The Peninsula Riverside Serviced Apartments

Overview

Look, I’ve stayed at my fair share of serviced apartments around Perth, and The Peninsula Riverside honestly surprised me in the best way. You know those places that look decent online but then you arrive and think “well, this is… fine”? This isn’t one of those. The building sits right on South Perth Esplanade – and I mean right on it – so you’re literally across the road from the Swan River. When I opened the curtains that first morning, I actually did that thing where you just stand there for a minute taking it all in. The city skyline sits perfectly framed across the water, and if you’re lucky enough to snag a river-facing apartment, you’ll watch the ferries puttering back and forth like little toys.

The apartments themselves feel properly lived-in, if that makes sense – not in a worn-out way, but like they were designed by someone who actually understands how people move through spaces. The kitchens are properly equipped (I’m talking real knives, not those sad plastic things), and honestly, the washing machines are a godsend if you’re staying more than a few days. What really got me though was the attention to small stuff – decent coffee pods, proper blackout curtains, and bathrooms that don’t make you feel like you’re showering in a phone booth. The whole place has this calm, residential vibe that’s refreshing after too many nights in cookie-cutter hotels.

Here’s what you need to know practically speaking: parking is sorted (huge relief in Perth), and you’re a lazy five-minute walk to the zoo if you’re traveling with kids. The ferry terminal is right there too, which means you can actually get to the city without dealing with traffic – something locals will tell you is worth its weight in gold. I mean, you could walk to Mends Street for coffee and breakfast, or just hop on the ferry and be in the heart of Perth in ten minutes. The area gets busy on weekends with families heading to the foreshore, but it’s the good kind of busy – people exercising, kids playing, that sort of thing. Evenings are beautifully quiet, just the sound of water lapping and the occasional ferry horn. The 8.4 rating makes perfect sense when you add it all up – it’s not trying to be flashy or over-the-top, it’s just really, really good at being what it is. If you want to feel like you’re living in Perth rather than just visiting it, this is your spot.