Beachfront @ Scarbs

Overview

You know that moment when you walk into a hotel and think “oh, this is actually going to be good”? That’s exactly what happened at Beachfront @ Scarbs. I mean, the name pretty much tells you everything – it’s literally right on The Esplanade, which if you haven’t been to Scarborough, is basically the main strip that runs along the beach. And I’m talking proper beachfront here, not “five-minute walk to the beach” beachfront that some places advertise.

The thing about Scarborough is it’s had this massive transformation over the past few years – used to be a bit rough around the edges, honestly – but now it’s become this really vibrant spot that locals actually want to hang out in. The hotel sits right in the sweet spot of all this action, but here’s what I loved: the rooms face the ocean, so you’re getting those incredible Indian Ocean views without the noise from the restaurants and bars behind you. Actually, let me back up – when I say the views are incredible, I mean you can watch the sunset from your room, and if you’re lucky enough to be there during winter, you might even spot some whales. The balconies are decent sized too, not those tiny afterthought ones you sometimes get.

What really sold me on this place though was the attention to detail. The rooms feel modern and clean – sort of that contemporary Australian coastal vibe without being too beach-themed, if that makes sense. The beds are actually comfortable (you’d be surprised how many four-star places get this wrong), and the bathrooms have proper water pressure. Small thing, but when you’ve been walking around Scarborough all day, you want a decent shower. The staff genuinely seem to know the area too – they pointed me toward this little coffee spot on West Coast Highway that I never would have found otherwise. Parking can be a bit tricky during peak summer months, but the hotel has sorted that out, which is honestly a relief because street parking around The Esplanade is basically impossible on weekends.

Here’s the thing about staying right on Scarborough Beach – you’re close enough to Perth city (maybe 20 minutes by car) but you feel like you’re actually on holiday. The beach is beautiful, properly swimmable most of the year, and there’s this whole food scene that’s developed along the strip. You can walk to pretty much everything, or if you’re feeling lazy, just sit on your balcony and watch the surfers. The hotel gets busy during school holidays obviously, but it never felt chaotic or overly family-oriented – there’s a good mix of travelers. I’d definitely stay here again, particularly if I wanted to show someone Perth’s beach culture without the pretension you sometimes get at places like Cottesloe.