The best hotels in Melbourne

For a taste of inner-city luxury, you can’t go past W Melbourne. The hotel, which opened in February of 2021, packs 294 guest rooms, 29 suites, a secret bar, a premium restaurant and a sexy top-floor pool into its Flinders Lane digs – and still manages to feel boutique rather than behemoth.  

Time Out tip: Head to the indoor pool before 7am for a solo swim, and you might even see hot air balloons pass by the windows.

With beautiful rooms and intuitive service delivered by attentive staff, this five-star hotel has all the high-end trappings you’d expect from digs sandwiched between Wolford, Armani and Prada.  Here you’re literally on top of the high-end shopping and fine dining restaurants at the “Paris end” of Collins Street. Guests can expect panoramic city views from floor-to-ceiling windows, modern furnishings and king-sized beds. Cap off your experience by lording over the city with a Martini in the Atrium Bar on the 35th floor.

Time Out tip: Spend an afternoon snacking on delicate éclairs in Sofi’s Lounge.

Opened in 2016, the QT Melbourne has made quite a splash in the city – its 188 rooms can be hard to come by, so if you’ve got your heart set on staying, book in advance. The brand new building has a grand entrance – all soaring ceilings, wood panels and marble. You’ll find a large selection of mostly digital art flickering throughout the hotel, and rooms have an orient-meets-Wall Street vibe, with timber floorboards, glamorous en suites and QT’s “please-don’t-make-me-get-up-I-don’t-want-to-get-up” gel-topped beds.

Time Out tip: The QT is directly opposite one of Time Out’s favourite restaurants and wine bars, Embla. Don’t leave town without nabbing a table.

Australia’s second-ever Mövenpick Hotel has landed in the Melbourne CBD, and it comes with heaps of perks that will ensure your stay is chock full of delights from start to finish. It’s conveniently located just across the street from Southern Cross Station, making it the perfect stay for those keen on exploring the city and beyond. 

Time Out tip: While the free chocolate hour is only for hotel guests, if you’re in the area you can still rock up to purchase that indulgent Mövenpick ice cream parfait. It’s $20 and the perfect size for two people, or one especially ambitious chocolate-lover. 

This Southbank mainstay has all the essential ingredients needed to conjure up an extraordinary hotel experience. There are incredible city skyline and Yarra River views from the Deluxe River Corner Room, the polished interiors of the sprawling Chairman Suite and the indoor 15-metre pool inside the Langham’s blissful Chuan Spa. Cap that off with a visit to the award-winning buffet at the Melba fine dining restaurant and it’s easy to see how the Langham earned every single one of its five stars.

Time Out tip: Tea sommeliers are most definitely a thing – and you’ll meet them at the Langham’s elegant high tea, where house-made pastries are served on Wedgewood teaware.

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.

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. 

Housed in the old Italian Romanesque bones of Melbourne’s heritage-listed Equity Chambers, Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street has a 16-level tower attached to its hip boasting views of nearby law firms and the Supreme Court to guests who stay.

When we visited, there were times when the hotel appeared to be like a scene out of a Stephen King novel, not owing to any gore or horror, but the ghostly nature of a near-empty hotel with a skeleton team of staff floating throughout the venue. That being said, it is nice to have your every beck and call answered. The restaurant in the grand hall, Luci, is helmed by head chef Sam Moore (Pier Rose Bay, Becasse, No.35 at Sofitel Melbourne) and promises Italian-inspired dishes in a setting not dissimilar to a colonial, Great Gatsby-esque hotel you might spot overseas. There’s nothing quite like this in Melbourne. Attention to detail is the name of the game at the Hilton’s latest instalment, and we think it’s off to a very promising start.

Time Out tip: At the front entrance of the hotel, you'll find the Douglas Club, a 1930s-themed speakeasy bar. If you love old-world cocktails done incredibly well, you'd be remiss not to take some time during your stay for a drink and a chat with Gee Shanmugam, the brains behind the menu. 

The Art Series Hotel Group’s South Yarra offering has 224 luxurious rooms ideal for short and long term stays. Stepping to the lobby feels more like entering an art gallery than a hotel; a striking frog sculpture (by veteran Australian artist John Olsen, of course) sets the scene, and a curated collection of Olsen’s bright and beautiful paintings are dotted throughout the property. 

Time Out tip: Feel like watching a movie? Resist the urge to stay in and head across the road to Palace Cinema Como. This plush cinema complex screens big new releases as well as arthouse films from all over the world.

Dripping in old-world charm and the glamour of a bygone era, this grand dame is really something special. The décor here is understated and refined, with tasteful furnishings, soaring ceilings and pretty leadlight accents rather than the cold and tacky flashiness of some 'luxury' hotels. The staff are warm and attentive, happy to help with everything from nearby bar recommendations to forgotten toothbrushes. The rooms themselves are elegant, with marble bathrooms and soft linens and towels. 

Time Out tip: Even if you don't want to stay at the Windsor, do make sure you drop in for afternoon tea, which is served every day of the week. 

Located within a hulking 1938 building on the busy CBD hotspot that is Flinders Lane, the Adelphi Hotel is a nice landing spot for those who value edgy design, location and first-rate service. The Adelphi is a uniquely styled boutique hotel, from its signature zig-zagged floor right down to the ubiquitous lolly jars in every room. With only 34 rooms, the Adelphi can afford to be a little playful in design. Kitschy lamps, furry rugs and not-very-functional-but-still-cute couches line the corners of rooms, with the centrepiece king-sized bed a comfy standout. 

Time Out tip: The Adelphi’s rooftop pool is probably one of the most photographed pools in Melbourne, thanks to its cantilevering, glass-bottom, which juts out over Flinders Lane. It's open from 6am most days if you're one for an early-morning swim. 

As Australia’s first carbon neutral hotel, the inner-city Alto Hotel is the ideal place for a low-impact city stay. Not only is 100 per cent of all electricity used throughout the property generated from renewable sources, but guests can access complimentary recharging stations for electric vehicles and there’s even a rooftop beehive supplying honey for breakfast. With simple yet stylish rooms and all the mod-cons you’d expect from a four-star boutique hotel, the Alto Hotel proves that going green doesn’t mean sacrificing on quality.

Time Out tip: Take advantage of Alto’s relaxation room, which features automated massage chairs that are free to use.

Everything about Ovolo’s South Yarra outpost is perfectly suited to its Chapel Street adjacent location. No detail has been overlooked in accomplishing the hotel’s groovy, 1960s-70s aesthetic. Make note of restaurant Lona Misa on your way to check in, as it’s here you can grab a plant-based breakfast, lunch or dinner while staying at the hotel.

Time Out tip: Have a canine friend in the family? Ovolo is completely pet-friendly and will even provide a bed, dog bowls and treats for your dog.

This sleek urban sanctuary offers all guests the VIP treatment. You can choose between upscale rooms, lofts and apartments all at different price points – but it’s the world-class facilities that set Crown Metropol apart. Zoning out in the infinity pool on the 27th floor is a must, as is enjoying a cocktail or two at the 28 Skybar Lounge, which boasts sweeping city views. 

Time Out tip: Take advantage of the hotel's prime location within the thick of Southbank and peruse the many restaurants that look out over the Yarra River. 

Design aficionados will love the muted tones and sleek monochrome lines at this South Melbourne boutique bolthole that is equal parts hotel, bar and bistro. Only a quick tram ride from the city centre, Coppersmith – located in the leafy streets of South Melbourne – is the perfect choice for visitors who prefer a neighbourhood setting to be in the middle of the city. The rooms feature incredibly soft beds, heavenly pillows, flat-screen televisions and recordable cable TV. Enjoying a cool beer on the rooftop is a must.

Time Out tip: Coppersmith is a five-minute walk to Albert Park Lake, an expansive blue lake flanked with a five-kilometre walking track. Take a stroll as the sun sets over the city and spot the black swans sitting on the banks. Just don’t swim in it.

Merging old-world elegance with modern amenities and service, Hotel Lindrum is a slice of Melbourne heritage wrapped up in a seriously luxurious hotel stay. Once a former billiard centre, Hotel Lindrum’s 59 rooms feature original windows, wool carpet and Samsung Smart LCD televisions. Enjoying a prime location on Flinders Street, Hotel Lindrum is surrounded by Melbourne’s best food and wine hotspots, yet the hotel’s own Back Bar has everything a discerning hotel guest could ever need with leather armchairs, a fireplace and a full-size billiard table.

Time Out tip: Hotel Lindrum is located a short walk from Melbourne’s sports precinct, making it the perfect choice for visitors keen on catching an AFL game at the MCG or a tennis match at Rod Laver Arena.