East Hotel and Apartments
by the TopOfHotel team
East Hotel is the boutique on this list with an actual food destination downstairs — Agostinis, an Italian room that locals book, not merely guests — backed by apartments with a kitchen and washer for longer stays.
East Hotel is the boutique on this list with an actual food destination downstairs — Agostinis, an Italian room that locals book, not merely guests — backed by apartments with a kitchen and washer for longer stays.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
East Hotel runs about 140 rooms, and you choose your format: a standard hotel room, or a 1-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and a washing machine built in. For a multi-night stay or a family, that's a real edge — you can shop, cook and do laundry instead of eating out three times a day. The design is the first thing guests mention: warm tones, furniture chosen with some taste, a lobby that reads boutique rather than chain. Rooms get air-con and a small balcony for fresh air, and housekeeping holds a high standard.
Food and amenities
The part that wins people over is Agostinis, the Italian restaurant in the building — a room that Canberrans book on its own merits, not merely a place for guests to default to. You can come down for dinner without going anywhere, and there's a cafe-bar on site as well. A 24-hour gym covers early or late workouts, concierge can sort out tours, and Wi-Fi is free. Private parking is available but costs extra, at around $20 a night.
Location and getting there
The hotel sits at 69 Canberra Avenue in Griffith, sharing a corner with Kingston — one of Canberra's busiest eating-and-shopping districts. Step outside and you're surrounded by restaurants. It's a 9-10 minute walk to Canberra train station and an easy stroll to the Kingston Foreshore on Lake Burley Griffin. The trade-off is distance from the political core: Parliament House is about a 5-minute drive, not a walk.
Things to know before booking
Three things to weigh. Parliament House and the National Gallery aren't walkable from here — budget a short drive or rideshare for the Parliamentary Triangle. Parking is an add-on at roughly $20 a night rather than included. And because it's a popular property, weekends and event dates sell out early, so book ahead if your dates are fixed. None of these are dealbreakers — they're the cost of trading proximity to Parliament for a spot in the middle of the food scene.
Our take
East Hotel and Apartments is the pick for couples and families who want design, a kitchen for longer stays, and the city's best eating-and-drinking strip on the doorstep. If atmosphere and easy access to restaurants matter to you more than being a short walk from Parliament, this is the one we'd book without hesitation. The 9.1/10 across 101 reviews and Agostinis downstairs make it an easy second place.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A 4-star boutique hotel and serviced apartments with warm, considered design — guests single out the lobby and furniture as a step above the usual chain hotel.
- You can pick a standard hotel room or a 1-bedroom apartment that comes with a full kitchen and a washing machine, which pays off fast on stays of three nights or more.
- Agostinis, the in-house Italian restaurant, is good enough that Canberra locals eat there, so you can have a proper dinner without leaving the building; there's also a cafe-bar on site.
- A 24-hour gym means workouts on your own schedule, and rooms come with a balcony for some air — handy in Canberra's dry, sunny climate.
- The location is a 9-10 minute walk to Canberra train station and an easy stroll into the Kingston restaurant strip and the lakeside Kingston Foreshore.
- Parliament House is not walkable from here — it's a long trek on foot, so plan on roughly a 5-minute drive or rideshare to the Parliamentary Triangle proper.
- Private parking is an add-on at about $20 a night rather than free, which stacks up over a multi-night stay.
- It's a popular hotel, so weekends and event dates book out early — lock in your room well ahead if you're tied to specific dates.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Canberra
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Insider Tips
- Book the 1-bedroom apartment if you're a group or staying long — the kitchen and washer turn a hotel stay into a short-term home.
- Reserve a table at Agostinis early in the evening; it's a local favourite and fills up, not merely with hotel guests.
- Walk down to Kingston Foreshore on the lake at dusk for waterside bars and an evening stroll.