Melbourne's hospitality scene has become a haven for those seeking
unforgettable experiences with its eclectic mix of accommodation options
- from an apartment hotel in a former prison and a luxury high-rise
with check-in on the 80th floor, to a boutique hotel that was once home
to a seamstress and a chic French-inspired hotel that was once a
nightclub. Additionally, pet owners can enjoy the city's "pawfect"
places for their furry friends. It's no wonder that Melbourne's hotel
stocks are on the rise.
1. Unlocking Adina's potential
Melbourne's Pentridge Prison has seen a who's who of Australia's most
notorious criminals – including bushranger Ned Kelly - locked up behind
its bluestone walls.
The prison was decommissioned in 1997, and after much discussion the
prison and surrounding area is being developed into a hospitality and
entertainment hub in Melbourne’s north, eight kilometres from the city.
The Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne has been completely
reimagined from its Victorian origin and now offers 106 guest rooms
including studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments,
Adina operators TFE Hotels will also open a 19-room, "experience-led
urban retreat", The Interlude, with a programme of locally focused
activities offered in converted former prison cells.
2. Le Meridien follows rock royalty into Melbourne
Le Meridien’s Dolly restaurant has links to one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best-known films.
Le Meridien is back in Australia, reintroducing the brand with Le
Meridien Melbourne, overlooking Parliament House and close to many of
the city’s best cultural, sporting and dining attractions.
The 235-room hotel has enjoyed several incarnations since opening as a
hotel in the 1850s, including a theatre and nightclub where artists
such as Prince and James Brown have performed.
A coffee-pod machine and local snacks are offered in rooms, along
with a range of books, including How to be a Parisien - after all, Le
Meridien was launched in 1960s Paris to house Air France flight crew.
The hotel’s 1930s-style Dolly restaurant is named after the dolly
zoom camera technique pioneered by Alfred Hitchcock in Vertigo.
3. The only way is up to the Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton lobby in West Side Place, Melbourne
The Ritz-Carlton, which opened in March, occupies the top 17 floors
of a four-tower skyscraper development by Far East Hospitality in the
new West Side Place precinct. The ground-floor lobby and the ballroom
and conference facilities are on the first two floors of the building,
while reception is way up on the 80th floor, accessible by high-speed
lifts.
Atria, the restaurant on the 80th floor, is building a reputation as
the go-to dining experience for Melbourne locals and visitors.
West Side Place will become Melbourne’s largest CBD residential development with over 2,600 apartments.
4. Dorsett part of a new West Side story
Dorsett Melbourne is a pet-friendly hotel
On April 18th, the southern end of Melbourne's CBD welcomed the grand
opening of the Dorsett Melbourne, joining the prestigious Ritz-Carlton
in the $2.4 billion West Side Place development by Far East Consortium.
Dorsett Melbourne comprises 316 guest rooms over eight levels, and
includes pet friendly rooms and themed family rooms, alongside numerous
dining outlets. Amenities includes an indoor heated pool, complete with a
day-bed area, spa, sauna, steam room, wellness room, and a gymnasium.
Dorsett Melbourne is located with direct access to Southern Cross
Station, Spencer Street designer outlets and a short walk or tram ride
to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
5. The Motley dresses up Richmond
The Motley is managed by La Vie Hotels and Resorts.
The Motley, with 80 keys over eight levels, pays its respects to the
building’s former occupant, local seamstress and theatrical costumier,
Ms Mary Parker.
The hotel in inner-city Richmond has been developed by Amber Property
Group and managed by La Vie Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific’s fast
growing independent hotel management company.
The hotel has numerous references to sporting icons and the arts,
while the interior design is inspired by the area's ties to textiles
industries.
For dining, The Motley has several options, including ground floor
café and fine dining restaurant that pays homage to the hotel’s
namesake, ‘Ms Parker’.