This Melbourne boutique hotel gets our review – we fell in love with its stunning rooftop bar, impeccably-designed suites and rooms, and convenient location
I’ve arrived at one conclusion from my numerous visits to Melbourne – it’s a city that’s absolutely brill’ at being chill. But when it came to my personal abode for chilling in this languorous metropolis, I found a boutique hotel that gave zero of it.
Blink, and you’ll almost miss the entrance of QT Melbourne, located right smack in the middle of the CBD. This urban sanctuary is hidden behind a tall, glossy, bronze door, with door staff nonchalantly dressed in contemporary garb – no stuffy suits here. The lobby has you immersed instantly with cushy seats scattered throughout in hues of violet, mustard and crimson, an enticing bar set against grey brick walls, a staircase adjacent to a majestic wall of 6,000 books, and trippy LED screens showing psychedelic animations. Check-in is swift and hospitable, and I promptly boarded the lift to my Executive King suite on the third floor. Don’t freak out if you hear a French woman flirting with you through the speakers as you ascend; this is an ‘elevated’ experience you won’t forget.
Another thing I won’t forget? My first impressions of the room itself. First of all, its innovative layout jumps out at you – the plush, cloud-like bed (with an army of pillows) is literally the centrepiece of the room, facing abstract wall fixtures, a wardrobe that opens to reveal peekaboo splotches of Rorschach-like art, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Russell Street.
Behind the bed is a snazzy glow-in-the-dark bar area (and free chocolates; thanks, QT), and a spacious, two-sink bathroom with sliding doors and partitions, a rain shower, and possibly the biggest tub I’d ever curled into a pretzel in. If you’re not brainwashed by the décor in this suite, you will be from the hypnotising, welcome screen that assumes the role of a free-spirited AI who talks to – and almost flirts with – you with soothing messages, complete with an ambient soundtrack that Brian Eno would approve.
Facilities-wise, this captivating boutique hotel – it used to be an old cinema – has a top-notch gym, meeting rooms lest you can’t shake off work, a gorgeous all-day restaurant called Pascale Bar & Grill, and a rooftop bar, Rooftop at QT, that boasts one of the best views of the Melbourne skyline without reeking of pretentiousness.
At SGD243 per night for my suite (excluding tax) – it’s a whopper of a deal, if you ask me – my stay at QT Melbourne unexpectedly turned out to be the highlight of my trip. I’m not one who encourages others to remain cooped up in their hotels while travelling, but I’ll make an exception for this one. Melbourne is a city for relaxing, and if you’re looking for accommodation that lets you do it in style, this place takes the cake.
QT Melbourne, 133 Russell Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000. For more information on the hotel, check out its website.
Thanks to Mr & Mrs Smith for this hotel stay! For more great hotel deals around the world, visit its website too.
Looking for more stunning accommodation like this? Check out these boutiques hotels in Singapore, and best boutique hotels in Southeast Asia.