Parmelia Hilton and Adelphi Grill, Perth CBD
We’ve stayed the Parmelia Hilton in the Perth CBD a couple of times over the years; for a Valentine’s getaway back in 2008 and for Jac’s birthday weekend last year. When I received an invitation for an overnight stay at the Hilton with dinner and a behind-the-scenes tour at the hotel’s restaurant Adelphi Grill I was happy to accept the opportunity to gain an insight into one of my favourite Perth hotels.
I finished work around 4pm on the Friday night and headed across town, wheeling my small suitcase up St Georges Terrace towards Mill Street. I checked into my King Deluxe guestroom on the second floor – a spacious (46 square metres/495 square feet) cool haven from the hot and sticky afternoon, with king size bed, 37-inch flat-screen TV, complimentary wifi and bottled water. Wifi is complimentary if you join the Hilton loyalty program HHonors and book direct.
Waiting for me in my room was a welcome gift: a macaron burger (burgeron?) – with macaron shell ‘bun’, chocolate cake ‘burger pattie’, pineapple ‘cheese’, watermelon ‘tomato’ and green icing ‘lettuce’, with a side of cake fries. I picked it up with both hands and bit right into it like a burger to get a taste of all the elements at once. The chocolate cake was incredibly moist, and the pineapple and watermelon added a fresh fruity burst.
When Jac and I stayed at the Parmelia Hilton in 2008, the Adelphi Grill was known as the Adelphi Steak House and Bar, located downstairs deep within the Parmelia Arcade, somewhat hidden from the street. Back then, there were two restaurants at the Hotel, the steakhouse in the arcade and The Globe Wine Bar, in a more ‘visible’ location near the Mill street front entrance of the hotel. A couple of years ago, the Adelphi restaurant and bar were renovated and relocated to take the Globe’s place, becoming the hotel’s only restaurant and bar.
After drinks in the bar, we began our dinner at Adelphi Grill with several shared dishes, then chose our main courses and shared a selection of side dishes. It was quite a feast between the five of us (three people representing blogs, two our hosts, representing the hotel).
Our group met up again for breakfast the next morning. The hotel breakfast buffet is available at the Adelphi Grill from 6.30am to 10am Monday to Friday and from 7am to 10am on weekends. After my initial circle of reconnaissance, I zoomed right back to the congee station, where there was plain and chicken congee available, along with accompaniments (various pickled vegetables, salted duck egg, fried shallots, Chinese cruller (yow char kwai), and one of my favourites, black beans with fried preserved fish. Congee is a common feature of Perth hotel breakfast buffets, and when it has been, it’s been mostly watery, bland and disappointing. But this chicken congee was pretty good, with pieces of shredded chicken and a decent array of trimmings to add – I eagerly went back for a second bowl.
The breakfast buffet is $38 and includes the hot breakfast station (with fried, scrambled and poached eggs, bacon, sausages, salmon, tomato, baked beans, mushrooms and hash browns) and a rather excellent hot baked ham. Besides congee, the Asian station also included steamed dim sum and miso soup. There was cereal; bread and crumpets for toasting; cakes, muffins and pastries; fresh fruit and vegetables for juicing; smoked salmon with capers and lemon; and yoghurt, fresh fruit salad. It’s worth noting that the buffet price does not include waffles, pancakes or omelettes – they are available and cooked to order for an extra $7.50. The buffet price includes tea or filter coffee. Vittoria coffees cost an extra $3.80 (if I’m being honest, I didn’t care for my Vittoria soy flat white and would skip it next time).
After breakfast, we went for a behind-the-scenes tour of the hotel kitchens with Executive Chef Michael Schmidt, who leads food and beverage (including events catering and room service) at the Parmelia Hilton after having worked at Hilton hotels all over the world. We then joined pastry chef Jo in making mini doughnuts, which, as mentioned earlier, are featured on the Adelphi Grill’s Dessert Tapas menu. We cut the doughnuts, deep-fried them for a few minutes, rolled them in sugar and filled them with Nutella or lemon curd. They were still warm when we tucked into them.
Our final activity was an elegant morning tea in one of the hotel’s King Premier suites on the 10th floor. There are three suite categories: King Premier (90 square metres/969 square feet); King (84 square metres/904 square feet) and Queen (50 square metres/538 square feet), each with a separate lounge/dining room. Buffet breakfast at the Adelphi Grill is complimentary for suite guests.
Within the next couple of years, there will be four Hilton establishments in Perth, with three DoubleTree by Hilton (4-star) hotels planned to open – in Fremantle (Point Street) and Northbridge (James Street) in 2017, and at Perth Waterfront (between the Lucky Shag and the Bell Tower), in 2016. Last year, I stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Los Angeles Downtown and at The Curtis, a Doubletree by Hilton in Denver – and had great experiences at both.
I have no doubt I’ll stay at the Parmelia Hilton again – next time, hopefully with Jac. I’d eat at the Adelphi Grill even when not staying at the hotel – and definitely go there for a great steak. On this weekend, I learned that over 40% of the Parmelia Hilton team have been with the hotel for five years or more, and their years of service total over 1000 years. That’s a pretty impressive statistic for the hospitality industry.
Parmelia Hilton Perth and Adelphi Grill
14 Mill Street, Perth CBD
The hotel is approximately 25 minutes drive from the Perth International Airport.
The Adelphi Grill is open Monday to Friday 6.30am to late; weekends and public holidays 7.00am to late
Adelphi Bar Snack menu available 11am to 11pm.
Note: The Adelphi Grill will be closed for a refresh from 2 to 15 January 2016.
I attended as an invited guest of Hilton Hotels. Accommodation, activities and food and beverages were all compliments of Hilton Hotels. Prices have been included for your information.