Melbourne’s CBD hotel scene is on the up and up. Earlier this month, the team behind the designer Hannah St Hotel confirmed that they’re on track to open the new 188-room hotel this summer. And now, the doors have opened at two new stays in the beating heart of Bourke Street. On September 11, the curtains came down around Holiday Inn Melbourne Bourke Street Mall and Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins. With 452 hotel rooms between them, the two new hotels form IHG’s very first dual-branded hotel property in Australia – opening straight out onto the emerging Melbourne Walk precinct.
Holiday Inn is back with all the hallmarks of the popular affordable brand: a light-filled lobby, leafy accents and that big friendly ‘Hello’ sign that sets the mood the moment you step in. Designed by global studio Buchan and built by Hickory, the hotel’s simple, sleek interiors nod to Melbourne’s past while keeping things refreshingly modern: think bright guest rooms splashed with greens, pinks and mustard, and art inspired by the city’s skyline. Designed with families in mind, this one is home to 92 interconnected rooms, with the brand’s “kids stay and eat free” promise as standard.
The dining offering at on-site eatery The Greenery is equally easygoing, serving up hearty classics with a Melbourne twist. Expect share boards stacked with charcuterie and farmhouse cheeses, reef fish and fries, slow-braised beef cheeks, and a kid-friendly burger crowned with a smiley bun. Over in the lobby, flexible seating and plenty of charging ports make it a spot as suited to post-shopping downtime as it is to getting a little work done. The real showstopper here is the hotel’s 220-square-metre private terrace event space. With uninterrupted views across Bourke Street Mall to the GPO clock tower and the Myer building, it’s tailor-made for big city events.
Just around the corner, Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins is playing the cool younger sibling to Holiday Inn’s all-rounder offering. With 179 boutique-style rooms, the hotel leans into Melbourne’s reputation for hidden laneways and creative edge – all bold murals, eclectic design details and local storytelling woven into the design. This one is less about family-friendly comfort and more about soaking up the city’s cultural offering – with a playful design ethos that blurs the line between hotel and art gallery.
To make your staycation even sweeter, both hotels are celebrating their opening with a special offer: breakfast for two for just $1 extra on top of its best flexible rate. Keen? You can book Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins here, or Holiday Inn Melbourne Bourke Street Mall here.
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