Palatial but personalized in Perth: A review of Como The Treasury

It may be smack dab in the center of Perth, but Como The Treasury feels more like a spa retreat than your average city hotel.

Part of its idiosyncrasy is because, rather than occupying a modern tower, it is located in the sprawling State Buildings, which were constructed between 1875-1959 and housed, as you may have guessed from the name, the former State Treasury of Western Australia, the Land Titles office and the Post Office, among other official outposts.

But this luxurious redoubt, which opened in 2015, has zen-like interiors courtesy of Australian design firm Kerry Hill Architects, an impressive collection of contemporary Australian art and an oasis-like spa that will soothe away the aches and pains of the long journey required to get to Perth (from pretty much anywhere).

It’s well worth going that distance, though, to luxuriate in the expansive guest accommodations and to enjoy an unhurried dinner composed of intriguing Australian ingredients at its signature restaurant, Wildflower.

That’s just the beginning of what’s in store during a stay at Como The Treasury Perth, though. Here’s what else you can expect.

Know before you go

• The vibe: Colonial-era grandeur on the outside, well-curated contemporary art gallery on the inside mixed with the lively energy of the downtown work crowd drifting through the public areas to grab coffee and lunch during the day and cocktails and leisurely dinners by night.
• The location: The hotel is located in the middle of the city’s central business district (CBD), across a square from the cathedral and the City of Perth Library, and within walking distance to Elizabeth Quay for ferries to Rottnest Island and major museums in the city’s cultural precinct.
• Getting there: The hotel is approximately a 30-minute drive from Perth Airport (PER). Taxis and Ubers cost around 40-50 Australian dollars ($28-$35) each way.
• Parking: Limited valet parking is available for AU$80 ($56) per night.
• Size: There hotel has just 48 rooms and suites, including just two starter-level City rooms, while the rest are larger Heritage and Treasury rooms and suites, including some with features like balconies overlooking Cathedral Square.
• Food and drink: The two main restaurants associated with the hotel are the fine-dining Wildflower and more casual bistro Post (where breakfast is served), but guests can enjoy a handful of other restaurants attached to the property that are part of the State Buildings Precinct.
• Pet policy: Only service animals are allowed.

Rooms

Como The Treasury Perth has a mere 48 rooms. There are two in the smallest City category, which still measure up at a respectable 500 square feet. The rest are divided into Heritage and Treasury rooms, depending on their view and location, with categories including those with balconies as well as larger residential-style suites including two-bedroom Family Suites.

My Treasury Balcony room was located on the eastern facade of the building overlooking St. George’s Cathedral and the architecturally interesting City of Perth Library.

It was a palatial 700 square feet including a huge bedroom with a breakfast table, a separate workdesk, a well-stocked minibar and French doors that opened up onto the private balcony.

The king-size bed was made up with crisp Egyptian cotton linens, and the overall palette of silver, taupe and cream lent the whole space a spa-like feel.

As did the enormous bathroom, which was tiled in travertine with a dramatic, oversize walk-in shower and an elliptical freestanding bathtub, all provisioned with Como’s own Shambhala bath and body products.

The vast space felt like a cozy private sanctum in the center of the city, and once the blackout curtains were closed and the windows latched, it became the perfect respite for an undisturbed night’s sleep.

Dining and drinking

Como The Treasury Perth is a dining destination unto itself thanks not only to the extraordinary menus of native Australian ingredients at Wildflower, but also because it is attached to the State Buildings Precinct, a vibrant public space with several restaurants, bars and cafes as well as a lovely little gift shop.

Wildflower

Located on the hotel’s fourth-floor rooftop with beautiful views down to Elizabeth Quay and the Swan River and stunning murals depicting Western Australian flora by artist Valerie Sparks, Wildflower is one of the most unique restaurants in the city.

The menu changes six times a year in accordance with the traditional Indigenous seasons and many dishes feature native Australian ingredients. During my stay in August, we were in the midst of Djilba, which is a little like springtime, when plants start blooming and migratory birds begin to nest.

In addition to a diverse list of unique Australian wines from around the continent, we were treated to a multicourse tasting menu of dishes like luscious scallops from Esperance with shiitake mushrooms and finger limes; earthy sunchokes accompanied by desert lime, smoked egg yolk and grassy chive oil; line-caught snapper with artichoke, lemon myrtle and mellow vin jaune; and juicy lamb with herbaceous warrigal, asparagus and courgettes.

Dessert consisted of an 80% dark chocolate mousse with macadamia crumble, crunch black barley and banana. It was one of the most memorable dinners I’ve had in Australia over the course of nearly two decades of visits.

Post

Located adjacent to the hotel in the State Buildings, Post is a casual all-day bistro where hotel guests can enjoy sumptuous breakfasts as well as hearty but elegant lunch and dinner menus of Italian classics.

Breakfast included plates of fresh fruit and pastry baskets then a choice of made-to-order dishes such as avocado toast (this is Australia, after all) on seed and nut bread and warming steel-cut porridge with cinnamon, almonds, honey and fruit compote, as well as a selection of coffee drinks, teas and fresh-pressed juices.

Cape Arid Rooms

The hotel has a series of small private rooms that feel like a cross between a study and a parlor where guests can partake of the “Artful Afternoon Tea” inspired by the colorful ink and watercolor paintings that adorn the walls by Australian artists Alex and Philippa Nikulinsky.

The State Buildings

Attached to the hotel, the State Buildings are a large public hub with several bars and restaurants that Como guests can also enjoy.

The venues include Long Chim for contemporary Thai in a buzzy setting, beer corner for brews and pub grub, the wine merchant for glasses of vino and small plates and Petition, which is more of an upscale brasserie where we dined on specialties like terrine of salmon and Shark Bay prawns with dill cream, cucumber and brioche; and lightly fried chicken with carrot and ginger puree and a side of Brussels sprouts.

Amenities and service

Como the Treasury Perth has several other fabulous amenities worth noting.

• First and foremost is an outpost of Como’s Shambhala Spa, which is located near the lobby in the former 19th-century vaults. There, guests can indulge in treatments utilizing Como’s own products as well as Australian lines like Sodashi and Rationale.
• There is a well-equipped gym and a long lap pool with moody city views through two-story floor-to-ceiling windows.
• The reception area is like a little art gallery and living room combined, where guests are greeted with a glass of Champagne at check-in and invited to lounge anytime they like.
• The gift shop carries adorable sundries from Australian craftspeople that make for excellent souvenirs.
• Service is professional, polished and polite, but with that genuine Australian warmth you’d expect.

How to book Como The Treasury Perth

Nightly rates at Como The Treasury Perth start at AU$747 ($520) per night for a City room, while the Treasury Balcony room I was in starts at AU$1,377 ($955).

Como The Treasury Perth is part of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, so if you have American Express Platinum Card® or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you can make a booking through amextravel.com and receive perks like availability-based upgrades, up to a $100 credit to use on-property during your stay for things like drinks or meals, complimentary daily breakfast for two and guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.

Both cards now offer a semiannual $300 (up to $600 per calendar year) statement credit on prepaid stays at Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, so you could save $300 on a reservation at this hotel if you are able to take advantage of one of these cards’ credits.

The hotel is also a member of Capital One’s Premier Collection. So if you have the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Business, you can book a stay through Capital One Travel for value-added benefits like free daily breakfast for two, up to $100 in on-property experience credits and room upgrades (if available).

Related: Our favorite American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts around the world

Accessibility

Although it is located in a historic building, Como The Treasury Perth has ramps and elevators so that guests with mobility requirements can access all the guestroom floors and hotel amenities. There are rooms available with mobility, vision and hearing accessibility features. As always, though, it is best to contact the hotel directly to ensure that any accommodations or other spaces meet your specific requirements.

Checking out

Although Perth has other luxury hotels including a soaring Ritz-Carlton and the blingy Crown Tower, Como The Treasury Perth provides the city’s most distinctive stay. The heritage buildings in which it housed create a truly unique setting, while the calm, capacious rooms, welcoming spa and an entire precinct of hopping bars and restaurants all create a truly inviting, engaging ambience for a special stay in the Western Australian capital.

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