The artistic vibe, endless options of things to do and see make Melbourne the place where well-heeled travelers come to play. As a result, there are dozens of luxury hotels to choose from. Here are a few recommended hotels that are sure to help you get the best out of your Melbourne adventure.
The Lyall
South Yarra is a section of this vibrant city where designer fashion and jewellry shops line the streets interspersed between the upscale restaurants and quaint eateries.
Fashionable couples and the area’s socialites meander through Toorak Road and Chapel Street, peeping in windows, lunching at bistros in the Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills of Melbourne.
Just a few steps from this area is where you’ll find The Lyall, a Melbourne original boutique luxury hotel created to cater to Melbourne’s well-to-do visitor.
An intimate lobby and sitting area with toasty fireplace welcomes guests. The design is contemporary and modern with natural tones and fine furnishings. There are only 40 units and each are suites with a lovely sitting area, with a dining table, a small kitchen, and bathroom with Jacuzzi tub.
The units also come with lovely large balconies overlooking the residential neighbourhood. The Lyall also has a full service spa with a number of signature treatments including massages, facials, and body wraps.
Address: 16 Murphy St, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9868 8222
The Crown Towers, Melbourne
On the other side of town is where you’ll find the city’s most grand mega hotel, the Crown Towers Melbourne. This is the Bellagio of Melbourne and is perennially recognized as among the best in the world by Forbes List, Conde Nast and Travel and Leisure and other purveyors of luxury travel.
The accolades are all very well deserved. As you enter, the doorman with red coat and black top hat welcomes guests as they depart from a stream of Rolls Royce’s, Ferraris and Bentleys.
The guests come for the luxurioushotel accommodations as well as the high rollers room in the casino, promenade of designer shops, and some of the best eateries in the city.
This is a 481 room hotel on the banks of the Yarra River close to the boardwalk, major attractions, the convention centre, and everything downtown.
The suites are worthy of the high rollers, business tycoons, or honeymoon couples. There is a spacious living room and stunning views over the city skyline and Yarra River below.
Every imaginable amenity is there alongside the beautiful décor of the living and bedroom and the bathroom with separate bath and shower.
The executive suites also have additional privileges of access to the Crystal Club Lounge with a breakfast, concierge, snacks throughout the day and a happy hour.
At night, Melbourne pulsates and one doesn’t have to go too far to find the action. The Club 23 is located on the top floor of the Crown Towers and is one of the hottest tickets in town and only a short list of guests make it past the velvet rope.
Inside top international DJs spin the latest toons for Melbourne’s sexy and well to do crowd. For those not doing the bottle service at the booths and tables, the tasty cocktails do not disappoint either.
Address: 8 Whiteman St, Melbourne, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9292 686
The Adelphi
For those looking for something a bit more intimate, the Adelphi hotel is a rare find. This a true design hotel with impressive art installations, sculptures, wall art, and artistic furnishings throughout the 34 room boutique hotel.
A large iron horse sculpture dominates the lobby area and also acts as part of the reception desk. Just beyond is a chic dining area with contemporary designed furniture and objects d’art. The dining area has dramatic lighting, a full bar and swinging benches at the dining table.
The rooms are wonderful with a good size and a healthy dose of ultra-modern industrial design furniture and bold colours and stripes. The bath features a separate shower and bath and upscale Australian personal amenities.
But this is a hotel that has thought about the personal touches that make the stay that much better. There is a complimentary mini bar with soft drinks, a large bowl filled with complimentary snacks replenished daily and even a free premium movies included in the rate.
The roof top is another standout area and features a sexy scene of grass surfaces, bar and high tables and a beach theme. The rooftops standout feature is the long lap pool that runs the length of the building with a section suspended nine floors above the ground. The glass bottom allows swimmers to see below as well as those below to see what’s happening so far above.
The hotel is literally in the centre of the action for Melbourne with the key tourist areas a short walk or tram ride away. Flinders Square and Federation Square are close by as is the popular graffiti street. A block in the other direction and you will find yourself in the middle of the area’s designer shops and boutiques and some of the top restaurants in the city.
Address: 187 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 8080 8888
The Blackman
Melbourne is all about celebrating Australia’s expressions of creatively and art. There’s a group of hotels created just for the art enthusiast which allows them to essentially live in the gallery of an adored artist. Each day these art lovers wake, admiring the painting in their bedroom, at breakfast, or each time they enter the building.
The Art Series of hotels has dedicated an entire luxury boutique hotel to a single artist where their art is at its core experience. The individual hotels are each named after the artist whose life’s work adorn the walls throughout the property, such as the wonderful Blackman hotel in the cosmopolitan city centre of Melbourne .
82 of Charles Blackman’s works adorn the hotel in all the rooms and common areas. The Australian artist came to international fame from his first major work series in the 1950’s inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Some describe his art as dark and melancholy but all will describe it as captivating.
The hotel is unique and bordering on quirky with whimsical elements as an integral part of the décor. The staff in particular is wonderful. They are bright, switched on and lovers of art and culture and can each talk at length about the art work in the hotel or the best pub crawl experiences in town.
The hote is a five star boutique hotel experience. There are 209 rooms all having expansive views of the city skyline or Albert Park and the lake. Most of the rooms come with wide balconies.
The furnishings are luxurious and many of the rooms come with a kitchenette and are perfect for those looking for an extended stay while in Melbourne.
Address: 452 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9039 1444
See our tidbits and travel advice on what to do when you’re in Melbourne. Where you stay matters. Melbourne, one of the world’s most captivating cities, has so much to offer those who love the good life. The choices in accommodations are plenty and a stay at any one of these wonderful hotels is sure to enhance your Melbourne travel experience.
