Jules Healey

Hotel Chadstone is a five-star, $130 million development operated under the MGallery by Sofitel brand. Located within the Chadstone complex, there are 250 rooms, including 21 suites and two flash-as-hell penthouses. Each suite has been thoughtfully curated to maximise guest comfort and relaxation while upholding the stylish aesthetic of the hotel. You’ll feel the thick pile carpet beneath your toes, help yourself to an Everliegh bottled cocktail from the minibar, play around with the electronic curtains and dimming lights, relax in the spa-like bathrooms and order room service until your heart’s content. If you plan on making the most of the hotel’s facilities or indulging in some retail therapy, you’ll soon realise the suite’s beds are nearly impossible to pull yourself away from.  The hotel features two in-house restaurant-bars including a venue from hospo heavyweight Scott Pickett. Pastore, which is the Italian word for ‘shepherd’, honours the area’s heritage as a pasture. The ground-floor restaurant is Italian-inspired, with a pull towards Australian flavours and woodfire cooking. The unpretentious menu features a selection of tasting plates, handmade pasta and grilled meats.  Altus Restaurant and rooftop bar is the hotel’s more polished venue. It boasts panoramic views of the Dandenongs and offers guests a taste of the luxe life with its fine dining seasonal menu and lavish interior decor. Think high ceilings, brushed gold metal arches, sheer floor-to-ceiling linen drape

Milk and Honey is located a stone’s throw from the main drag of North Melbourne. From the moment you walk through the door and take that first deep belly-breath, you know some serious relaxation is on the cards.  The Milk and Honey team like to keep it simple. They offer high-quality remedial massages which are tailored to you by qualified remedial massage therapists. You can choose your duration (45, 60 and 90-minute consultations are available) and what areas you would like to focus on, whether you have muscle tension, acute or chronic pain or just a need to unwind and smooth out that brow. The Victoria Street shop front has been thoughtfully curated. Think blonde woods, clean white walls, aromatherapy diffusers, dimly lit lights, plush furnishings and lots of greenery. Upstairs you'll find the treatment rooms, which includes a special pregnancy room which is fitted with a futon. This gives expected mummas some extra comfort and support.  Pro tip: massages are 100 per cent more enjoyable when you just lean into the relaxation. Your senses heighten and you're able to take in every touch, sound and smell which is quite a thrill when you're overly stressed.  The massage tables are heated so there are no uncomfortable breezes. For extra comfort, massage therapists begin treatments with a top-to-tail general massage which includes placing an unexpected (but welcome) heated wheat bag on the small of your back. The pace of the massage was perfect, with the therapist kneading, roll