Little Lonsdale Street / CBD North-East

Brady Hotels Jones Lane

★★★★★

Brady Hotels Jones Lane is a contemporary mid-range hotel that delivers a lot for its price, which makes it one of the most sensible choices in central Melbourne for travellers who want comfort and location without paying luxury rates. It occupies a twenty-floor tower at 111 Little Lonsdale Street, on the north-eastern side of the city grid, next to Wesley Place, a landscaped public space around the historic Wesley Church that gives the block a calm, leafy feel unusual for the centre. The hotel has 153 rooms, designed in a clean modern style with good beds, modern bathrooms, large windows and practical touches such as good desks and fast Wi-Fi; upper floors have city views. Brady is a Melbourne-based hotel group with a handful of properties in the centre, and its hotels are known for consistent quality and friendly service. The location is a strong point for visitors. The theatre district is a short walk south, Chinatown and Bourke Street are five to ten minutes away, the Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens are an easy walk north-east, and Fitzroy's Brunswick Street is within a twenty-minute stroll. Trams on Swanston Street and La Trobe Street put the rest of the centre within reach, inside the Free Tram Zone, and Melbourne Central and Parliament stations are close by. The hotel does not have the bars, spas and pools of the five-star towers, but most guests spend their days out and their evenings in the city's restaurants anyway, and they appreciate a quiet, comfortable room to come back to at a fair price.

This is a hotel that does the basics well. Check-in is efficient, rooms are kept spotless, and the design is modern without being fussy. Room categories range from standard queen and king rooms to larger options suitable for longer stays; travellers who need more space or a kitchen can look at Brady's apartment-style properties elsewhere in the centre. Ask for a high floor for the views and the quiet, since Little Lonsdale Street can be busy during the day.

The neighbourhood is an appealing mix of old and new. Wesley Place, right beside the hotel, combines the nineteenth-century Wesley Church with landscaped gardens and new buildings, and the surrounding streets have plenty of cafes and casual places to eat. The Melbourne Museum and the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building are around fifteen minutes' walk away, and the theatres of the East End are even closer. For a night out, Chinatown and the laneways are a short walk south.

Who should book? Budget-conscious couples, solo travellers, business visitors and families on a city break who prefer to spend their money on experiences rather than the room. It is also a good choice for theatre trips and museum-focused stays. Prices rise during major events, as they do across the city, but Jones Lane usually remains good value compared with the luxury towers. If you want a pool, a spa or a rooftop bar, look elsewhere; if you want a clean, central and comfortable base, this is a strong pick.