Southbank

The Langham, Melbourne

★★★★★

The Langham is Melbourne's traditional luxury choice, a grand hotel on the south bank of the Yarra that has been a fixture of the city's hotel scene for decades. It stands at 1 Southgate Avenue, directly on the Southbank promenade, with the river and the city skyline in front of it and the arts precinct a few minutes' walk behind. That position is a big part of the appeal: you can walk across a footbridge to Flinders Street Station and the laneways in five minutes, stroll to the NGV and Arts Centre for an exhibition or a show, and return along the river to a hotel that feels calm and removed from the bustle. The hotel has 388 rooms and suites, most with views of the city, the Yarra or Southbank, decorated in a classic style with marble bathrooms and plush beds; higher floors facing the river have the best outlook, and club rooms add lounge access for breakfast and evening drinks. Its signature features are well known in Melbourne. Chuan Spa offers massages and treatments, with a heated indoor pool, sauna and steam room for guests. The Melba restaurant is famous for its international buffet, a favourite for weekend lunches and celebrations, and Aria Bar and Lounge serves one of the city's most popular afternoon teas, which locals book for birthdays and special occasions. Service is formal but warm, with the attention to detail that the Langham brand is known for. It is a hotel that suits almost any traveller: couples marking an anniversary, families who want space and a pool, business travellers who value a central yet quiet base, and first-timers who want everything within walking distance.

The location deserves a closer look. Southbank is Melbourne's riverside entertainment strip, lined with restaurants and bars facing the city, and the Langham sits at its quieter, eastern end near the Southgate footbridge. To the east lies the arts precinct, with the NGV, Arts Centre Melbourne and the Melbourne Recital Centre; to the west, the promenade continues past Eureka Tower and its Skydeck to the Crown complex. The Royal Botanic Gardens are a pleasant twenty-minute walk away. Trams along St Kilda Road and Flinders Street are close at hand, and the hotel is in easy reach of the Free Tram Zone, though most guests walk everywhere in the centre.

Inside, the hotel feels like a traditional grand hotel, with a marble lobby, chandeliers and fresh flowers. Rooms are comfortable rather than cutting edge, which is part of the charm: you will find generous proportions, quality linens and large bathrooms rather than gimmicks. The Chuan Spa is one of the better hotel spas in the city, and the indoor pool is a welcome extra for families and for cool winter evenings. The afternoon tea at Aria is a Melbourne ritual worth booking even if you are not staying, and the Melba buffet is a lavish, if not inexpensive, way to feed a hungry family.

Who should book it? Travellers who want classic luxury and a sure thing, couples celebrating an occasion, families who need space and a pool, and anyone attending events in the arts precinct. Rates sit at the top of the market, rising during major events such as the Australian Open and the Melbourne Cup carnival, so book early for those periods. Those who prefer a design-led boutique feel may find it a little traditional; for them, the city's newer hotels across the river are the alternative. But for a reliable, polished stay with views of the river and the city at your feet, the Langham is hard to beat.