Southern style: the best luxury hotels in Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia’s capital of coffee and culture; a city brimming with architectural wonder, effortlessly cool neighbourhoods, and a thrilling events calendar which rarely allows a moment’s rest. Repeat visits are also essential. 

Whether sipping aromatic blends in a hip Collingwood or Fitzroy cafe, seeing a Broadway show at Her Majesty’s Theatre, or enjoying the back and forth ballet of the Australian Open, the Victorian capital can always be relied on to dazzle, delight and surprise.

'Rising:' winter festival is just one of the city's premier events.

Thankfully, there’s no shortage of luxury Melbourne hotels, with properties from the avant garde to those breathing new life into heritage icons. There are more on the way too, including Four Seasons Hotel Melbourne in 2027.

Ready to find your next favourite address? In no particular order and by no means a complete list, these are some of the best hotels Melbourne has to offer.

Crown Towers Melbourne

Claiming pride of place on the Yarra River’s glorious Southbank promenade, Crown Melbourne is all about great food and fabulous entertainment. It’s home to some pretty stellar hotels too, of which Crown Towers is its shining star.

Club rooms guests enjoy complimentary access to the Crystal Club, though entry is also available for a fee.

Within the 43-storey hotel are 482 chic rooms and suites, each styled in a soothing palette of cream, sand, gold and grey. As you’d expect, views are to die for, as are the tantalising array of dining options on offer throughout the wider complex.

City views and sumptuous decor collide in the Deluxe Villa.

Conservatory Buffet will fuel you up to explore Melbourne’s famous laneways and galleries, while the lavish TWR Bar will get you into the mood to kick in into the wee hours. Alternatively, you can indulge at one of Crown’s other restaurants, like Rockpool or Bistro Guillame.

The hotel's grand entrance hints at the opulence that awaits inside.

Executive and Premier Club Suite guests enjoy access to the Crystal Club – an exclusive haven with wing-backed chairs and a sunny open-air terrace. Complimentary breakfast and evening canapes round out the experience.

The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne

Hearing a hotel described as ‘Australia’s tallest’ sets an expectation. More than just a sky-reaching building, interiors within should be equally high end, right? In the case of The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne, which holds that lofty honour, they certainly are.

The multi-faceted staircase is just one of the hotel's Insta-worthy sights.

Rather than checking in at a meagre ground floor lobby, are first whisked up to the Sky Lobby on the 80th floor, where lavish decor and views of the Yarra and city skyline set the tone for what awaits during a stay in its 257 rooms and suites.

Interiors, like those of this Yarra Suite, are elegant and understated.

Among the Marriott Bonvoy hotel’s delights are signature restaurant Atria – helmed by Executive Chef Michael Greenlaw in partnership with Chef Mark Best (of former Sydney restaurant ‘Marque’ fame) – and bar Cameo, in addition to Ritz-Carlton Club and a chic day spa.

Atria Restaurant enjoys impressive views from the bay to the mountains.

The location is stellar too – inside one of four towers in the West Side Place precinct adjacent to Southern Cross Station, ideal for direct rail and tram connections to all corners of the city, and a 10-minute stroll to Southbank and the Convention Centre.

InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto

Back in the CBD and if the walls of InterContinental Melbourne could talk, they'd speak of over 130 years of growth and change. Because though the hotel has only been around since 2008, the two historic buildings it occupies have long played pivotal roles in Melbourne’s lineage.

When it comes to the hotel's captivating facade, more is definitely more.

Behind the neo-gothic facade and 9-storey glass-topped atrium – a fitting showcase for the grand old brickwork and windows – lies 253 contemporary rooms and suites, in addition to a light-filled gym, indoor pool and the fabulous Botanic Wellness Spa.

The ten-storey, glass-topped atrium is also home to signature restaurant Alluvial.

Alluvial Restaurant, Bluestone Bar, Market Lane Cocktail Bar and Ronnie’s eatery are at hand to sate the appetite and thirst of guests, while Club InterContinental also offers breakfast, evening drinks and more for those staying in Club level rooms.

Atrium restaurant Alluvial takes you from buffet breakfast to à la carte lunch and dinner.

As an IHG hotel, members of the IHG One Rewards loyalty program can earn points and unlock exclusive perks from complimentary room upgrades to reward nights at discounted rates.

Read our in-depth review here. 

The Royce Hotel Melbourne

One of the newer additions to the city’s hotelscape, The Royce Melbourne is unlike any other in town. For starters, the premises was never intended to be a hotel – it was a Rolls Royce car dealership, but the Spanish Mission meets Art Deco styling had potential.

The bar offers an array of spirits, cocktails and all-day British fare.

Fast forward more than 90 years and that potential has been fully realised, with a two-year restoration and refurbishment reinventing it as a luxury escape evoking the golden age of hospitality. You’d think it had always been this way.

The Loft Suite is a picture of Art Deco elegance.

From the grand lobby, swathed in plush navy blue, royal purple and tan leather lounges – not to mention a sweeping curved staircase – to its 94 rooms, every inch of the hotel is carefully considered, and beckons you to explore further.

Striped awnings give The Conservatory a decidedly French feel.

Beyond the rooms, The Royce keeps guests sated with a chic French restaurant and adjacent conservatory, in addition to a nine-metre Showroom Bar where guests can partake in British bites and clandestine drinks well into the night.

Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street

Built in 1931 and imbued with a mix of architectural styles from Gothic to Italian Romanesque, the Equity Chambers stands out amid Melbourne’s sea of historic buildings. After a major refurbishment, it’s now also home to one of the city’s most lavish hotels: Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street.

Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street, where heritage style meets contemporary convenience.

Accessed via a discrete laneway adorned in street art, the high-end address retains much of its 1930s charm – coffered ceilings and ornate plasterwork – while also enjoying a sheen of modern convenience, notably in its 244 guestrooms.

Designed by Bates Smart, Luci Restaurant is a tantalising option for breakfast and dinner.

Right on the tram line and a short walk from Bourke Street Mall, the hotel provides a central base to explore Melbourne, whether that’s visiting Fed Square, the Queen Victoria market, or exploring the trendy inner suburbs.

Of course, there’s plenty onsite as well.

Street art is a core element of the hotel's design, with artworks by the local Juddy Roller collective.

On top of a well-equipped gym, the Hilton has two great dining options: The Douglas Club cocktail bar, and Luci Restaurant, which transports diners to a golden era of Art Deco style as it plates up Australian cuisine with a liberal splash of Italian flair.

Hilton Honors Diamond members and guests in higher-category rooms also enjoy access to an executive lounge, otherwise known as The Queen Adelaide Lounge.

Le Méridien Melbourne

Playing on the artistic heritage of the site – once home to a cinema, theatre and live music hub – Le Méridien Melbourne boasts 235 rooms furnished in a mid-century modern style with artworks echoing its past, in addition to eye-catching lighting and chic marble bathrooms.

The Palace Suite is among its most luxurious accommodations.

Ground floor restaurant and bar ‘Dolly’ is adorned with intimate velvet booths and deep, leather armchairs (a fantastic stop before seeing a show), while lobby cafe ‘Intermission’ is on hand to satisfy guests’ sweet tooths and caffeination needs.

Dolly is a "moody 1930's destination evoking the glamour and mystique of the backstage".

However, the star of the show is the rooftop pool and terrace, home to an open-air bar serving cocktails and snacks, and then there’s the view, overlooking Parliament House and stretching towards Fitzroy Gardens. Spectacular.

Picture yourself relaxing poolside with this view unfolding before you.

All guest rooms feature Malin + Goetz bath amenities, signature bottled cocktails by The Everleigh Bottling Co.,and a coffee machine, along with a dedicated work desk, Marshall Speakers and 55-inch LCD TV.

The Langham, Melbourne

A local outpost from one of Asia’s leading luxury brands, The Langham Melbourne is all about old-world elegance. Though every one of its 388 rooms is divine, the suites perhaps best embody this ethos with deep armchairs, rich drapery and fresh floral arrangements.

Chandeliers aren't the only thing that sparkles within this inner-city gem.

Pastel pink abounds in the private apartment ‘The Residence by Kerrie Hess’, made in collaboration with the Australian artist and illustrator, but the hotel’s true hero is the Chairman’s Suite: a serene sanctuary with majestic views and multiple sitting areas.

The Langham's pink taxi is an iconic sight regularly spotted amid the bustling city streets.

No Langham stay is complete without some RnR and Chuan Spa is ready to soothe and restore. Alternatively, you can work up a shine in the fitness studio, or soak some rays in the 15-metre outdoor pool (if the city's infamous weather is on your side, that is).

The Chairman Suite has separate spaces for work, rest and relaxation.

Those craving sweet or savoury bites would also be wise to book in for Afternoon Tea – a staple of all Langhams and plated to perfection here in Melbourne. If you still have room, Melba Restaurant and Aria Bar & Lounge are well worth a visit.

Hotel Chadstone

Though its full name may be a bit of a mouthful, Hotel Chadstone Melbourne MGallery by Sofitel is a particularly charming addition to the city’s hotel-scape. Its location is unrivalled for those seeking to indulge in a little retail therapy too.

Hotel Chadstone: a stylish escape in one of the city's premium fashion hubs.

Located outside the CBD in the thriving inner-city suburbs, Hotel Chadstone is linked to the Chadstone shopping complex, where you’ll find the likes of Montblanc and Chanel.

Deluxe Corner Room, furnished in warm shades of blush pink and gold.

The hotel boasts 250 beautiful rooms and suites, not to mention the Altus rooftop bar and Italian restaurant Pastore, plus an inviting swimming pool and day spa: Holism Retreat. The latter offers restorative spa treatments, together with yoga and meditation.

Soak up the view while you soak in the hotel's beautiful pool and spa.

For something a little different, Hotel Chadstone invites guests to glow-up their wardrobe with its Style This Way package. Complete with a night’s accommodation and breakfast for two, guests can enjoy a personalised consultation and shopping experience with a stylist.

Pan Pacific Melbourne

Commanding impressive views of the Yarra and perched right next door to both the convention and exhibition centres in South Wharf, Pan Pacific Melbourne is a perfect combination of luxury and convenience. It’s not just for business travellers either.

Pan Pacific Melbourne rebranded from the Hilton Melbourne South Wharf in 2017.

Each of its 396 rooms and suites feels warm and inviting; natural timber finishes, textured wallpaper and sheer curtains parting to reveal floor-to-ceiling windows are just a taste. Elegant bathrooms and included perks like free wifi complete the package.

The Yarra Suite boasts ample space and impressive views of its namesake.

As a member hotel of the GHA Discovery loyalty program, which unites 35 global brands under one banner, Pan Pacific guests can earn ‘Discovery Dollars’ on each dollar spent, as well as enjoy perks like double room upgrades once they reach the (very accessible) higher tiers.

Dock 37 Bar & Kitchen has a strong focus on native and seasonal Australian ingredients.

Guests checked into Pacific Club rooms and suites enjoy access to the hotel’s executive lounge: Pacific Club. Buffet breakfast, all-day refreshments and evening canapes are just a handful of the privileges.

QT Melbourne

Theatricality runs to the very heart of Melbourne. Bewitching stage shows, thought-provoking festivals… there’s never a dull moment to be had. QT Melbourne plays up to this with aplomb, stealing the scene with dramatic decor that revels in the excess.

It's not every day you're greeted by a peacock when entering a hotel.

Concrete ceilings and oak parquetry floors, brushed-slate bathrooms and tan leather lounge chairs create an inviting, industrial-chic aesthetic in each of its 188 rooms – be sure to check out the QT Corner King – but it’s the public areas where the hotel really shines.

Deluxe King Rooms make an attractive base to explore the city.

Under the steady hand of Executive Chef Paul Griffiths, Pascale Bar & Grill plates up delicate entrees and grand mains in a setting best described as ‘over-the-top’.

A sleek red marble counter and mint stools, velvet lounges with lips and eyes… it’s ridiculous, but it works.

From the decor to the decadence emerging from the kitchen, Pascale is always an experience to remember.

Alongside Pascale is the moody yet unpretentious Bar 133, while the hotel summit offers the appropriately named Rooftop at QT – tailor-made for seductive soirees in the moonlight.

Much like its siblings in Sydney and Auckland, it’s a hotel you’ll check into once and return to again and again. 

W Melbourne

Entering any W Hotel is like a trip down the rabbit hole into Wonderland: modern, vibrant and always just the right level of outrageous. That’s W Melbourne to a tee, from its technicolour lobby to guest rooms with walls that look like a zipper coming undone.

The W's vibrant lobby, or 'living room' as they call it.

Inspired by the street art of iconic Flinders Lane, the hotel features 294 bold rooms and suites with names like Cozy, Wonderful and Fabulous. The best in the house? That would be the Extreme Wow Suite: a 127 sqm penthouse engrained with nightclub-esque style.

The 'Wonderful' room certainly lives up to its name.

As expected from a Melbourne hotel, dining, cocktails and coffee are all top-notch. Standouts are ‘Curious’, shaking up sensational cocktails and music (its cascading timber ceiling also needs to be seen to be believed), and Lollo from Chef Adam D’Sylva.

Sip and soak the afternoon away at the hotel's WET pool.

When it’s time to detox, make your way into the state-of-the-art FIT gym, or float your ails away in the WET pool. The latter is conveniently home to a bar too, just in case you find yourself getting dehydrated...

Beyond Melbourne, Australia is home to impressive hotels and resorts, not to mention regional hideaways where stillness and serenity form the welcome soundtrack of your next holiday.