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