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Written by Stephanie Mikkelsen-
Le Splash
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Palace Suite
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Palace Suite
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DOLLY
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DOLLY
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Le Splash
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Le Méridien Melbourne sits at the top of Bourke Street in the heart of the city’s cultural precinct, steps from some of Melbourne‘s best theatres, galleries, and dining. With 235 rooms and suites shaped by a mid-century aesthetic, an underground restaurant helmed by a Michelin-trained chef, and a Euro-inspired rooftop pool overlooking Parliament House, it’s a hotel that earns its address. Whether you’re a Melburnian overdue for a staycation or a visitor trying to fit the whole city into a weekend, this is a strong place to start.
What’s the hotel like?
From the 12th floor of Le Méridien Melbourne, the upper end of Bourke Street unfolds below. On the steps of Old Parliament House – directly opposite – a couple is mid-pose for wedding photographs. It’s that kind of address: front row, without trying.
The hotel leans into its cultural surroundings with intention. The Unlock Art program offers complimentary access to local galleries and a self-guided walking tour of the precinct. In the lifts, Melbourne street photography appears as decals on the doors; brass plaques on each floor carry geographic coordinates. Small gestures, but they add up to a property that knows exactly where it is and makes sure you do too.
What’s the neighbourhood like?
Hard to fault. For anyone arriving with a show ticket, a gallery booking, or a weekend’s worth of city plans, the location does the heavy lifting. Princess Theatre and Her Majesty’s are a short walk. Collins Street – for shopping and coffee – is four minutes on foot.
Where am I sleeping?
The Palace Suite is a two-bedroom spread with a lounge, dining room and a small kitchenette – a layout that immediately makes sense for groups. Dark wood panelling keeps the mood quieter and more residential, and the lighting throughout is warm and genuinely flattering. (Bridal parties, take note: this suite was made for getting ready in.)
Storage is generous. The Dyson hairdryer sits on the vanity ready to use, not boxed away in a drawer. Malin + Goetz throughout the bathroom. In the minibar: ramen noodle cups – a choice I’ve not encountered elsewhere, and one I respect.
In the lounge: a polaroid camera, a vinyl record player, a backgammon set with instructions included. Books on architecture, wine, and culture. Melbourne-printed cushion covers on the sofas. It’s a room that invites you to actually inhabit it – which, given the hotel’s appeal with theatre-goers and wedding parties, seems entirely deliberate.
What’s on the menu?
DOLLY, the hotel’s underground restaurant and cocktail bar, runs on steak nights, live jazz and modern French-European cooking from Executive Chef Hervé Borghini, who trained in Michelin-starred kitchens. Wednesday’s steak night drops the porterhouse from $44 to $32 – worth building a plan around.
The food largely delivers. Scallops arrive delicate on a creamy celeriac puree, with chilli that’s bright rather than aggressive. The lamb rump is the stronger of the mains – the garlic shoot yoghurt alongside is punchy and tart without dominating, the grilled asparagus holds its snap.
Service takes time to find its rhythm.
The better ending: room service. The yuzu sorbet with chocolate mousse – a combination that inspires scepticism in this one citrus-and-chocolate skeptic – turned out to be the pick of the night. The mousse is genuinely light, the yuzu sweet and fruity, the dulce de leche crumble great for crunch. Breakfast the following morning offers eggs to order alongside a buffet of usual sweet and savouries. The bread and butter pudding is worth going back for.
What are the extras like?
Le Splash, the hotel’s fifth-floor rooftop pool and bar, is the amenity most likely to determine whether you book in summer or save it for a quieter season. The 18-metre pool is heated to 28°C year-round and looks out over Parliament House and Bourke Street – on a clear day, it’s one of the better views you’ll get from a sunlounger in the CBD. The bar menu leans Mediterranean and unfussy: oysters, the hotel’s signature steak sandwich, poolside grazing plates. For those inclined, Champagne and caviar service is available, anchored by G.H. Mumm with Dom Pérignon on request. On Fridays and Saturdays, Le Splash opens to the public at sunset – worth knowing if you’d like to extend the experience beyond your stay, or recommend it to someone visiting the city.
On my visit, whereby the skies are grey, the pool stays decorative. A few braver guests were going in regardless; I was not among them.
Who will love Le Méridien Melbourne?
Guests who want a base for the city rather than an escape from it – culturally-minded weekenders, theatre regulars, visitors doing Melbourne properly. The Palace Suite offers space, character and considered detail at scale.
