Melbourne is an uber cosmopolitan city and arguably Australia’s most artistic and creative city. It is known for its numerous museums, live theatres, galleries and a calendar filled with countless cultural events and things to do.
South Yarra is a section of this vibrant city where tony designer fashion and jewellry boutiques line the streets interspersed between the upscale restaurants and quaint bistros.
Fashionable couples and the area’s socialites meander the Toorak Road or the famous Chapel Street while peeping in windows, dining and browsing in the Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills of Melbourne.
Just a few steps from this area is where you’ll find The Lyall Hotel and Spa, a Melbourne original boutique luxury hotel created to cater to Melbourne’s well-heeled visitor.
This gem of a hotel is located just around the corner from the Melbourne’s smartest area along a tree lined residential neighbourhood. The façade is of a grand style that could fit in next to the upscale merchant houses in Notting Hill.
Indoors is warm and welcoming with an English country house feel. There is a cosy library with crackling fireplace, high back chairs and plenty of classic books to peruse during your stay.
Guest will quickly appreciate the lovely details of the hotel from the elegant yet understated interiors and the wonderful works of art by famed local artists. In fact, each floor has a lovely sitting area and art gallery perfect for quiet time to admire these wonderful paintings.
The Lyall is Melbourne’s only privately owned five star hotel. It has become the coveted address for visiting well to do guests looking for an intimate and welcoming atmosphere in an ideal location.
And it’s not just Melbourne’s visiting titans of industry and beau monde; a steady stream of celebrities and sports stars make the Lyall their abode down under with visits from Gwen Stefani, Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton and regular stopovers from Melbourne’s favourite daughter, Olivia Newton John. This bespoke boutique hotel exudes familiar European sophistication with elegant details but without the pretense.
There is an international cast of hospitality professionals that go that so cliché extra mile. They noticeably put in the effort to ensure that each guest feels valued and treated with personalised attention, noting each guests’ name and giving care for their needs, a recommendation for a night out on the town as well as a hearty greeting as guests come and go.
This focus on service excellence stems from Peter and Rowina Thomas, the local owners of the hotel who are often there looking in on guests to ensure that their stay is a delightful one. This passion for excellence comes from their extensive travels around the world and staying at the top hotels.
They’ve brought that focus on details back to their South Yarra neighbourhood where they lead their hotel to constantly strive for excellence and ensure that highest level of service and accommodation.
This is an intimate and boutique hotel with only 40 units. Each of the suites are tastefully designed with a clean, contemporary Asian aesthetic with warm earth tone colours, tasteful artwork and a well sized sitting area, with dining table, and a small fully equipped kitchen and spacious bedroom.
The bath is a top of the line Jacuzzi, perfect for relaxing after a long day of shopping and sightseeing. The units also come with a large balcony overlooking the residential neighbourhood. It is the perfect place to dine with your 24 hour room service or for a cup of coffee in the morning.
The suites are either one or two bedrooms. To stay like one of their A-list celeb patrons, choose the Platinum Suite which is extra grand in size with two fireplaces and large outdoor terrace. .
The Yarra neighbourhood is where to go for some of Melbourne’s top dining experiences with a range of Michelin star restaurants or quaint outdoor bistros perfect for some fabulous people watching.
Closer to home, the Lyall has a well-recognized bistro of its own, serving fresh and local multicultural and inventive cuisines from an extensive menu of tasty sharing plates. The setting is refined yet comfortable with dining options in the restaurant area, in the library or outdoors on the terrace.
For pre-dinner cocktails and bubbles, the Champagne Bar is where locals and hotel guests gather for jazz music infused with their extensive menu of French champagne by the glass.
Others choose to bend the elbow with their wildly creative cocktails such as their crowd favourite Cranberry Champagne Cocktail or the sweet Apple Crumble Martini.
After the long days of exploring the city’s art scene or landmarks, guest will want to return for relaxation and some serious pampering at the hotel.
The Spa at the Lyall is a unique experience in wellness featuring all natural, Australian-made Sodashi treatments administered by a highly trained staff, guests leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
There are eight treatment rooms in the three level spa which offers a number of signature experiences from unique massages, beauty treatments, facials, body polishes and wraps.
Their newest treatment ritual is the Oud facial. It is a 90 minute escape into another level of relaxation just short of hypnosis. At the treatment’s core is the use of Oud essence which are found in the core of trees and are known for their spiritual and restorative properties.
This is a facial but it is so much more and includes a shoulder, neck and foot massage, warm oils and towels, breathing, reflexology, as well as copious amounts of care and healing applications. Guests fortunate enough to have this treatment report feelings of euphoria, complete relaxation, and inner peace.
The hotel could not be located in a more ideal location. It is at ground zero of Melbourne’s most elegant neighbourhood with several Michelin rated fine dining restaurants, local designer boutiques, and some cool wine bars and bistros. It’s also an ideal place to explore the rest of the city with the train station and tram a short walk away.
The central business district is a short ride away as well as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne’s Arts district and the many sports parks and arenas.
It seems that there is always something happening in town from visiting theatre performances, the countless galleries and museum exhibits as well as major international sporting events such as the Formula One Grand Prix, Australian Open, checking out a rugby match or the thrilling Australian Rules Football game.
Melbourne is a fantastic city for the cultural enthusiast or the urban explorer. The ideal place to lay one’s head after visiting all that this wonderful city has to offer is the Lyall Hotel and Spa. The Lyall is a true gem of a hotel showcasing Melbourne’s finest accommodations and service.
Address: 16 Murphy St, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9868 8222
