A review of one of Canberra’s most distinctive boutique hotels, from rooms and dining to location and lived-in details.

East Hotel is a family-owned boutique hotel that is one of the best places to stay in the nation’s capital. As soon as you walk in the door you’re engulfed by its ‘edgy’ feel, and the location is perfect for those who want to be close to the city. I checked into the Canberra stay to see if it’s still my favourite place to stay in the nation’s capital.

Where is East Hotel?

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 Lake Burley Griffin (with its popular walking circuit) can be reached in 15 minutes.

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.

What is the style and character of East Hotel?

I’ve been staying at East Hotel since it first opened in 2012, back when my kids were tweens and Canberra felt like a very different city. More than a decade on, East Hotel remains my favourite place to stay in the nation’s capital – and is very much a hotel that has grown up alongside the city itself.

The first thing I notice when I enter the soaring central atrium in the lobby of the family-run East Hotel is the warmth and ambience. Hotels are notorious for high staff turnover. But many of the East Hotel team have been working at the hotel long-term and welcome us like family. Knowing that this is a workplace where employees feel valued and happy always adds to the experience of staying here.

This is not just a place to go to have a good meal and rest your head. By stepping into the lobby of East Hotel, I feel like I’m being welcomed into the embrace of my long-lost, somewhat eccentric Italian family with a big theatrical kiss on both cheeks.

Kelly Ross of Kelly Ross Designs recently reimagined some of the places and spaces within the East Hotel and in doing so further realised the vision of siblings Dan and Dion Bisa. The boutique hotel feels like somewhat of a passion project for Kelly, who has been working alongside the Bisa Hospitality group 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 rejuvenated reception and soaring lobby space is all warm tones, moody lighting, modern furnishings, sumptuous textures and colour. It’s a place for guests to mingle and relax. A place to have fun in, as the complimentary lolly jars and bicycles at reception suggest.

What facilities does East Hotel have?

Following a wonderful dinner with the family at Agostinis, I head to the gym bright and early in the morning. It is small but efficient, with shower facilities (complete with Capri amenities from cult fragrance band 19-69) 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 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.

What was equally exciting to me when my two active sons were younger, was 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). Business travellers are also catered to with eight conference and meeting spaces on offer and wi-fi that is fast and free.

The lobby has evolved in line with the award-winning designer’s brief to create a space that is now a venue more intertwined with the hotel’s existing places and spaces. It includes a small library of magazines inviting people to stop and relax while lingering in the lobby. There’s also an open fire where visitors and guests can kick back before or after dinner at Agostinis or Azuma Den.

It’s a thoughtful touch to provide guests with a handy guide at check-in that details the surrounding area (the lively ‘inner-South’, aka suburban Manuka and Kingston) and the best local eats and activities. Bikes and maps are also available from reception.

What are the rooms like?

My husband and I could not have been happier with our luxe one-bedroom apartment during our last stay in Canberra. There is something enormously luxurious about an apartment that is flooded with light and sunshine. The apartment is also pleasantly spacious, with its own fully equipped open-plan kitchen and living area, separate bedroom and bathroom.

The plush carpet and occasional pop of colour in a throw rug or cushion made the self-contained room feel warm, homely and inviting. It’s like visiting your cool cousin’s crash pad in Milan. Here, every fixture and fitting has been carefully thought out. The room feels like an extension from the lobby; it’s textured and layered and elegant. The large balcony looks out over parks and mountains, and we step outside to the constant sound of cockatoos, screeching in regular crescendos.

What are the dining options at East Hotel?

Canberra is spoilt for choice when it comes to great breakfast and brunch spots. Agostinis, located on the ground floor, is one of them and it’s the perfect example of how cool, cosmopolitan and sophisticated the nation’s capital has become. It’s also one of the most popular restaurants for lunch and dinner in Canberra.

It was nearly impossible to leave the apartment with its comfortable couch, bathrobes and smart TV. But we managed to gather the energy required to roll downstairs for some pasta at Agostinis, which is perennially packed to the rafters with families.

Although there are plenty of too-cool-for-school places in Canberra, Agostinis is not one of them. In fact, the Italian restaurant welcomes a happy mix of families, couples and groups celebrating special occasions. Executive chef Junho ‘Luffy’ Koh leads by example and his passion for Italian food is evident in the consistently great execution of each dish. Many of the wait staff also have Italian accents, which adds to the family-friendly feeling. It’s like going to Nonna’s for gnocchi. 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.

Although he has been professionally trained in Italian techniques, chef Koh grew up cooking Korean food at home with his family, a personal connection that now shapes the menu at Azuma Den. This move marks the first time the executive chef has brought Korean and Japanese flavours into his professional cooking, blending precision, restraint and emotional familiarity.

Kelly Ross Designs was also behind the design, gifting the Canberra community with another luxe warm space from which to do business or pleasure.  And the opening of the new Japanese-Korean eatery has changed how the hotel feels after dark. Centred around a hibachi grill, Azuma Den also brings additional warmth and a sense of occasion to East Hotel. It’s cemented the hotel’s status as a place where you can ease into breakfast, lunch and dinner without ever leaving. And it is very much in step with East Hotel’s layered, design-led personality.

Alongside chef Koh in the kitchen is Jun Kim, whose path to the kitchen began in the Korean army, where he cooked three meals a day for 150 soldiers. After moving to Australia, Kim honed his skills in a Japanese restaurant, learning knife work, discipline and respect for simple ingredients. That grounding informs his approach to cooking over fire at Azuma Den.

Does East Hotel have access for guests with disabilities?

Yes. The Luxe Studio Easy Access room is specifically designed for people with accessibility needs. The apartment is fully wheelchair accessible, 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.

The verdict

After more than a decade of stays, East Hotel remains my home away from home in Canberra, a place that continues to evolve without losing its sense of self.

Details

Best for: Families and couples looking for a comfortable yet chic stay that everyone will enjoy.
Address: 69 Canberra Ave, Kingston ACT

Cost: Starting from $209 per night.