There’s a widely held belief that the “W” in W Hotels stands for “wow”. A few minutes into your stay at W Melbourne, you’ll be convinced that the theory is true. From the abundant breakfast buffet (complete with Bloody Mary station and a roaming tray of smoothie shots) to the sky-high rooftop pool, every element here has been considered – and delivered with shameless, main character pizzazz.
Why stay at W Melbourne?
Primarily: the wow factor. This isn’t an everyday hotel, and if you’re looking for neutral tones and elevator jazz, look elsewhere. Instead, you’ll find matte black walls emblazoned with red graffiti-style writing, bold design features and a contemporary soundtrack spanning Erika de Casier to Loyle Carner. W is a young, playful brand – appealing to Generation X with its creative tone of voice and ultra-Instagrammable design.
But W’s youthful approach isn’t a gimmick, and quality isn’t remotely compromised – resulting in a luxury stay that feels friendly and full of heart.
What are the rooms like at W Melbourne?
Again, the key here is the wow. Through a heavy black door, I found a funky space with curved, brass-trimmed wardrobes in a style that mimics Melbourne’s streetside kiosks. Though W is a global brand, each hotel nods to its neighbourhood through city-appropriate design features and art by local artists. In Melbourne, that means street art-style interiors and a trendy sensibilty.
Crawling into the feather-down bed, I’m reminded that the playful aesthetic doesn’t come at a cost. Yes, the (heated) toilet lid lifts automatically when you open the bathroom door, the lighting is so low that you might find yourself turning on your iPhone torch, and the décor feels more like a nightclub than a regular hotel room, but all of the key functions and features that take a hotel room from good to great are absolutely there.
Floor-to-ceiling windows? Tick. Big marble bathroom stocked with fluffy robes, designer beauty tools and luxe toiletries? Tick. Super-comfy bed framed by easy-to-operate lighting options and high-spec speaker systems? Tick, tick, tick.
The rooms range in size from 35-square-metre Cosy King Rooms to a 175-square-metre Extreme Wow Penthouse Suite (complete with a huge 31-square-metre balcony and multiple living spaces). My room was in the Cosy category, and it was the perfect city base.
Which are the best restaurants at W Melbourne?
The first floor of the hotel is home to Lollo: the hotel’s main restaurant serving a gloriously over-the-top buffet breakfast (with omelettes to order) and an Italian-leaning lunch and dinner menu. Large windows framed by plants line the far wall, and in the centre of the room you’ll see chefs working from the open kitchen. Around the corner, you’ll find Warabi: a moody, intimate contemporary Japanese omakase-style restaurant serving excellent small plates highlighting local ingredients.
The Time Out team’s favourite venue at the W is found down a secret staircase, in a beautifully bizarre room that seems plucked straight out of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Geometric wooden beams form a trippy tunnel-like frame, and round marble tables are framed by blue velvet booths and dimly illuminated by gold mushroom lamps. This sexy subterranean cocktail den is aptly named Curious, and the excellent drinks menu, tasty snacks and on-point DJ line-up do a very good job of keeping you away from that nighttime dip.
What is the service like at W Melbourne?
As you’d expect, the service here matches the vibe: friendly and fun. On check-in, the host notes I’m only staying for one night and immediately offers me a late check-out, and at breakfast I see staff chatting with guests they’ve befriended the day before. We ordered room service at 10pm, and it arrived within 20 minutes on a linen-draped table – when the W needs to act like an old-school luxury hotel, it absolutely pulls through.
Is there a gym or pool at W Melbourne?
You better believe it. According to W, the 14th floor is dedicated to their “Detox. Retox. Repeat.” philosophy – featuring a well-equipped gym, a sun-soaked lap pool and a pool deck complete with a DJ booth and a well-stocked bar serving everything from coffee to Champagne.
In perfectly W form, the gym and pool are both anything but ordinary. The gym is titled “Fit” and is found on the 14th floor, complete with far-reaching views across the city, plus a good selection of machines and weights, and bowls overflowing with headphones and crunchy green apples. Stretching out beneath a gold mirrored ceiling, the pool is the hotel’s magnum opus – a stunning rectangle of aquamarine high above the surrounding rooftops, open to hotel guests 24/7.
What’s the area like around W Melbourne?
The hotel is right in the centre of the CBD, with Melbourne’s buzzy laneways within a few minutes’ walk. From the hotel, the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is a 13-minute tram ride, popular concert venue Hamer Hall is a 14-minute walk, and the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is just over 15 minutes on foot (or a 12-minute tram ride). The trendy inner north suburbs of Fitzroy, Brunswick and Collingwood are all easily accessible by tram, too.
Why should you book a stay at W Melbourne?
During my stay, I saw families on city staycations and business travellers settling in for a few hours of work in the light-flooded restaurant. I saw groups of cashed-up influencers stockpiling content, teams of girls sipping Mimosas with their French toast, and couples splashing around in the pool.
W Melbourne is bold and fun and fabulous, and a stay here is unforgettable.
Address: 408 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000
Price per night: From $365 per night.
Closest transport link: Southern Cross Station is an 11-minute walk from the hotel, and the closest tram stop is Flinders Street Railway Station/Elizabeth Street.
Book now: Over here.
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