Fitzroy

The StandardX, Melbourne

★★★★★

The StandardX, Melbourne is the hotel that finally gives Fitzroy a proper place to stay. It opened in 2024 on Rose Street, in the backstreets just off Brunswick Street, as the first property of the StandardX brand, a younger, more relaxed sibling of the Standard hotels. The 125 rooms range from compact Cozy Kings to larger Suite Spot rooms, with accessible Cozy Suites offering roll-in showers. The look is bright and airy: the building's rusted exterior, by architects Woods Bagot, gives way inside to public spaces by Hecker Guthrie with vintage and custom furniture, a fireplace loft and macrame art, while the rooms are mostly white and cream with opening windows, full-size Davines toiletries and fluted glass bathroom walls. On the ground floor, a Thai street food-influenced restaurant and cocktail bar is a destination in its own right, and the rooftop offers views back to the city skyline, with a Mexican-themed bar and food offering added for the warmer months. A 24-hour stocked snack and local goods station near check-in suits late arrivals. There is no on-site gym or pool, but guests have access to a nearby 24-hour gym and the Fitzroy Swimming Pool is a short walk away. Pets are welcome with a waiver, and cots are available on request. The setting is the point. Fitzroy and Collingwood are Melbourne's creative heart, with Brunswick Street's cafes, bars and vintage shops, Gertrude Street's boutiques and restaurants, and Smith Street's late-night energy all on foot. The Rose Street Artists' Market runs nearby on weekends. Trams on Brunswick Street run to the CBD in around 15 minutes.

Choose a larger room if you are staying more than a couple of nights, since the entry-level rooms are compact. Ask for a higher floor for skyline views. The ground-floor restaurant and bar are popular with locals, so book a table on weekends.

As a base, Fitzroy suits repeat visitors, food lovers and anyone who prefers neighbourhood life to the CBD. Spend evenings exploring bars and live music venues, mornings in specialty coffee shops, and use trams for sightseeing in the city. The Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens and Melbourne Museum are also within walking distance.

Be aware that Fitzroy is lively at night, especially on weekends, so light sleepers should request a quieter room. Parking is limited in the surrounding streets. Rooms were priced at launch as an affordable alternative to a standard CBD hotel, making it a characterful mid-range choice for travellers who want the city's creative side on the doorstep.