Georgia Rickard checks in at one of Melbourne’s lesser-known hotels... But is it an undiscovered gem, or a nightmare stay? “So where are you staying?” asks a Melbourne-based friend, when I announce my impending arrival in her town. “The Lyall,” I reply triumphantly, “in South Yarra.” It’s one of Melbourne’s best, its website reckons, and I’ve been looking forward to gloating about it for a while. But she remains silent. “In South Yarra?” she finally asks, confused. “That’s where I live. I’ve never heard of it.” Oh. When two more Melburnian mates give me the same response, I start feeling...
