Park Hyatt Melbourne

There’s no doubt that the Park Hyatt is a top luxury hotel in Melbourne, but it’s a certain kind of luxury — opulent, showy, and dark. The imposing lobby is lined with red, shiny marble and has a tall glass sculpture standing at its center; it’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you should apologize for walking in in tennis shoes, the kind of place where your rich uncle likes to stay.

Dim lighting greets guests upon arrival, an initial indication of the serious vibe here. During the week, men and women dressed in business attire head down the grand staircase to the meeting rooms or meet for lunch in the lobby lounge (where, if it’s any indication of the tone here, the staff is also dressed in suits). Occasionally, casually dressed couples cross the lobby or huddle over a laptop in the lounge. Leisure travelers might be attracted by the reasonable price tag of a room here, given the hotel's caliber. Still, luxury is luxury, and guests who want to be pampered or have every service at their fingertips will likely love their time here. 

East Melbourne is a little bit of a no man’s land for leisure travelers, but it’s quiet, pleasant, and immediately to the east of the CBD. It’s nestled among St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fitzroy Gardens, and the Parliament House, and it’s a 17-minute walk to Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, considered to be the center of the CBD. Sports fans will probably like that they can walk to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in just 16 minutes. 

There are lots of trams running just north, south, and west of the hotel, making it easy to get around, and the hotel is just one block from the Parliament Station train station (a nice bonus, as trains can be convenient if you happen to be staying near a station). 

• 10-minute walk to Chinatown and Her Majesty’s Theater
• 15-minute walk to Birrarung Marr Park 
• 16-minute walk to Melbourne Cricket Ground
• 17-minute walk to Federation Square and Flinders Street Station 
• 20-minute walk to the State Library of Victoria, though as little as 10 by train
• 15 minutes by train to Arts District (museums, theaters) 
• 15 to 20 minutes by train Melbourne Olympic Park
• 30 minutes by tram to the Royal Botanic Gardens

The serious, clubby feel of the hotel continues in the large rooms. Each features dark wood-paneled walls, a brown suede armchair, and a tan leather headboard. Perhaps their most notable feature is their size; benefiting from being (just) outside the city center, even standard rooms are an average of 48 square meters (517 square feet), which is a whopping 10 square meters more than the largest rooms in the CBD (found at the Westin). The rooms don’t have much decor flair, though, and they’re starting to show early signs of wear and tear.

White marble bathrooms -- a bright contrast to the brown-heavy rooms -- are a standout, too: They’re always large, and always have a bathtub and separate shower stall. They feature a glass vessel sinks mounted on a stainless steel pedestal -- often there are two sinks -- and all have robes, a hairdryer, and Le Labo toiletries. 

All rooms have a flat-screen TV, stocked minibar, electric hot water kettle and espresso maker (with free tea bags and Nespresso pods), iron and ironing board, an umbrella, and bathrobes. 

Standard rooms are either a Park King (with one king-size bed) or a Park Twin (with two single beds), but most rooms in the hotel have a king-size bed. 

The Park Hyatt Melbourne has plenty of high-end features, and the wellness facilities in particular impress. There's a beautiful indoor heated lap pool that’s 25 meters long and has several adjacent hot tubs; one wall is lined with windows, allowing for plenty of natural light. The hotel can arrange swimming lessons, and the changing rooms each have a sauna and steam room. The hotel's gym faces the pool through a glass wall, and  has plenty of machines, free weights, and flat-screen TVs. The hotel can arrange a private personal training session, which guests can do either in the gym or outside in the public Fitzroy Gardens next door. The hotel even has its own tennis court, which can be rented for an hourly fee; private lessons can be arranged. The spa offers the usual massages, facials, and body treatments, plus there are also salon services for nails, hair, and makeup.

Food, however, is not a standout. Radii Restaurant and Bar features a layout that cascades across multiple levels, and serves modern Australian for breakfast and dinner. As to be expected at a luxury hotel, prices are quite steep, but the quality of the food doesn't quite justify the cost. Room service is 24/7. A lobby lounge serves lunch, drinks, coffee and tea all day, and offers high tea (a common offering in Melbourne hotels). There’s an adjacent courtyard, though it wasn’t set up or in use when we visited on a weekday in the summer. A Club Lounge is open to those who have booked certain room categories, and serves evening drinks and snacks, and has great views of the city. Those with Club Lounge access also get a free breakfast (served in the restaurant). 

For business travelers, there are five meeting rooms (one of which can be split in half) and a unique circular ballroom. Only two of these are on high floors, so be careful if you’re looking for sunlight or views; the rest are on a basement level without windows (including the ballroom). A basic business center is open 24/7 (and features two computers), but guest services will help with other business needs (for a fee). For less formal events, the restaurant also has a private event space and a private dining room.

In terms of parking, only valet is available for a steep daily fee. Laundry and dry cleaning can also be provided for a cost.