Hotel Review: East Hotel, Canberra - Australian Traveller

Don’t expect your average CBD accommodation experience, East Hotel is outside the box.

East Hotel is a family-owned boutique hotel that is one of the best places to stay in Canberra. As soon as you walk in the door you’re engulfed by its edgy but homely feel, and the location is perfect for those who want the best of the city (almost) on their doorstep.

Location

East Hotel sits in the city’s inner south suburb of Kingston, an easy 10 minutes from the airport and popular Parliamentary Triangle. Corporate travellers will find it close to the city but far enough out of the hustle and bustle to allow a breath of fresh air.

The surrounding leafy suburb of Kingston is known for its dining and shopping scene, with patisseries, wine bars, homeware stores and the occasional pub lining the streets. The award-winning Old Bus Depot Markets are within close walking distance, while the Lake Burley Griffin (with its popular walking circuit) can be reached in 15 minutes.

Lake Burley Griffin at sunset — Walk along Lake Burley Griffin for epic sunset views. (Image: VisitCanberra)

For families, Canberra institutions like Questacon , Old Parliament House and the National Museum are easily accessible by bike, which are available to hire from reception. Ubers are also affordable and frequent, and the hotel offers underground parking at a small nightly fee for those with a car.

a dinosaur fossil display at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra — See dino fossils on display at the National Museum of Australia. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Style and character

The first thing you notice when you enter East Hotel’s soaring central atrium is its warmth and ambience. This is not just a place to go to have a good meal and rest your head. By stepping into the lobby, you’re being welcomed into the embrace of your long-lost, somewhat eccentric Italian family with a big theatrical kiss on both cheeks.

a receptionist at the lobby of East Hotel Canberra — The receptionist will welcome you with a warm smile.

Kelly Ross of Kelly Ross Designs reimagined some of the places and spaces within East Hotel, and in doing so further realised the vision of owners Dan and Dion Bisa. The boutique hotel feels like somewhat of a passion project for Kelly, who has been working alongside the Bisa’s from the beginning.

While the lobby has always had a lot of warmth to it, Kelly has taken Dan and Dion’s design cues to the next level. The reception and lobby space are all warm tones, moody lighting, modern furnishings, sumptuous textures and pops of colour. It’s a place for guests to mingle and relax – a place to have fun in, as the obligatory lolly jar at reception suggests.

a chandelier hanging at the hotel lobby, East Hotel Canberra — A stunning chandelier hangs from the ceiling of the hotel lobby.

Facilities

Following a long night of negronis and pasta at East’s onsite restaurant, I head to the gym bright and early in the morning. It is small but efficient, with shower facilities (complete with Appelles amenities) available for those who may have already checked out. There is no hotel pool, but in warmer months, guests can visit the nearby Manuka Pool for free.

Later that night, I take a long soak in the large, oversized bathtub ahead of a fairly hectic schedule of work over the weekend. It’s a ritual that continues over the next few days after I discover the Appelles-brand bath salts are replenished daily.

Appelles Ginger Lily Bath Salts, East Hotel Canberra — Add Appelles Ginger Lily Bath Salts to your warm bath.

Equally exciting is the full-sized washing machine and dryer, complete with washing powder. A communal laundry is also available for those staying in studio rooms (just ask for washing powder at reception) and eight conference and meeting spaces are available for business travellers. Wi-fi is fast and free.

a mini working space inside the room at East Hotel Canberra — There’s even a space to work on with your laptop.

Rooms

I couldn’t have been happier with my luxe one-bedroom apartment during my stay in Canberra. There is something enormously luxurious about an apartment that is flooded with light and sunshine. It is also pleasantly spacious, with an open-plan kitchen and living area, separate bedroom and bathroom.

The kitchen is so well equipped – from the large Smeg oven to the steak knives – that my friend and I almost (but not quite) consider cooking up a storm the next morning rather than heading out for breakfast.

the living room interior at East Hotel Canberra — Some rooms at the East Hotel feature an open-plan living room.

The plush carpet and occasional pop of colour in a throw rug or cushion make the self-contained room feel warm, homely and inviting. It’s like visiting your cool cousin’s crash pad in Milan. Every fixture and fitting has been carefully thought out.

The room feels like an extension of the lobby; it’s textured, layered and elegant. The large balcony looks out over parks and mountains too, and we step outside to the constant sound of cockatoos, screeching in regular crescendos.

a huge bed inside the suite at East Hotel Canberra — Rest easy on the comfy bed.

Food and drink

Canberra is spoilt for choice when it comes to good food. It’s nearly impossible to leave my room with its comfortable couch, bathrobes and bottle of red. But we manage to gather the energy required to roll downstairs for some pasta at Italian restaurant Agostinis, which is perennially packed to the rafters.

the dining interior of Agostinis — Nab a spot for some pasta at Agostinis.

Located on the ground floor, it’s one of the best restaurants in the city and is the perfect example of how cool, cosmopolitan and sophisticated the nation’s capital has become.

Although there are plenty of too-cool-for-school places in Canberra, Agostinis is not one of them. In fact, it’s is always crammed with a happy mix of families, couples and groups celebrating special occasions. Many of the wait staff boast Italian accents, which adds to the family-friendly feeling. It’s like going to Nonna’s for gnocchi.

a charcuterie board at Agostinis, Canberra — Agostinis serves up excellent Italian fare.

Everything from the pasta to the gelato is made in-house, and we find ourselves ordering pizza as well; the dough is Roman-style and rested for 72 hours.

Despite the hotel’s location in the suburbs, the adjacent Joe’s Bar seems to also attract a large mix of locals. Sweeping chain curtains, retro leather lounges and Old Fashioned cocktails served in smoking glasses prove it has earned its place as one of the top spots for a drink in the city.

an eclectic and colourful interior at Joe's Bar — Have a tipple at Joe’s Bar.

Does East Hotel have access for guests with disabilities?

The Luxe Studio Easy Access room is specifically designed for peopel with accessibility needs. The apartment is fully wheelchair accessibly, from wider doorways and a lower bench height to accessible cooktops and showers fitted with handrails and foldable bench seats. The hotel has ground level accessibility, as does Agostinis.

Is East Hotel family-friendly?

Yes – families with young children can request an apartment with a Kids Cubby, an interconnecting playroom fitted out with bunk beds, bean bags, a play table with art supplies and even an Xbox console. The minibar is (dangerously) stocked with child-friendly goodies, too.

Details

Best for: Families and couples looking for a comfortable yet chic stay that everyone will enjoy.

Address: 69 Canberra Ave, Kingston ACT

Phone: (02) 6295 6925

Cost: From $199 per night.

Read our ultimate travel guide to Canberra for more on where to eat, stay and what to do while you’re there.

Video credit: Visit Victoria/Tourism Australia

The Grampians just might be the ultimate antidote for the metropolis, writes one returning Aussie ready to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect to the Great outdoors.

There are no kangaroos back in Chicago: they’re all here in the Grampians/Gariwerd . In the heart of the Grampians National Park’s main gateway town, Halls Gap, pods of eastern greys are eating grass beside my parked rental car beneath the stars. Next morning, when I see the backyard of my rented villa on the edge of town for the first time, there are kangaroos feeding beside a slow-moving creek, lined with river red gums.

Five hundred metres up the road, 50 or so of them are eating by the side of the road in a paddock. I pull over to watch and spot three emus. Yellow-tailed black cockatoos fly overhead towards the tall green mountains just beyond town.

‘Kee-ow, keee-oww’… their calls fuse with the maniacal cackle of a kookaburra (or 10). Gawd, how I’ve missed the sound of them. Far above, a wedge-tailed eagle watches, and there you go: the ‘great birds of Australia’ trifecta, all half a kay from the town limits.

Exchanging city chaos for country calm

kangaroos near Halls Gap, Grampians National Park — The park is renowned for its significant diversity of native fauna species. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

I’ve come to the Grampians to disconnect, but the bush offers a connection of its own. This isn’t just any bush, mind you. The Grampians National Park is iconic for many reasons, mostly for its striking sandstone mountains – five ridges run north to south, with abrupt, orange slopes which tumble right into Halls Gap – and for the fact there’s 20,000 years of traditional rock art. Across these mountains there are more than 200 recorded sites to see, created by the Djab Wurrung, Jardwadjali and Gunditjmara peoples. It’s just like our outback… but three hours from Melbourne.

I’ve come here for a chance at renewal after the chaos of my life in America’s third-largest city, Chicago, where I live for now, at the whim of a relative’s cancer journey. Flying into Melbourne’s airport, it only takes an hour’s drive to feel far away from any concept of suburbia. When I arrive in Halls Gap two hours later, the restaurant I’m eating at clears out entirely by 7:45pm; Chicago already feels a lifetime ago.

The trails and treasures of the Grampians

sunrise at Grampians National Park /Gariwerd — Grampians National Park /Gariwerd covers almost 2000 square kilometres. (Image: Ben Savage)

Though the national park covers almost 2000 square kilometres, its best-known landmarks are remarkably easy to access. From my carpark here, among the cockatoos and kangaroos on the fringe of Halls Gap, it only takes 60 seconds’ driving time before I’m winding my way up a steep road through rainforest, deep into the mountains.

Then it’s five minutes more to a carpark that serves as a trailhead for a hike to one of the park’s best vantage points, The Pinnacles . I walk for an hour or so, reacquainting myself with the smells and the sounds of the Aussie bush, before I reach it: a sheer cliff’s edge lookout 500 metres up above Halls Gap.

walking through a cave, Hollow Mountain — Overlooking the vast Grampians landscape from Hollow Mountain. (Image: Robert Blackburn)

There are hikes and there are lookouts and waterfalls all across this part of the park near town. Some are a short stroll from a carpark; others involve long, arduous hikes through forest. The longest is the Grampians Peaks Trail , Victoria’s newest and longest iconic walk, which runs 160 kilometres – the entire length of Grampians National Park.

Local activities operator Absolute Outdoors shows me glimpses of the trail. The company’s owner, Adrian Manikas, says it’s the best walk he’s done in Australia. He says he’s worked in national parks across the world, but this was the one he wanted to bring his children up in.

“There’s something about the Grampians,” he says, as he leads me up a path to where there’s wooden platforms for tents, beside a hut looking straight out across western Victoria from a kilometre up in the sky (these are part of the guided hiking options for the trail). “There are things out here that you won’t see anywhere else in Australia.” Last summer, 80 per cent of the park was damaged by bushfire, but Manikas shows me its regrowth, and tells me of the manic effort put in by volunteers from town – with firefighters from all over Australia – to help save Halls Gap.

wildflowers in Grampians National Park — Spot wildflowers. (Image: Visit Victoria)

We drive back down to Halls Gap at dusk to abseil down a mountain under the stars, a few minutes’ walk off the main road into town. We have headlamps, but a full moon is enough to light my way down. It takes blind faith to walk backwards down a mountain into a black void, though the upside is I can’t see the extent of my descent.

Grampians National Park at sunset. (Image: Wine Australian)

The stargazing is ruined by the moon, of course, but you should see how its glow lights up the orange of the sandstone, like in a theme park. When I’m done, I stand on a rocky plateau drinking hot chocolate and listening to the Aussie animals who prefer nighttime. I can see the streets of Halls Gap off in the distance on this Friday night. The restaurants may stay open until 8pm tonight.

What else is on offer in The Grampians?

a boat travelling along the Wimmera River inDimboola — Travelling along the Wimmera River in Dimboola. (Image: Chris McConville)

You’ll find all sorts of adventures out here – from rock climbing to canoeing to hiking – but there’s more to the Grampians than a couple of thousand square kilometres of trees and mountains. Halls Gap may be known to most people, but what of Pomonal, and Dimboola, and Horsham? Here in the shadow of those big sandstone mountains there are towns and communities most of us don’t know to visit.

And who knew that the Grampians is home to Victoria’s most underrated wine region ? My disconnection this morning comes not in a forest, but in the tasting rooms and winery restaurants of the district. Like Pomonal Estate, barely 10 minutes’ drive east of Halls Gap, where UK-born chef Dean Sibthorp prepares a locally caught barramundi with lentil, pumpkin and finger lime in a restaurant beside the vines at the base of the Grampians. Husband-and-wife team Pep and Adam Atchison tell me stories as they pour their prize wines (shiraz is the hero in these parts).

dining at Pomonal Estate — Dine in a restaurant beside vines at Pomonal Estate. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Three minutes’ drive back down the road, long-time mates Hadyn Black and Darcy Naunton run an eclectic cellar door out of a corrugated iron shed, near downtown Pomonal. The Christmas before last, half the houses in Pomonal burnt down in a bushfire, but these locals are a resilient lot.

The fires also didn’t stop the construction of the first art centre in Australia dedicated to environmental art in a nature-based precinct a little further down the road (that’s Wama – the National Centre for Environmental Arts), which opened in July. And some of the world’s oldest and rarest grape vines have survived 160 years at Best’s Wines, outside the heritage town of Great Western. There’s plantings here from the year 1868, and there’s wines stored in century-old barrels within 150-year-old tunnels beneath the tasting room. On the other side of town, Seppelt Wines’ roots go back to 1865. They’re both only a 30-minute drive from Halls Gap.

Salingers of Great Western — Great Western is a charming heritage town. (Image: Griffin Simm)

There’s more to explore yet; I drive through tiny historic towns that barely make the map. Still part of the Grampians, they’re as pretty as the mountains behind them: full of late 19th-century/early 20th-century post offices, government offices and bank buildings, converted now to all manner of bric-a-brac stores and cafes.

The Imaginarium is one, in quirky Dimboola, where I sleep in the manager’s residence of an old National Australia Bank after a gourmet dinner at the local golf club, run by noted chef and teacher, Cat Clarke – a pioneer of modern Indigenous Australian cooking. Just south, I spend an entire afternoon at a winery, Norton Estate Wines, set on rolling calico-coloured hills that make me think of Tuscany, chit-chatting with owners Chris and Sam Spence.

Being here takes me back two decades, when I lived here for a time. It had all seemed as foreign as if I’d driven to another planet back then (from Sydney/Warrane), but there seemed something inherently and immediately good about this place, like I’d lived here before.

And it’s the Australian small-town familiarity of the Grampians that offers me connection back to my own country. Even in the better-known Halls Gap, Liz from Kerrie’s Creations knows I like my lattes with soy milk and one sugar. And while I never do get the name of the lady at the local Ampol station, I sure know a lot about her life.

Kookaburras on a tree — Kookaburras are one of some 230 bird species. (Image: Darren Donlen)

You can be a local here in a day; how good is that? In Chicago, I don’t even know who my neighbour is. Though each day at dusk – when the kangaroos gather outside my villa, and the kookaburras and the black cockatoos shout out loud before settling in to sleep – I prefer the quieter connection I get out there in the bush, beneath these orange mountains.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Sleep beside the wildlife on the edge of Halls Gap at Serenity .

Playing there

abseiling down Hollow Mountain — Hollow Mountain is a popular abseiling site.

Go abseiling under the stars or join a guided hike with Absolute Outdoors . Visit Wama , Australia’s first environmental art centre. Check out Dimboola’s eccentric Imaginarium .

Eating there

steak, naan bread and beer at Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap — Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap serves a great steak on naan bread.

Eat world-class cuisine at Pomonal Estate . Dine and stay at much-revered icon Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld. The ‘steak on naan’ at Halls Gap brewhouse Paper Scissors Rock , can’t be beat.

Dunkeld Arboretum in Grampians National Park — The serene Dunkeld Arboretum.

For Halls Gap’s best breakfasts head to Livefast Cafe . Sip local wines at Great Western’s historic wineries, Best’s Wines , Seppelt Wines and Norton Estate Wines .

two glasses of beer at Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap — Sink a cold one at Paper Scissors Rock.

East Hotel in Canberra feels like a home away from home