Eat, Drink, Do, Stay: How To Have a Luxurious Perth Holiday

Perth doesn’t get the attention it deserves. While Melbourne and Sydney dominate the Australian travel hit list, this west coast capital has quietly become one of the country’s most compelling luxury destinations, offering classy waterfront wine bars, sophisticated fine diners and luxe five-star stays.

It’s this calibre of experience – immersive, design-led and deeply local – that defines the kind of travel curated by the Luxury Travel Event, where the world’s leading luxury travel experts help travellers plan bespoke journeys across Australia and beyond.

Everyone loves to plan a holiday, and this special event showcases the best luxury travel experiences on offer right now, with rare access to the expert advisors and global brands who can bring them to life. Take it as an opportunity to book your next holiday and have something to look forward to – and while you’re waiting, here’s how you can still indulge in a slice of luxury a little closer to home, right here in Perth.

The coastal city is built around two obsessions: impeccably fresh seafood and sunsets that turn the sky into a symphony of orange, pink and violet. Perth effortlessly delivers both, often simultaneously when you enjoy golden hour with a glass of Margaret River chardonnay in hand.

Here’s how to do luxury travel in Perth, including where to eat and drink, what to do and where to stay.

Eat

Few places do seafood with a sunset view better than Gibney in Cottesloe. This slick waterfront brasserie has New York steakhouse grandeur – waistcoated staff, white tablecloths – and views stretching to Wadjemup/Rottnest Island. Start with oysters and top-tier steak tartare, then move up to grilled O’Connor beef and silky house-made pasta – the conchiglie with pork and fennel ragu is a standout. Pair it with champagne from the sprawling cellar and be sure to book ahead for a sunset table.

Also worth booking ahead is Marumo, an intimate izakaya in a modest shopping arcade. With 30 seats and seven courses over three hours, this isn’t a drop-in kind of place. (Reservations open just once per season and book out fast, so set a reminder.) Past dishes include juicy golden fried prawns with edamame rice and slow-cooked egg oozing in a rich mushroom broth, plus seasonal sashimi. You can even BYO wine from one of the state’s top producers.

To sample Western Australia’s native ingredients, a table at Wildflower is non-negotiable. Set atop Como the Treasury, this CBD fine diner structures its menu around the Noongar six-season calendar. Southwest lamb arrives with native salsa verde, while creative desserts might include artichoke custard with white chocolate and black truffle ice-cream. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the sparkling Swan River, and the outdoor terrace is perfect for pre-dinner drinks as the city lights flicker on.

Down in Fremantle, the vibe shifts at Madalena’s – a wine bar that feels just like a neighbourhood hang. Right opposite South Fremantle beach, it has a sophisticated menu that spans the WA coastline, like plump Abrolhos Island scallops and barbequed Shark Bay tiger prawns. Enjoy a long dinner downstairs, or head to the upstairs bar for lo-fi wines and mesmerising sunset views.

Do

If eating seafood in restaurants feels too easy, you can always catch your own. Sort of. An intimate four-hour seafood cruise will take you around Wadjemup/Rottnest Island aboard The Crusader III, where you’ll pass pristine beaches and Bathurst Lighthouse as the crew haul in lobster pots, then anchor in a sparkling bay. Float in the Indian Ocean while you await your lunch – a seven-course feast featuring your fresh-caught lobster, paired with Margaret River wines.

The Swan Valley, just 35 minutes’ drive east of Perth, is Western Australia’s oldest wine region  and a great day trip if you’re chasing grape varietals without the four-hour drive to Margaret River. Explore the region with Perth Luxury Tours and stop for tastings at Sandalford Wines or Riverbank Estate. Lunch at Old Young’s Kitchen always goes down well – as do pit stops for chocolate and nougat.

For something more hands-on, join an intimate ring-making class at Blonde’s Fremantle studio. Over two hours, jewellers will guide you through silversmithing or goldsmithing. There’s no experience needed, just a willingness to hammer metal. You’ll make two rings to take home – souvenirs that certainly beat a fridge magnet.

If all that activity leaves you wrecked, Ember Bath House is the antidote. Move between hot and cold rituals at your own pace: start with the Finnish-style sauna, brave the ice bath, then sink into the hot mineral bath before ending under rainfall showers. Beyond the main bathhouse, there are also facials, body wraps, massages and full-body treatments in a Moroccan-style hammam, with fluffy robes to keep you comfy between sessions.

Stay

For a luxury place to stay there’s Como the Treasury in the CBD, which earnt an inaugural Michelin Key last year. The 48 rooms feature Scandi-style furnishings, travertine stone and stately king-size beds draped in Egyptian cotton sheets. And it’s all set in the historic 19th-century Treasury State Buildings, so you barely need to leave your room to dine at spots like Long Chim, Italian osteria Post and all-day eatery Petition Kitchen. In between, unwind at wellness centre Como Shambhala with massages, facials and body wraps.

For an even slower pace, head south to Ampersand Estate, a working winery set deep in the karri forests overlooking the Donnelly River. It’s not all about the grapes here: three quaint stays offer distinct vibes for romantic escapes through to group getaways. The Homestead and the Vintner’s Residence are built for the latter; each has five bedrooms, vineyard views and private decks built for long lunches that stretch into sunset sessions. For something more intimate, book the 1870s-built Settlers’ Cottage, a two-bedroom retreat with a fireplace, cosy lounge and a wraparound deck. Each option includes a locally sourced breakfast hamper, plus the option for cellar-door wine tastings and a degustation from the on-site chef.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Luxury Travel Event (presented by Luxury Travel Collection). The Luxury Travel Event brings global travel experts and leading brands together to facilitate premium, personalised holidays, from Melbourne to the Maldives and beyond. The event will take place on February 22 in Melbourne and on May 3 in Perth.