What it is

Tucked within circa 1875 state buildings: a 48-room modernist hotel with airy rooms and a holistic COMO Shambhala spa.

What it isn't

Hangry. Three restaurants range from locavore Wildflower (don’t miss the hibiscus and white balsamic ice cream) and Post, under the soaring ceilings of the former post office, where the Italian food—including spring pea and seared scallop risotto—is pure perfection.

What we think

Perth has come out of the shadows of its more “known” sister cities—Sydney, Melbourne—in recent years, and is welcoming glitterati on its own lavish terms. At COMO, the experience is is ratcheted up a notch further in the guest rooms, which are as luxe as they come: designed by Australian starchitect Kerry Hill with travertine stone-lined heated floor bathrooms, Kaldewei Duo soaking tubs, and sleek, MoMA-worthy blonde wood furniture that was handmade for the hotel in Europe. Each one is ginormous (starting at 592 square feet); book a 754-square-foot Treasure Balcony Room for five French doors that fling open to your own balcones. Amenities include Egyptian cotton bed linens, Samsung LED tvs, and Illy coffee and tea stations so you can nab your morning jolt before stepping foot outside your door.

You're here because

The spa emphasizes wellness alongside beauty. On the treatment list: a pumice and volcanic clay scrub that’s followed up with a warm sea algae body wrap.

The Moment

Once you slink into the supple leather of Treasure Lounge and Bar’s chesterfield sofa, you fear you’ll never get up. But isn’t lingering what afternoon tea is all about? Especially when the menu, like this one, with its Shark Bay prawn finger sandwiches and Strawberry Fraisiers with local fruits—transforms the ritual into edible art.

Restaurants & Bars

Wildflower - Menu of contemporary cuisine using the finest Western Australian produce.

Post - Classic Italian cuisine.

Treasury Lounge & Bar - Enjoy a classic afternoon tea.

Location

Two blocks from the Swan River in downtown Perth, and just one block from the circa 1845 Supreme Court Gardens.