One could argue that 2021 is the absolute worst time in the history of the hotelling industry to open a new property โ and I wish I could say I was being melodramatic. Alas, thatโs the world we now live in, but W Melbourne would beg to differ. Doors opened in Q1 of this year with bets hedged on revitalised domestic travel, a hunger for unique accommodation, and confidence in its compelling addition to Melbourneโs CBD.
We were invited as guests of the younger, quirkier and cheekier offspring from the Marriott hotel empire last month to experience the buzz directly from the source at 408 Flinders Lane. Fun fact; W Melbourne intentionally chose the address of the iconic lane โ rather than the dominating Collins Street on its opposite side โ when shaping a quintessentially Melbournian identity for the property.
The Hotel
Swayed by eccentric street art, post-modern design and effortless cool, the 294-room hotel calls the East Tower of the striking Collins Arch development home. The $1.25 billion project came to fruition at the hands of NYC-based SHoP architects and connects two, 164-metre towers by an impressive sky bridge.
It seems fitting, then, that Melbourneโs most intriguing architectural addition plays host to a feather-ruffling newcomer like the W.
Of the triple-digit guestrooms, 29 are the brandโs most indulgent suites โ dubbed โWOWโ and โExtreme WOWโ โ the latter an interpretation of your average hotelโs presidential suite on the 15th floor (with a 40sqm balcony, no less).
Despite the natural limitations of inner-city real estate, amenities at the W Melbourne are aplenty. If the 14th floorโs gold-roofed indoor pool with poolside bar wasnโt lush enough, the DJ booth spinning tunes too cool for school will definitely set the vibe. Adjacent to the โWETโ centre is the โFITโ alternative, which both offer the exact detox experiences their namesakes suggest.
The Rooms
BH was treated to a โFabulousโ guest room with a king bed and city view โ and donโt be so quick to judge the โguest roomโ label by its cover. The rooms are surprisingly spacious, host a plush king-sized bed, a private W MixBar and a seductive low-lit decor that can only be described as remarkably similar to QT Melbourne.
In the centre of the Fabulous guest room is a nifty central column that houses both amenity and vanity facilities, and the automatic toilet with an interesting array of buttons and gadgets built into the wall make for novelty fun.
Given the sheer volume of rooms offered by W Melbourne, the price-point for entry-level room types is admirable (circa $370 p/n) and overall, the product is noticeably refreshing and fun.
Weโre yet to catch a glimpse of the penthouse, but when the Executive WOW suite is open for business, weโll be sure to report back.
The Restaurants & Bars
Few CBD hotels have as many dining options as the W Melbourne. Itโs a big call โ and one we canโt personally vouch for just yet โ but โthe epitome of Japanese foodโ will soon be found at the hotelโs flagship known as Warabi. It seats just 30 diners and focuses on local ingredients paired with premium sake, whisky and beer. This signature restaurant offers a private dining room and opens mid-2021.
What you can sample right now is the much talked about Lollo, under the creative culinary direction of renowned local chef Adam DโSylva. Wash down the mixed heritage menu with the exclusive cocktail list at Curious; the โplace to see and be seenโ, albeit tucked away in a traditional speakeasy beneath the main lobby.
The final offering is the soon-to-be-opened Culprit, a cafรฉ-meets-wine-bar best suited for morning coffees to evening spritzes and all the antipasti you can eat in between, come June.
The Verdict
As someone who travelled to Melbourne from Sydney multiple times a month (in the pre-pandemic glory days), I was excited to welcome the W Melbourne as a breath of fresh air from the usual corporate go-toโs such as the Grand Hyatt and QT. Theyโre both commendable hotels, thereโs no doubt about that, but the W not only offers the assorted luxuries youโd expect from a top-tier chain, but specific hotelling experiences from the pool to the speakeasy that are impressive enough in their own right to warrant a second visit. As they say, newer is almost always better, and the part gamble, part fortuitous timing and part intriguing product will ensure the W Melbourne stays the flavour of the month for the foreseeable future.
