European Hotel

Overview

I’ll be honest – when I first walked into the European Hotel on Murray Street, I wasn’t expecting much from the outside. The building’s got that classic Perth CBD look, you know? But step inside and there’s actually something quite charming about the place. The lobby has this sort of old-world European vibe (hence the name, I guess) without being too stuffy about it. The staff behind the desk genuinely seemed to know what they were doing, which is more than I can say for some places I’ve stayed.

What really won me over was the location – and I mean, really won me over. You’re literally in the thick of everything on Murray Street, which means you can stumble to Forrest Place for coffee in about three minutes flat. The train station’s right there too, so getting to Fremantle or the airport is dead easy. I actually loved that you could hear a bit of the city buzz from the rooms – not enough to keep you awake, but just enough to remind you that you’re in the heart of Perth. The rooms themselves are pretty solid for a four-star place. Nothing fancy, but the beds are comfortable (I’m picky about mattresses), and the bathrooms are clean with decent water pressure. There’s aircon that actually works – trust me, you’ll appreciate that in summer.

Here’s the thing about this place that I didn’t expect: it’s got character. The hallways have this slightly quirky European hotel feel, and the elevator’s one of those old-fashioned ones that takes its sweet time but somehow adds to the charm. Parking can be a bit of a pain (welcome to Perth CBD), but there’s a decent car park just around the corner on Pier Street if you’re willing to walk two minutes. The hotel restaurant downstairs is actually pretty good – I had dinner there twice, which says something because I usually venture out. Their breakfast is solid too, though it gets busy around 8 AM with the business crowd. What I really appreciated was that the staff seemed to know Perth well. When I asked about getting to Kings Park, the guy at reception didn’t just point me toward a taxi – he told me about the free CAT bus that stops practically outside the door. That’s the kind of local knowledge that makes a difference. The European Hotel isn’t trying to be the fanciest place in Perth, but it’s got this reliable, comfortable vibe that makes you feel like you’re staying somewhere with a bit of history and personality. For the price point and that location, it’s honestly hard to beat.