Marrying comfort and whimsical design, this design hotel is
inspired by decadent sweet treats and desserts. Wander through
chocolate-toned furnishings and candy-coloured decor to reach the
cantilevered pool or the rooftop bar, or head straight for the Om
Nom Kitchen, where award-winning chef Joanne Ward creates
masterpiece puddings from Valrhona
Caramelia-chocolate-and-rosemary-infused cigars served with
raspberry vinaigrette gel and smoked-chocolate ash to pickled
pineapple, mango lime and chilli sorbet topped with coconut foam
and coconut praline crunch.

Rooms from £129

Living up to its name, this boutique hotel has all-copper
everything, including taps and barstools. Hidden in the depths of
South Melbourne, Coppersmith offers sleek, light-filled rooms, a
restaurant serving the best of Melbourne’s bountiful produce and
helmed by famed chef Andrea Papapostolou, and a bar offering 18
craft-beer taps, Australian wines and zesty G&Ts for guests to
enjoy on the rooftop deck.

Rooms from £103

Nestled inside a converted old cinema, this boutique hotel is as
popular among locals heading for the rooftop bar as it is with
in-the-know travellers. Right in the centre of Melbourne, this is
the place to start your day with global-inspired dishes such as
Levantine shakshuka and Indonesian nasi goreng before a day
exploring the city. Return to sip on spirits in the French-themed
Pascale Bar or head to the roof for craft cocktails with views over
the CBD.

Rooms from £136

In the heart of beachside St Kilda, Waratah 41 Acland’s spacious
rooms benefit from wooden floors, giant beds and roll-top bathtubs.
Wander through the manicured gardens and light-filled corridors
before heading to the St Kilda Pier to paddleboard in the sea and
watch penguins waddling along the beach.

Rooms from £113

In Melbourne’s Little Italy you can gorge at the neighbourhood’s
best trattorias before returning to feast your eyes on the
art-filled interiors at Zagame’s House. From the graffiti art and
neon signs flanking its walls to the decadent furnishings in the
Lord Lygon bar, this place sets the scene for mornings sipping on
flat whites made with beans from local Aussie roasters and evenings
dining on tapas-style dishes amid walls lined with 280 bottles of
wine.

Rooms from £104

Among Chapel Street’s boutiques and cafés in South Yarra, the
Lyall Hotel and Spa offers a stylish retreat in Melbourne. After a
day of retail therapy, make a beeline for the spa, a three-storey
space where treatments and rituals will leave you feeling Zen. Dine
at Bistro Lyall for classic dishes before heading to the Champagne
Bar to sip on cocktails and fizz while listening to seductive
jazz.

Rooms from £116

This Scandi-style studio backs onto the vast Royal Park, making
it a great launchpad for exploring Melbourne Zoo, getting some
fresh air or visiting the nearby North Melbourne neighbourhood to
work your way through boutique shops and cafés. Return to rooms for
floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline and grab the
in-room iPad to try out some meditation apps to wind down after a
busy day exploring.

Rooms from £84