxury boutique hotel has created a major shift in the way visitors to Canberra view accommodation in the nation’s capital. Nestled between the trendy suburbs of Manuka and Kingston, the East Hotel is very “city-chic” without taking itself too seriously. As soon as you step into the main atrium which soars several floors with both natural and installed light, it’s clearly obvious this is no run-of-the-mill hotel. The contemporary design is cool and vibrant and this atmosphere filters through the rest of the property.

East Hotel won a national award as Best Suite/Apartment Hotel at the 2013 Australian Hotels Association (AHA) National Awards for Excellence, which recognises hotels and restaurants that demonstrate outstanding services, accommodation, entertainment, food and beverage. No longer is it enough to provide a functional hotel for business travellers, now there’s also a sophisticated property which is perfect for a romantic getaway although it’s not exactly a hardship doing work from here as your base.

The Rooms

The six-story hotel has 140 rooms in various studio and apartment-style combinations. The rooms are oversized and very flexible in their layout, designed to suit all types of guest, from single business travellers to couples and families. There are kitchen facilities in every room, including nespresso machines.

We were in an East One Bedroom Apartment which was an expansive 63 square metres with separate living room, bedroom, a small balcony and a large bathroom and laundry and a well equipped separate kitchen. Facilities in the kitchen included a full sized fridge-freezer, a small dishwasher, microwave, electric kettle, toaster and a Nespresso machine. There were flat screen TVs in the living room and bedroom. The decor was simple and practical with nice splashes of colour. The walls throughout were simply whitewashed, the carpet was a dark gun metal grey, ditto the tiling in the bathroom and kitchen area. The furniture was a kind of 60's retro style, with a long off white couch, an aqua blue easy chair with foot rest, a glass coffee table, and light wood fixtures and a small dining table with three chairs. Splashes of colour came with the orange hessian cushions, and an orange metal fruit bowl, plus the room art. Basically this is not a hotel in the traditional sense; this is a home-away-from-home which flows through to a view of Manuka Oval.

The East Studios, the smallest of the accommodations, are still a generous 30 square metres, the Luxe Studios at 41 square metres also have a spa tub, the East 2 Bedroom Apartments are 90 square metres and the Luxe 2 bedders have the best of all the accommodations with expansive living areas, big balconies and a spa tub.

Families are also well catered for with two-bedroom suites which have a “Kid’s Cubby”, which has bunk beds, child-friendly furnishings, X-Box Kinect and other little kiddy touches. X-Boxes and board games are also available from the Guest Services desk for use in other rooms. There are also laundry facilities in the majority of rooms, with complimentary facilities for guests in studios.

There’s 100mb of free wireless internet per day.

Dining

The hotel has stand alone dining and bar facilities, with Ox Eatery and its Bar and Delicatessen becoming a hit with the locals. It’s all part of a vibrant food precinct which has been created in the main atrium. Ox Eatery features a delicatessen and an authentic imported French rotisserie with intimate booths, long bar tables and private dining areas. Ox Eatery draws on vintage 1950s style, with a thoughtfully considered “soulful jazz” feel designed by Capezio Copeland in conjunction with Matt Darwon, featuring recycled timber, smooth surfaces and booths. The French rotisserie, the first of its kind in Canberra, is the highlight of Ox and ensures that the Ox Eatery serves more than just the usual hotel steaks and burgers.

Operating under the culinary philosophy of “simple food, done well”, chefs craft a homestyle-cooked room service menu six nights a week showcasing Modern Classic dishes such as Roast Leg Lamb with Pea Puree and Mint Sauce and the popular Rotisserie Chicken with Lemon and Oregano, which is brined and cooked slowly on the spit for an hour until golden.

The large bar area has the largest collections of gins and whiskey in Canberra.

Other Facilities

The atrium and public areas on the ground floor are the heart and soul of the East Hotel and its sense of intimacy and sophistication is helped by the use of recycled timber and a black ceiling with small holes for a ‘limitless sky’ effect. Balancing the rich, dark materials are bright, modern furnishings, artistic and quirky touches and a video installation artfully projected on a towering wall. Art is a central feature of the hotel with works from local artists on display in common areas. This is where you can enjoy the East Hotel “Free Range” news agency service where you can pick up a daily newspaper, books or current and back issue of magazines. There’s also a professional and full service business centre; 24 hour gym facility and complementary access to a local gym for a full range of exercise classes and undercover parking. The hotel also has a range of retro bicycles and electric powered bikes which you can use to cruise around Canberra. The concierge has maps and ideas on where to cycle. There is no pool at East, but the historic Manuk pool is a short walk and free to use for hotel guests.

The Verdict

Hotels that try to be all things to all guests often find themselves caught in “no-man’s land” but the East Hotel somehow manages to provide a sophisticated home that works for couples on a romantic getaway, business travellers and families.