Pan Pacific Melbourne

This business-focused hotel's handsome lobby, featuring soaring ceilings and walls lined with rich wood, has a unique feel by any standard, and especially for a chain hotel. Business travelers abound, who come for the meeting rooms and the attached Melbourne Convention Centre. But leisure travelers wind up here too, whether it’s Australians coming for the nearby casino and DFO outlet mall or international travelers. Inside, guests use the large Dock 37 restaurant as a bit of a central hub, stopping in for happy hour after a day of touring, or taking their expensive breakfast buffet there in the morning (those with access to the Executive Lounge will use the lounge for the same purpose -- it’s an above average lounge, with beautiful views). And while this isn’t a hotel that focuses on special details or surprises around every corner, it has solid, responsive service that keeps guests — many of whom are repeat visitors — quite pleased. While the hotel’s location suits many guests just fine, travelers planning a vacation should understand where they’ll be staying. The hotel sits right along Melbourne’s winding Yarra River, on the south bank where the city has been supporting the development of the South Wharf promenade to attract tourists. It’s clean, and polished, and safe — but a bit inauthentic. For business travelers who wind up here, they’ll be happy to have a few places nearby to grab a beer after their meetings, but many revelers will want to venture farther to experience the real cafes, restaurants, and bars of Melbourne (not to mention many cultural sights, which are also far from the hotel).

A lot of guests wind up here for business (the hotel is attached to the convention center), but the neighborhood is a far cry from being one of Melbourne’s hip neighborhoods. It takes about 20 to 25 minutes to walk to the center of town. One side of the hotel faces crisscrossing highways, and the backside abuts the Yarra River, where there are a few contrived touristy restaurants along a developing promenade. Still, staying here means being far from the cafes, restaurants, and boutiques that make Melbourne great. It’s also an eight-minute walk to the nearest tram (the most common form of public transportation here), which is a shame considering most hotels here are surrounded by them. - Hotel is adjacent to the Melbourne Convention Centre -- you can walk from one to the other without going outside

• Nine-minute walk to Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex
• 12-minute walk to the edge of the CBD (southwest corner)
• 16-minute walk or five-minute drive to Etihad Stadium
• 20 minutes walking or by tram to South Melbourne Market (one of the few tourist activities in the hotel’s Southbank area)
• 24-minute walk to Federation Square and Flinders Street Station (considered the center of the CBD), or about 15 to 20 minutes by public transportation 
• 40 minutes by walking or tram to the Royal Botanic Gardens

Rooms here are large and upscale, but pretty generic in style. Essentially, they’re exactly what you’d expect from a large corporate chain: tan carpet, tan walls, tan armchair, and a brown wood-paneled headboard. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in a ton of light, which is a nice touch. All rooms have a flat-screen TV, a desk with lamp and nearby outlets, an armchair, and a minibar, along with an electric water kettle and French press. As is typical for most hotels in Melbourne, you’ll also have a safe, iron and ironing board, and bathrobes. On the other hand, bathrooms here are above average — they’re large (a benefit of being outside the CBD, where square footage can be tighter), and they all have a bathtub and separate shower; the toilet is behind a door. Floors and countertops are marble, and the walls are lined with a smooth gray stone. Toiletries are also provided.Remember that many rooms in the hotel will face the highways and unexciting expanse to the south; guests who want a more interesting outlook should request a City View room, facing north. Rooms have either a king-size bed, a queen-size plus a single bed, or two twins. There are also two-bedroom suites available. 

The features this Pan Pacific Melbourne does have are of high quality, but there aren't as many as one would expect from a property of this caliber and size. Significantly, there is no spa or pool. Dock 37 Bar and Kitchen is an imposing, dark space that despite its wood-lined walls and exposed wine bottles is still somewhat impersonal due to its size; it is open for three meals a day. Cafe Orr serves coffee, pastries, and light meals and stays open until the afternoon (noon on weekends). Those staying in Executive Rooms get access to the large Executive Lounge, which has an outdoor terrace and offers free breakfast and free evening drinks. The hotel offers room service 24/7.In terms of wellness facilities, the hotel does have an excellent 24-hour gym with Precor equipment, TV screens on the cardio machines, and lots of natural light (a benefit of staying outside the city’s center). There’s no spa, but the hotel can arrange in-room treatments through the eforea Spa at its East Melbourne hotel.For business travelers, there are six meeting rooms on-site, some of which are flooded with sunlight -- plus hotel is connected to the Melbourne Convention Centre. Concierge service is 24/7. Red Deserts Dreaming Art Gallery is located inside the hotel.