For the first time in more than two decades, a brand new Marriott Hotel has been built in Australia, and it is absolutely grand. Your timeline has probably been graced with pictures of its heated wet-edge infinity pool, located 15 floors up and boasting sweeping views of the city. Seeing that has probably already whet your appetite for a stay at this five-star hotel, but there are heaps more amenities to look forward to.
Located just around the corner from Marvel Stadium, the hotel has 189 guest rooms, two bars, a restaurant, a ground-floor café, a fitness centre and Australia's first M-Club members lounge. By design, it's more than just a place to sleep at night; it's an urban resort perfect for a staycation, with everything you could possibly need within its walls.
Enjoy a leisurely check-in on the ground floor with a cocktail at Ada's Bar. The old-world hotel lobby bar is named after Ada Coleman, who tended bar at the Savoy in London in the early 1900s and is widely recognised as the world's first female mixologist. Try the Hanky Panky – this was Ada's signature cocktail and is made with a combination of gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet Branca.
After you've had a drink or two, head upstairs to check out your room. The aesthetic is contemporary and modern, and your bathroom will be stocked with toiletries by Thann. Chuck on your robe and slippers, hop into the plush bed and flick through your options on the Smart TV (which also shows you your in-room dining options).
When you're feeling adequately rested, head to Sunset House, a west-facing bar on the hotel's top level. It's furnished like a bougie pool house, with rattan furniture and gold-accented bartops, and it's the perfect place to – you guessed it – watch the sunset. Keeping in with the beachy theme, the cocktail menu boasts an extensive range of Spritzed cocktails.
To cap off the night, ride back down to the ground floor for dinner at Archer's. The menu champions local and native ingredients, and while it changes seasonally, you can expect dishes like a butcher's cut steak with roasted potato, caramelised onion and chimichurri sauce and a roasted Cone Bay barramundi on a bed of herby green beans and vegetables.
In the morning, you can either order in-room breakfast, head back to Archer's for an à la carte breakfast, or grab a couple of coffees and pastries from Corsia before you check out.
Time Out tip: Want the infinity pool to yourself? Plan to get there sometime between when it first opens at 6am until peak hour starts at around 9am. If the idea of getting into a chilled pool in the cold early hours of the morning sounds awful, don't worry: it's heated, and there's a jacuzzi section off to the site where you can warm yourself up.
Adena Maier stayed as a guest of Marriott Melbourne.
Keen to get out and explore the District Docklands? We've rounded out all of the best things to eat, drink, see and do in our area guide.
