Review: East Hotel Canberra

It has been deemed one of Canberra’s coolest hotels and with the opening of the new in-house small bar Joe’s Bar it seemed that it was time to visit East Hotel in Kingston.

This boutique abode already had a hip restaurant and bar, Ox, featuring more than 100 whiskies as well as Muse, part bookstore, part wine bar, part café to entice guests to hang about, but Joe’s really puts it over the edge.

The bar, open since August, offers small plates, cured meats and a wine list that harks back to Italy. A slick granite bar runs down one side of the room with modern low seating and funky coffee tables for a casual feel throughout.

With low hanging lights, a fushia light wall as a feature and natural timbers, the place, designed by Kelly Ross, is very welcoming but it is the food and drink menu that really stands out.

Assistant general manager of East Hotel Dion Bisa and her brother Dan created Joe’s Bar as a nod to their Italian heritage and their own father Giuseppe, or Joe as friends and family call him.

At Joe’s, the underlying principle is that produce is best served in season and as fresh as possible. The menu, designed by Italian-born chef, Francesco Balestrieri, has been specifically created to share and to complement the amazing wine selection with family and friends.

There’s a fantastic selection of antipasti, including smoked burrata and Tuscan chicken liver parfait, as well as more hearty options like 48-hour sous-vide wagyu beef brisket. Don’t forget the formidable drinks menu to complement your snacks.

Now to the hotel itself...

Location:
You can’t get much better than a five-minute walk to Lake Burley Griffin - nestled between the trendy suburbs of Manuka and Kingston. The area is a hotspot for great shopping and dining in our nation’s capital.

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The rooms:
All rooms are apartment-style with a kitchenette so you can dine in if you choose (great for longer stays). We were in an East One Bedroom Apartment which was an expansive 63 square metres with separate living room, bedroom, a small balcony and a large bathroom and laundry.

There were flat screen TVs in the living room and bedroom. The decor was simple and practical with nice splashes of colour, you could comfortably spend a lot of time here.

Facilities:
In addition to the three eateries, East Hotel has in-house gym, well equipped with bikes, treadmill, free weights and some strength training equipment. If you prefer to explore outside, you can take advantage of the bikes available for hire at hotel reception.

The verdict:
East Hotel ticks all the boxes and the staff here can’t do enough to help you. Highlights are the incredibly spacious rooms and the high-end food and beverage offerings right on the premises.