This is a guest post from Emily Buckley, a travel writer who has visited the vibrant city of Melbourne many times and loves sharing her finds with Hotel Club.
If you’re tired of staying in chain hotels that look the same wherever you go, where you are just one of hundreds of other guests that check-in and check-out every day, then perhaps a boutique hotel will be more your style. Unique, sometimes quirky, full of little touches, and often small in size, these boutique hotels in Melbourne that we found from HotelClub.com are guaranteed to make your trip memorable.
Hotel Lindrum
This hotel has the benefit of being right in the heart of the city centre, yet without compromising on charm and character. First built in the early 1900s, the red brick Romanesque Revival style building was originally owned by tea merchants before becoming the headquarters for a newspaper and, finally, a beloved billiards hall. The stylish and cosy bar and billiard room now features one of the original billiard tables from the 60s. The hotel cleverly mixes heritage items with contemporary design and offers lots of lovely little extras such as free wireless internet and the loan of iPads.
The Cullen
This is the hotel of choice for lovers of contemporary art. The quirky hotel is named after Adam Cullen, one of Australia’s most controversial contemporary artists, whose art is featured throughout the hotel. His signature bright splashes of colour can be found everywhere and both the architecture and the design is influenced by his work. Rooms are spacious and feature kitchenettes, incredibly stylish contemporary furniture and ridiculously comfortable beds. Again, the focus is on the little extras – the minibars are
stocked with treats from the nearby Prahran Markets, iPods containing extensive playlists can be rented, as can Smart Cars, electric scooters and Classic Kronan bicycles.
The Lyall
Melbourne’s only privately owned and operated 5 star hotel, the award-winning Lyall screams luxury yet offers the intimacy and personality of a small hotel. Details such as a mini art gallery on each floor featuring the work of a local artist, a welcoming open fireplace in the lounge, a CD, DVD and book library, and bike rental, give it a home-away-from-home feel (albeit an uber-luxurious home!). Its one and two bedroom suites, Grand suites and Platinum Suite are furnished and decorated in a contemporary oriental style that is very conducive to winding down but if you need further relaxation the in-house spa is
excellent.
Pensione Hotel
If you want boutique style without having to fork out mega-bucks, the character-laden Pensione Hotel fits the bill nicely. Taking its cue from the friendly and stylish European pensione hotels, the boutique hotel is set in a stunning Victorian heritage-listed building with an interior that combines modern design, an earthy palette and original features. Its location in the heart of the trendy CBD, on the corner of Spencer and Flinders Streets, is unbeaten, as are its refreshingly low rates. The staff are incredibly friendly, the cafe and bar is fantastically chic, and there’s even a rooftop sundeck.
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