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Crown Towers
Wonderfully over-the-top sums up this Melbourne landmark, from the lobby, with its glorious excess of marble and gilding, to the massive crystal chandeliers in the Crystal Club, a VIP lounge reserved for guests of the luxe penthouse villas. The suites are similarly all about excess: huge walk-in closets and lavish marble contribute to the high-life feeling. Most rooms have spectacular views of the city (others overlook the river or the bay), and there are plenty of other diversions outside of the room, including a lobby ringed with luxury designer stores; world-class restaurants, such as Nobu and Rockpool; and a luxurious and tranquil day spa.
Hotel Lindrum
This luxury boutique hotel, set in a Romanesque Revival building from the early 1900s (a former pool hall, the historic structure was named after famous snooker player Walter Lindrum), is perfectly situated for strolls to Melbourne’s lanes and secret places. Overlooking Melbourne Park, the property is a nine-minute walk from Federation Square, a 14-minute walk from the cricket grounds and just over a mile away from the Royal Botanic Gardens. Its 59 rooms are spacious and offer a modern design with rich wood furnishings. The Deluxe rooms have arched windows that let in floods of natural light and allow for good views of the city and gardens. The public areas are low-lit and sexy, and the bar attracts a chic local crowd.
Hotel Windsor
The grande dame of Melbourne’s hotel scene is still going strong more than a century after opening its doors, thanks to impeccable white-glove service, beautiful (if a touch chintzy) rooms and an old-world, refined atmosphere that’s as far from minimal as you can get. Situated opposite Parliament House and the Treasury Gardens and a short stroll away from the theater district, the Windsor, designated as a heritage site, has hosted several prime ministers as well as entertainment industry luminaries from Lauren Bacall to Kylie Minogue. The famous Windsor afternoon teas, with butler-served British treats as scones with jam and cream, is not to be missed. A major restoration, which has been held up for several years, is expected to be completed by 2020.
Langham Hotel
Aficionados of five-star properties will love the Langham, with its riverfront location and air of quiet luxury. Set beside the Yarra River on the famous Southbank Promenade, the Langham is a quick walk from the designer shops on Collins Street. All 388 guest rooms have views, the best of which are of the river (“Southbank View” rooms), some with balconies or terraces. Accommodations feature handmade furnishings and marble bathrooms with whirlpool baths. The hotel’s Asian-inspired Chuan Spa is a holistic wellness sanctuary and there is a 49-foot pool, fully equipped fitness center and health club on site.
Lyall Hotel
This favorite of fashionable types set in leafy South Yarra combines genteel and hip styles in a delightful way. Offering grand services on a personal scale, the Lyall is both cozy and cosmopolitan. Furnishings are muted and tasteful, from the warm, forest green library off the reception area, with its gas fireplace and air of a gentleman’s club, to the spacious suites—there are 40—all of which have terraces (some look out at the street’s fairy light-sprinkled trees). Bathrooms feature bathtubs that are modern and capacious, with lots of intriguing but unexplained buttons. The staff here is discreet and wonderfully helpful.
The Prince
The luster still hasn’t worn off the hippest of Melbourne’s boutique hotels—stylish touches abound in this acclaimed hotel in the heart of St. Kilda. Each of the 39 rooms is unique and sleek, featuring natural timber and a neutral palette. Some accommodations have balconies overlooking the bay. The hotel’s much-feted restaurant, Circa, is a fine-dining experience par excellence. The Aurora Spa has a wellness-focused approach, with treatments that draw on decades of heritage and innovation.
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