In early 2022, Marriott announced that it was planning on opening five hotels across Melbourne throughout the year. The first of those five hotels is this extension of the brand's Courtyard brand, which launched in 1983 as a suite of hotels designed with business travellers in mind. Located just adjacent to the leafy Flagstaff Gardens, this lofty zen-style hotel has already cemented itself as a comfortable and convenient stay for all manner of travellers.
Unlike the also recently built Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands, which is basically a luxurious urban resort complete with a rooftop infinity pool, this Marriott iteration focuses on elevating the basic necessities. The ground-floor lobby is reminiscent of a zen garden, with soothing grey tiling, marbled fixtures, touches of greenery and a window looking out into a stone-filled garden space. It's quiet, despite the hotel being within walking distance of Southern Cross Station, Marvel Stadium, Spencer Outlet Centre and Queen Victoria Market. The four-star build also features flexible event spaces for meetings, rooftop entertaining areas and a large fitness centre.
Right next to the lobby, you'll find the Level Grounds Café & Bar, an all-day dining space that offers light meals and beverages during the day and converts into a late-night tapas bar at night on Thursdays to Saturdays. While tapas are traditionally Spanish, you'll find a mix of different culinary inspirations on the menu; think Lebanese-inspired crispy eggplant served with a creamy and spicy harissa sauce, the Italian-inspired (and vegan!) pumpkin arancini and Japanese-inspired King Ora salmon sashimi or steak tartare with nori and egg yolk mayonnaise. If you're looking for dinner on a night that the tapas bar is closed, explore nearby restaurants like Tipo 00, the Mint or Foglia Di Fico.
There are 150 guestrooms and a handful of suites across the hotel's 15 storeys, and each is decorated with timber flooring and furniture, detailed photos of wildlife and brass details. It's a no-frills but clean and contemporary look, and in truth, the M.O. of this hotel is that you won't be spending that much time within its four walls. What it lacks in décor, it makes up for in sheer comfort: the bed and its pillows are super plush, basically guaranteeing that you'll sleep like a rock, and the bathroom features a wide overhead shower head and delicious-smelling amenities by Nirvae Botanicals.
Time Out tip: If you'd like to have dinner at the restaurant, remember that the tapas bar is only open from Thursdays to Saturdays. And for an extra special bonus tip (in case you needed an excuse to order heaps of small plates): tapas are $15 each, but you can get three for $40.
Looking for things to do during your stay? Check out our round-up of the best events happening in Melbourne this week.
