Wrapped around Port Phillip Bay, the seahorse-shaped Melbourne is the gateway to the Great Ocean Road. The state capital of Victoria, Australia, Melbourne has also earned itself a reputation for being the coffee powerhouse of the South Hemisphere while streets overflow with galleries, landmark buildings, and green oases. Come rain or shine, there’s always something to do in Melbourne. Whether you’re bookending a road trip or looking to hole up in the city, these are the best hotels in Melbourne, Australia, for luxury and location.
Photo: Expedia
The Most Scenic Hotels to Take In Melbourne's Epic Skyline
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Park Hyatt Melbourne
- Address: 1 Parliament Square Off, Parliament Pl, Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia
- Rates from: $225/night
Over-the-top rooms, a palatial indoor pool, and an East Melbourne zipcode make the Park Hyatt one of the best 5-star hotels in Australia’s coolest city. Even the smaller rooms provide 517 square feet of living space complete with an upholstered bed, Nespresso coffee maker, and spa-standard bathroom. Specialty suites have the perk of a St. Patrick’s Cathedral view or a private terrace.
Steps from Fitzroy Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building, you can take your pick from the blockbuster things to do in Melbourne, Australia’s architectural gem. Rinse off a day’s exploring in the pool before idling around the block to the theater district.
Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne On Spencer
- Address: 160 Spencer St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Rates from: $177/night
One of the best luxury hotels in Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD) with a pool, the Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne On Spencer is the ideal landing pad for first-time visitors. Docklands and Southbank are within walking distance while scores of tram routes trundle past the lobby.
Vibrant, contemporary rooms sport premium linens, blackout curtains, and rainfall showers. Suites can accommodate families of four. In homage to the chain’s Swiss origins, a daily Chocolate Hour welcomes guests to sample everything from ice cream sandwiches to churros. In addition to the heated pool, the hotel has a hot tub and sauna for getting your wellness fix.
The Langham, Melbourne
- Address: 1 Southgate Ave, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia
- Rates from: $190/night
The grandest 5-star hotel in Melbourne’s Southbank neighborhood, The Langham’s waterfront position yields mint views over the Yarra River and CBD. Doused in natural light, entry-level rooms are appointed with traditional furnishings and marble bathrooms. Luxurious suites come with whirlpool tubs and separate parlors although the couture-inspired Kerrie Hess Residence is second to none.
The R&R offering at the hotel extends to an indoor lap pool with service, a spa, and a 24/7 fitness studio. Meanwhile, the brand’s historic afternoon tea is served daily alongside a bespoke kids’ menu where cakes recreate classic bedtime tales.
Zagame’s House
- Address: 66 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
- Rates from: $154/night
One of the best boutique hotels in Melbourne’s “Little Italy”, Zagame’s House is surrounded by trattorias and international eateries. A stone’s throw from Carlton Garden, Melbourne Central and Old Melbourne Gaol are also minutes from the hotel.
Designed in conjunction with a Feng Shui master, house rooms and “pads” follow a fetching monochrome palette. All units have a writing desk and coffee maker while raven-colored bathrobes are a break from tradition. Down on the first floor, Lord Lygon stocks over 300 bottles of wine. Hosted every Tuesday through Sunday, the bar’s happy hour extends to beers and cocktails.
The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne
- Address: 650 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Rates from: $310/night
The paint may still be wet but the Ritz-Carlton has already established itself as one of the finest 5-star hotels in Melbourne. Occupying 17 floors of CBD real estate, views from the Sky Lobby, poolside, and lounges dance over Port Phillip Bay and the Dandenong Ranges. All rooms feature window walls, gold accents, and extravagant marble bathrooms.
An indoor pool on the spa level puts daily swimming on the agenda despite the fickle Melbourne weather. Realistically, there’s little need to dine in while staying in Australia’s culinary capital. That being said, handcrafted cocktails at the panoramic Cameo shouldn’t be skipped.
Pullman Melbourne On The Park
- Address: 192 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia
- Rates from: $187/night
The best hotel in Melbourne near the tennis and cricket stadiums, Pullman Melbourne On The Park gives you an “advantage” during the Australian Open. Sophisticated rooms are decorated with granite and sand hues while windows frame the park, the CBD, or Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Rollaway beds, free cribs, and childcare services are available to vacationing families. Rooms on the Executive Floor have the perk of complimentary breakfast and lounge access where evening canapes are served on the house. All guests are encouraged to soak up those sunny Melbourne summers at the hotel’s outdoor pool.
Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands
- Address: 15 Waterfront Way, Docklands VIC 3008, Australia
- Rates from: $199/night
Situated in the Docklands district, the Marriott Hotel is one the best hotels in Melbourne for views – courtesy of its 28-meter infinity pool. Heated 365 days a year, you can bathe comfortably and enjoy ringside seats at golden hour. The pool deck spills over into the rooftop bar where small plates are served alongside Singapore Slings.
Rooms at this resort-style property overlook the harbor or city. M Club rooms permit access to the exclusive lounge where you’ll receive a complimentary breakfast, wine tastings, and cooking demonstrations. Pay attention to the lobby and you’ll spot sculptures and custom lighting fixtures by Australian and Melbourne-based designers.
The Olsen Melbourne – Art Series
- Address: 637/641 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia
- Rates from: $151/night
One of the artsiest boutique hotels in Melbourne for couples traveling Australia, the Olsen is also located in the trendy South Yarra suburb. Evocative illustrations of the namesake Australian artist, John Olsen, hang on the walls while all units come with kitchen facilities. For a special occasion, reserve the signature penthouse and you’ll score your own terrace with a hot tub.
This neighborhood is well-provisioned for bistros, cocktail lounges, galleries, and riverside strolls. With a menu shaped by Olsen’s travels across Australia and Europe, the restaurant offers around-the-clock room service. Rent a bike and look forward to cooling off in the glass-bottomed pool.
QT Melbourne
- Address: 133 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Rates from: $211/night
Of all the luxury hotels in Melbourne’s CBD, you can’t get more central than the QT. Modern, bold rooms at this industrial-chic hotel come with a little stowaway; keep your eyes peeled for the brand’s floppy-eared mascot!
Beyond the rooms, the QT Melbourne is famed for its string of bars and restaurants. The Rooftop at QT is a smart hangout with urban views perfectly matched by an ace atmosphere whereas the ultra-glamorous Pascale Grill evokes a Parisian wine bar. Not something you’ll find in many hotels, Tanto is a Japanese knife store where Sakai cutlery blades are sold and sharpened alongside cooking demos.
Quest St Kilda Bayside
- Address: 1 Eildon Rd, Saint Kilda VIC 3182, Australia
- Rates from: $109/night
If you’re weighing up hotels versus Airbnb in Melbourne, Quest St Kilda Bayside offers a compromise. Catering to a mix of families, couples, and remote workers, the luxury aparthotel comprises studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom pads. All are appointed with kitchens, laundry facilities, and private balconies. Housekeeping and concierge services are available while parking charges are notably lower than elsewhere.
A 10-minute walk from the beach and Luna Park, Quest Bayside is one of the best hotels in Melbourne, Australia, near the beach. The outdoor solar-heated pool is available during summer when temperatures soar.
Veriu Collingwood
- Address: 25 Johnston St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia
- Rates from: $182/night
If immersing yourself in Collingwood’s epic nightlife is on your agenda, you’ll need a luxury hotel in Melbourne to recuperate. Studios at the recently opened Veriu Hotel have all the bells and whistles – including a simple kitchenette for whipping up your go-to hangover cure. Superior units have a private patio where you can sip a morning Nespresso in a fluffy robe.
Steps from the transport and coffee hub of Smith Street, you’ll find all the best things to do in Melbourne right at your fingertips. In between getting out and about, you can unwind by the outdoor pool and drink up views from the rooftop bar.
What is the best part of Melbourne to stay in?
The Central Business District (CBD), East Melbourne, and Southbank are the best areas in Melbourne to stay for first-time visitors. This trio of downtown neighborhoods is close to all the major things to do in Melbourne – Australia’s nucleus for culture, art, and sport. Hotels in St. Kilda, Port Melbourne, and Middle Beach are an alternative if you’d prefer to stay near the beach. These suburbs are no more than a 30-minute tram ride to the CBD.
Where to stay in Melbourne for nightlife?
Sitting side by side to the northeast of the CBD, the bohemian neighborhoods of Fitzroy and Collingwood are where you’ll find the best nightlife in Melbourne. Students and young professionals pile into the pubs and bars of Brunswick Street nightly to catch live music. Although further out, the seaside suburb of St. Kilda maintains a laid-back nightlife that booms during summer.
Is Melbourne very expensive?
One of the world’s most livable cities, the high standard of living in Melbourne is matched by its costs. On the plus side, there are oodles of free things to do in Melbourne, Australia, that’ll help you stay on budget while the City Circle Tram scoots you around at zero cost. Luxury and boutique hotels in Melbourne are reasonable with rates fluctuating during the peak summer months of December, January, and February.
What is the best month to visit Melbourne?
Down in the south of Australia, Melbourne’s weather is characterized by hot summers, moderate falls, cold winters, and fickle springs. Summer temperatures can swell to 77-86°F in January and February whereas winters see lows of 43°F and highs of 58°F. Ultimately, the best time to visit is during the shoulder seasons of September through November (spring) or March through May (fall). Hotels in Melbourne, Australia, are significantly lower and the weather is pleasant for getting outdoors. Note that spring is when you’re most likely to experience all four seasons in one day. 