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Vibe Hotel Melbourne, on the corner of Flinders and Queen Streets, sees a modern reticulated glass tower rise out of a heritage Fletcher Jones Flinders Street frontage from 1873. Atop the new build is the Fleet Rooftop Bar, featuring views of the Yarra and Flinders Street station that, at 68 metres high, make Melbourne’s major railway station look like a child’s train set.
Both Fleet and ground-floor diner, One Queen, offer modern dining with some old-school flourishes: look out of the martini trolley doing the rounds of Fleet for gueridon (tableside) cocktail service.
What’s the neighbourhood like?
Vibe Hotel Melbourne is in the perfect position for train spotters, with a location that’s right next to Flinders Street railway station. It is a well-trafficked (if overlooked) part of the city, but the hotel is walking distance to beloved riverside spots like Arbory and Arbory Afloat and basement record-store drinking den Wax Music Lounge. Or for a quick bite head up Queen Street to Saluminsti, a hole-in-the-wall panini joint set into a carpark whose porchetta recipe is a local secret. For out-of-towners, the hotel is also very close to the Immigration Museum, SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and Southbank.
Where am I sleeping?
My corner room on the 21st floor means that if I stand in the nook where my floor-to-ceiling windows meet it feels like I am levitating over the CBD. From my glass cube I can watch rowers on the Yarra, riverside goings on and trains coming and going from Flinders Street station. The tones in the room are neutral so the scenery can do the talking, with light browns, greens with a bright white bedspread. A small desk holds macarons and chocolates under a glass cloche; the bathroom is petite but functional.
What’s on the drinks menu?
We start the night up at Fleet, where we have a corner table reserved that must be right above my room on the floor below. Fleet is on level 22 and was carved out of former penthouse apartments so it is a cosier, clubbier rooftop experience than many other bars and is well suited to Melbourne’s changeable weather. The striped upholstery gives garden-party vibes and the glass panelling frames killer views.
I start with a Spiced Tommy’s Marg which is elevated beyond adding just a bit of heat: pink peppercorn-infused reposado tequila is mixed with raspberry sorbet and ginger agave nectar with a smoked salt rim. We snack on concise menu from chef Ajosh Abraham Thomas, starting with white anchovy gildas and the signature snapper crudo with avocado cream, white soy and a hint of natural honey sweetness. Before I go, I have to take a run at the martini trolley and a Bloody Mary Martini hits the spot: vodka and clarified tomato juice stirred with oyster sake and olive oil for an umami punch served freezing cold tableside.
What’s for dinner?
Dropping down 22 floors we are welcomed to One Queen for dinner. Also overseen by chef Ajosh, this lobby-adjacent restaurant is within the walls of the heritage shopfront and decorated with framed Melbourne icons like Edinburgh Gardens, trams and the Skipping Girl Vinegar sign. This history is reflected in a cosier, neighbourhood diner menu with global influences. Cocktails are a bit more serious than their rooftop siblings and an Earl Grey Martini comes with a kick of fresh lemon. A starter of salt-and-pepper squid in a sesame and lime dressing gets things off to a fresh start and then a main of potato and spinach gnocchi with mushrooms, hazelnut and miso brings the comfort.
Who will love Vibe Hotel Melbourne?
Travellers on a short stay will love that they have a party on the roof that they can dip in and out of and the close proximity to a range of Melbourne activities.
The writer was a guest of the hotel.
