Lakeside Retreat

Overview

You know what? I wasn’t expecting much when I first pulled up to the Lakeside Retreat on Silkeborg Crescent – I mean, Perth has so many places claiming to be “lakeside” that aren’t really. But this one actually delivers on the name, and honestly, it’s become one of those places I find myself recommending way more than I probably should.

The thing that gets you right away is how quiet it is, especially considering you’re still technically in the city. The hotel sits right on the edge of one of Perth’s northern lakes (locals know the area well, but it’s not overrun with tourists yet), and when you wake up in the morning, there’s this gentle lapping sound that’s way better than any white noise machine. The rooms facing the water are obviously the ones to book – I learned that the hard way on my first stay when I ended up facing the street side. Not terrible, but you’re missing the whole point. Check-in was smooth, though parking can get a bit tight during peak season, so maybe arrive before 3 PM if you can swing it.

What really surprised me was how the staff actually knows the area. I asked about a good spot for an early morning walk, and instead of just pointing me to the lobby brochure, the front desk guy – I think his name was Marcus – gave me this detailed route that takes you around the lake and connects to a little coffee cart that shows up around 7 AM. That’s the kind of local intel you can’t get from a chain hotel. The rooms themselves are well-maintained without being overly fancy (solid 4-star territory), and honestly, the beds are some of the most comfortable I’ve encountered in Perth. The bathroom products smell like eucalyptus and lemon myrtle, which sounds cheesy but actually works really well. There’s also this nice touch where they leave the windows slightly cracked when they clean the rooms, so you walk in to fresh air instead of that industrial cleaning smell.

The restaurant downstairs does a solid breakfast – nothing revolutionary, but they source from local farms and you can taste the difference in the eggs. I actually ended up eating there for dinner once too, and while the menu isn’t huge, what they do make is done right. The wine list leans heavily Australian, which makes sense, and the staff knows their stuff if you want recommendations. One small thing that bugged me initially was that the WiFi can be spotty in rooms furthest from the lobby, but they’ve got these little booster things you can request at the front desk that solve the problem completely.

Look, Perth’s got plenty of accommodation options, but most of them are either downtown (which is great if you want city energy) or way out in the suburbs where you need a car for everything. The Lakeside Retreat hits this sweet spot where you feel like you’re getting away from it all, but you’re still close enough to Duck into the city center when you want to. Plus, that 9.1 rating isn’t just people being generous – it’s earned through those small details that make a difference when you’re actually staying somewhere for more than just a night.