Flinders Lane / CBD

W Melbourne

★★★★★

W Melbourne brought the brand's high-energy style to the city's laneways when it opened in early 2021, and it remains one of the most talked-about luxury hotels in the centre. It sits at 408 Flinders Lane, at the western end of the lane that is Melbourne's best-known restaurant strip, a short walk from Southern Cross Station, Collins Street and the river. The design draws directly on its surroundings: the entrance and public spaces nod to the graffiti-covered laneways and use Victorian bluestone, and the art throughout celebrates local creativity. There are 294 rooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows and witty details, including a wall graphic in each room of a native fairy wren pulling back fabric to reveal a colourful Melbourne scene. The hotel is built for socialising. Its restaurants include Warabi, a Japanese restaurant, Lollo, an all-day eatery, and Culprit, a cafe and bar at street level; the bars are lively in the evening and the lobby has a DJ-and-cocktails atmosphere at weekends. The pool is a highlight: an indoor pool under a striking gold-coloured roof, perfect for a swim on a grey Melbourne day or a cocktail on a sun lounger. A fitness centre sits on the fourteenth floor. Service is relaxed and friendly rather than formal, in keeping with the brand. This is the hotel for travellers who want to be in the thick of things, who enjoy design with a sense of humour and who plan to spend evenings in the laneway bars and restaurants that surround it. It is less suited to those seeking a quiet, traditional retreat.

Location is a strong point. Flinders Lane runs parallel to Flinders Street, one block north of the river, and is lined with restaurants, small bars, galleries and boutiques. From the W, the laneways walk, Degraves Street, the Block Arcade and Hosier Lane are all within a ten to fifteen-minute stroll, and Southern Cross Station, the terminal for SkyBus airport transfers and regional trains, is a few minutes away. The hotel is inside the Free Tram Zone, so trams along Collins Street and Flinders Street can take you across the centre at no cost.

The rooms are bright and stylish, with plenty of personality in the art and finishes, comfortable beds and well-designed bathrooms. Higher floors give views over the city or towards the river and the bay. Suites are generous and suit special occasions. The hotel's dining options mean you can eat well without leaving the building, but with Flinders Lane on the doorstep, most guests will want to explore.

Who should book? Couples and friends who want a fun, glamorous base; design lovers; and travellers whose priority is food and nightlife. Weekends are lively in the public areas, so light sleepers may prefer a higher floor away from the lifts. Rates are at the luxury end, peaking during major events. If you want classic grandeur, look at the Langham or the Park Hyatt; if you want the energy of the laneways with a pool on top, this is the one.