Melbourne has never lacked great hotels, but the city’s spread of accommodation has expanded into an impressive range over the past few years. A wave of new openings has pushed local design to the forefront, doubled down on luxurious digs, highlighted the city’s cultural cache, and flourished outside of the CBD.
Meanwhile, some of Melbourne’s beloved grand dames, like The Olsen and The Langham, have found new ways to stay relevant, propping up an already brilliant hospitality scene with plenty of beautiful places to rest your head. Curating our list of Melbourne’s best hotels came with some tough choices, but this is the definitive list of all the great Melbourne hotels we’d recommend anyone planning a trip.
In short
If we could pick just one of these beautiful Melbourne hotels to stay in right now, it’d be 1 Hotel Melbourne. Guest rooms aren’t just aesthetically pleasing and generous, but they are genuinely inspiring as well, showing that caring for the environment doesn’t mean you need to compromise on high standards. The food is nourishing and shows a real commitment to the state’s produce. Plus, it’s completely pet-friendly.
1. Amora Herencia Riverwalk Melbourne
Get direct access to a peaceful river stretch. (Credit: Supplied)
Be transported to the British countryside. (Credit: Supplied)
Bridge Road isn’t readily associated with bucolic calm, but keep travelling east into Richmond, and you’ll hit a part of the Yarra River many visitors miss. This is the scene for Amora Herencia Riverwalk, which opened in early 2026 with direct access to one of the river’s more peaceful stretches.
The former Cable Tram Car Depot, which operated from 1885 to 1891, is now a slick boutique hotel that’s refreshingly straightforward and affordable. The mid-sized rooms are nice and comfortable without any loud design language, keeping the prices sensible compared to rising hotel rates in the CBD.
The famous Bridge Hotel sits directly opposite the hotel, so you have one of Richmond’s best pubs at your disposal. But the real reason we’d stay here is the hotel’s namesake riverwalk. Waking up in the morning, grabbing a solid cup of coffee from The Reserve, and strutting along this quiet corner of the Yarra makes us feel like we’re in the British countryside. It’s one of the few locations near the CBD that actually feels rural.
Address: 649 Bridge Road, Richmond Parking: $25 per night Accessibility: Lift access from the basement car park; contact the hotel regarding specific accessible-room requirements Pet-friendly: Check directly with the hotel Price: $$ Booking tip: Look at the apartment-style accommodation if you’re staying longer or travelling as a family.
2. 1 Hotel Melbourne
Check into a contemporary luxe suite. (Credit: Supplied)
1 Hotel Melbourne blends sustainability and sophistication in the heart of the city. (Credit: Supplied)
1 Hotel Melbourne has fast become one of the best new luxury hotels in the city, largely because its sustainability angle is both immersive and inspiring. There’s no greenwashing for this biophilic masterpiece; a oneness with nature is built into everything you see and touch.
Opened in 2025 as the first Australian property from 1 Hotels, the hotel occupies a prime stretch of the Yarra at North Wharf, where the CBD flows into Docklands. The development incorporates the historic Goods Shed No. 5, while reclaimed and recycled materials are threaded heavily through the interiors.
Rooms continue that earthy design language with timber, stone and natural textures, although we’d argue the public spaces make the strongest impression. There’s enough greenery and reclaimed material throughout the hotel to highlight a unique harmony between luxury living and authentic sustainable practices.
There’s also an indoor pool and the massive Bamford Wellness Spa, while From Here by Mike gives Victorian produce a starring role, pitching a well-executed food philosophy hinged on hyperlocal sourcing grounded in healthy eating.
It’s one of the more interesting great Melbourne hotels for travellers with dogs as well (you can bring up to two dogs per room). 1 Hotels actively welcomes pets, which is rare at this end of Melbourne’s luxury market.
Address: 9 Maritime Place, Docklands Parking: Valet parking available Accessibility: Accessible rooms and public areas available Pet-friendly:Yes Price: $$$$ Booking tip: We’d prioritise a river-facing room at the far end of either side, to avoid your view being blocked by the large industrial crane.
3. Hannah St Hotel
The design-led property sits in Melbourne’s Southbank. (Credit: Supplied)
Each suite boasts skyline views. (Credit: Supplied)
Our favourite new Melbourne hotel is hiding underneath an overpass, feeling like a scene ripped straight from Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Hannah St Hotel opened in Southbank in 2026, tucked into the lower levels of the wedge-shaped Queensbridge Building beside the Kings Way overpass. You approach the entrance beneath it, where pink columns lead towards Walker Street. The entrance sets the scene for a very trendy stay with a gorgeous, multicoloured design scheme by the award-winning Flack Studio.
TFE Hotels has channelled a lot of accumulated design knowledge into Hannah St. There are lessons here from Brisbane’s award-winning The Calile Hotel and Sydney’s excellent The Eve Hotel, yet this doesn’t feel like either. The hotel has a bold, bright and distinctly retro personality of its own.
Clean lines are interrupted by riots of colour. Custom furniture appears throughout the rooms, while the signage has the character of old transport and railway graphics. Australian art is everywhere without making the hotel feel like a gallery.
The Carriage Lounge is our favourite space. Designer seating makes it very easy to lose an hour here, especially with a drink and the right soundtrack. During our recent visit, William Onyeabor’s obscure Atomic Bomb was playing. Whoever is programming the music knows what they’re doing.
Address: 19 Walker Street, Southbank Parking: Valet parking available Accessibility: Accessible accommodation available; confirm individual requirements with the hotel Pet-friendly: No Price: $$$ Booking tip: Look at the corner categories if the budget allows. These rooms play with the unusual geometry of the building.
4. Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street
Base yourself near shops and restaurants in the CBD. (Credit: Supplied)
The elegant facade of the heritage-style Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street. (Credit: Supplied)
Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street is one of the best examples of a major international hotel brand understanding the building it has inherited. The 244-room hotel incorporates the former Equity Chambers, completed in 1931. Its heritage structure gives the property considerably more personality than your typical Hilton hotel.
The grand hall is now home to Luci, an exceptional dining experience backed by soaring ceilings and a sense of occasion that is difficult to manufacture in a new build. The building’s heritage details are a strength, lifted by smart modern touches like checkerboard flooring. The hotel’s petite bar, The Douglas Club, is our go-to when we want a bit of privacy in the CBD.
Location is the other reason we’d book it. You’re tucked just off Bourke Street rather than sitting on one of the CBD’s noisier thoroughfares, putting shops and restaurants within easy walking distance.
Of the Melbourne hotels in the CBD, Hilton Little Queen Street is particularly useful for travellers who want a central base.
Address: 18 Little Queen Street, Melbourne Parking: $39 self-parking; $65 valet Accessibility: Accessible features and accommodation available Pet-friendly: No Price: $$$ Booking tip: Check Hilton Honors rates before booking elsewhere. Direct-member pricing can make a noticeable difference.
5. Quincy Hotel Melbourne
Check into the Celestial Room at Quincy. (Credit: Supplied)
Quincy has always been one of our favourite recommendations when someone wants colour and personality without the price tag.
The Flinders Lane hotel takes its cues from South-East Asia, reflected most clearly in the food. Salted Egg handles the hotel’s dining with Thai-inspired flavours, while the rooms are simple and more restrained than the common areas.
What makes Quincy useful is its value. You get a semi-outdoor rooftop pool and a Flinders Lane address without necessarily pushing the nightly rate towards the city’s five-star stock. It’s become our go-to Melbourne staycation for when we want to stick close to the many excellent restaurants on Flinders Lane.
Address: 509 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Parking: Discounted off-site parking available Accessibility: Easy-access facilities are available; confirm accessible-room requirements when booking Price: $$ Booking tip: Look beyond the entry-level category if you’re staying for several nights. The additional space is useful.
6. The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne
Each suite comes with spectacular views. (Credit: Supplied)
Inside the onsite modern Australian restaurant, Atria is a light-filled atmosphere with floor-to-ceiling windows. (Credit: Supplied)
There are Melbourne hotels with views, and then there’s The Ritz-Carlton. As luxurious as the name suggests.
Reception is on level 80, which reverses the usual hotel experience dramatically with a grand sky lobby. Rooms occupy the upper reaches of the tower, and the enormous windows turn Melbourne’s notoriously moody weather into part of the entertainment.
We love Atria, the hotel’s flagship fine-dining restaurant. It makes clever use of the altitude without allowing the skyline to become the entire proposition, and the kitchen’s relationship with Victorian producers makes it worth visiting even if you aren’t staying upstairs. Nearby, Cameo Bar doesn’t rest on its wide-ranging views, with gorgeous cocktails that are worth the price.
This is also where we’d send someone who wants the full luxury-hotel treatment. There’s an indoor infinity pool high above the city and a serious spa with a luxurious treatment menu. Service also fits the bill – noticeably more formal than at Melbourne’s new generation of boutique hotels.
Address: 650 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Parking: Valet parking available Accessibility: Mobility-accessible rooms and accessible public areas available Pet-friendly: No Price: $$$$ Booking tip: Pay attention to room orientation. At this height, the direction you’re facing dictates the experience. We prefer the watery views over Victoria Harbour.
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7. The Langham Melbourne
The Langham Melbourne blends European elegance with old-world opulence. (Credit: Supplied)
This luxe Southbank hotel is situated along the banks of the Yarra River. (Credit: Supplied)
The Langham is old-school Melbourne luxury. While newer hotels have raced towards conspicuous design and lifestyle branding, this Southbank institution still deals in marble and chandeliers, offering a very formal experience that doesn’t feel stuffy.
Location is one of the luxury hotel’s greatest advantages. It sits directly beside the Yarra, with the restaurants of Southbank downstairs and the CBD just across Princes Bridge. We’d request a river-facing room if the price difference isn’t excessive. Watching Melbourne light up across the water gives The Langham a touch of magic not often associated with the city’s skyline.
Direct access to the award-winning Chuan Spa is one of our favourite things about the hotel. An extensive treatment menu, one of the best indoor pools in Melbourne, and a gentle, restorative atmosphere make this our favourite place to decompress.
Address: 1 Southgate Avenue, Southbank Parking: Valet parking available Accessibility: Accessible accommodation and public areas available PetFriendly: Yes, but the pet fee is set at $150 and only one pet per room Price: $$$$ Booking tip: Prioritise a river-view room. The location doesn’t feel the same when you’re facing away from the Yarra.
8. The Olsen
This elegant stay gives you easy access to the CBD. (Credit: Supplied)
Cool off in the pool with views across South Yarra. (Credit: Supplied)
The Olsen has been around since 2010, but its Chapel Street address keeps doing a lot of heavy lifting. Prahran and South Yarra have changed enormously around it, and staying here gives you easy access to one of Melbourne’s best clusters of restaurants and shops without the swarms of tourists in the CBD.
The hotel takes its name and much of its personality from Australian artist John Olsen. His work is hung throughout the property, including prints in the rooms, so the Art Series concept feels fully realised. Olsen’s wonderfully loose relationship with colour suits Melbourne rather well.
We’ve always liked the swimming pool, which juts out from the building with views across South Yarra. It’s particularly good in summer, although we’d argue the real advantage is being able to walk out onto Chapel Street in either direction. Head towards Prahran for restaurants and nightlife, or wander towards the Yarra and Como Park when you want something quieter.
Address: 637-641 Chapel Street, South Yarra Parking: On-site parking available for a fee Accessibility: Accessible accommodation and facilities available Pet-friendly: No Price: $$$ Booking tip: Keep the rates cheap by opting out of breakfast. You’re in South Yarra, with some excellent Melbourne cafes within walking distance, so this is one hotel where we’d rather head outside in the morning.
9. The StandardX
Enter the bright red door towards this luxe Fitzroy hotel. (Credit: Supplied)
Check into one of the stylish suites at The StandardX. (Credit: Supplied)
The StandardX makes far more sense in Fitzroy than it would in Melbourne’s CBD.
Opened in 2024 as the first Australian hotel from The Standard group, this Rose Street property has absorbed enough of the neighbourhood’s personality to avoid feeling like a blow-in. The ground floor has the energy of somewhere locals might actually use, which is important in a suburb as culturally self-assured as Fitzroy.
You’re surrounded by some of Melbourne’s best bars and restaurants, so we wouldn’t book The StandardX if the plan is to spend the entire weekend inside the hotel. You can step outside and immediately melt into one of Melbourne’s most formidable lifestyle strips.
There are 125 rooms, and the rooftop becomes particularly useful when the weather behaves. Valet parking costs $55 per night, while wheelchair-accessible rooms are available in the Studio Suite category. Some Premium King rooms with balconies are pet-friendly, complete with a pet bed, food and water bowls, and clean-up bags.
Address: 62 Rose Street, Fitzroy Parking: Valet $55 per night Accessibility: Accessible Studio Suites and facilities available Pet-friendly: Selected rooms Price: $$$ Booking tip: Stay here if Fitzroy is part of the reason you’re visiting Melbourne. Otherwise, a CBD address will be more convenient.
10. The Cullen
Each room is cosy, perfect for longer stays. (Credit: Supplied)
The Prahran hotel pays homage to the late Australian artist Adam Cullen. (Credit: Supplied)
Also part of Accor’s Art Series, The Cullen has a very different personality to The Olsen. Named after the late Australian artist Adam Cullen, the Prahran hotel draws on his provocative work to give the property a darker, edgier streak.
It’s also brilliantly positioned. Prahran Market is virtually outside the door, while Chapel Street and Greville Street are close enough that we’d rarely bother with a car once checked in. The Cullen puts you in an enviable part of Melbourne.
Rooms are apartment-like, which makes The Cullen especially useful for longer stays. Some also have balconies overlooking the surrounding streets. The hotel has been around since 2009, and there are certainly newer Melbourne boutique hotels to choose from, yet few have a location this useful.
Address: 164 Commercial Road, Prahran Parking: On-site parking available for a fee Accessibility: Accessible accommodation available; confirm requirements when booking Price: $$$ Booking tip: This is another hotel where we’d skip a package breakfast. Prahran Market and the surrounding streets are much more interesting.
11. Hyde Melbourne Place
Soak up stunning views from the rooftop restaurant and bar, MidAir at Hyde Melbourne Place. (Credit: Supplied)
The interior leans into warm, earthy tones. (Credit: Supplied)
Opened as Melbourne Place before joining the Hyde brand, this design-forward, 191-room hotel is tucked into Russell Street with some of Melbourne’s best dining close by.
Kennedy Nolan handled the architecture and interiors, leaning into warm, earthy tones with plenty of sculptural furniture. It’s handsome without trying too hard, especially when compared with the more maximalist Melbourne hotels that have opened recently.
Food is a particularly strong reason to stay. Marmelo gives the hotel a serious restaurant downstairs, while the rooftop is home to Cleo, a Mediterranean restaurant with excellent views across the city. Hidden cocktail bar Mr Mills is exactly the kind of place we want underneath a Melbourne hotel, with a late-night energy that feels appropriate for Russell Street.
Hyde Melbourne Place was also awarded a prestigious Michelin Key in 2025, giving design-conscious travellers another reason to look beyond the city’s big international brands.
Address: 130 Russell Street, Melbourne Parking: $30 overnight parking at 180 Russell Street Accessibility: One accessible room on each floor from levels 2 to 11 Price: $$$ Booking tip: We’d seriously consider a balcony room. The east-end location gives you a much better sense of the surrounding city when you can actually see it.
12. Grand Hyatt Melbourne
Grand Hyatt Melbourne makes for a perfect base if you’re visiting Melbourne primarily to eat. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
Grand Hyatt Melbourne is right in the thick of the city’s ritzy Paris End, with Flinders Lane behind it and some of the city’s best luxury shopping immediately outside. The hotel itself is considerably more traditional than newcomers like Hannah St or Hyde Melbourne Place, ideal for those who prefer old-school hospitality.
The enormous City Club Health & Fitness facility is a genuine advantage if you’re staying for more than a night or two. We’d also keep Grand Hyatt high on the list for anyone visiting Melbourne primarily to eat. Flinders Lane is right behind you, while Chinatown is an easy walk in the other direction.
Address: 123 Collins Street, Melbourne Parking: On-site parking temporarily closed Accessibility: Accessible rooms with roll-in showers; accessible public areas Pet-friendly: No, except service animals Price: $$$$ Booking tip: Grand Hyatt is one of those hotels where we’d choose the room based on view rather than size. Ask what you’re actually facing before paying to upgrade.
13. W Melbourne
Settle into one of the spacious suites. (Credit: Supplied)
The WET deck and indoor pool features a curved design. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
W Melbourne doesn’t practice restraint. It’s loud and funky, perfectly expressing Marriott’s most fashionable brand. The Flinders Lane hotel arrived in 2021 as part of the Collins Arch development, bringing the W brand’s particular flavour of maximalism to a city that continues to embrace its several bars and restaurants. You’ll find just as many locals here as you would guests – a great marker for quality.
The interiors pull heavily from Melbourne’s laneway culture, with plenty of references to the city’s fashion scene worked into the design. None of it is particularly subtle. This is a hotel that wants you to spend time downstairs rather than disappear into your room after check-in.
The indoor pool is the star. Its gold roof and broad city views make it one of the most photogenic hotel pools in Melbourne, with the atmosphere becoming more social as the day moves along. Cocktail-forward Curious is similarly theatrical downstairs, while Lollo handles the hotel’s main dining.
W also makes sense if you’re travelling with a dog. Up to two pets weighing 18 kilograms or less can stay when the appropriate Pets Are Welcome package is booked.
Address: 408 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Parking: Valet parking from $80 per day Accessibility: Accessible accommodation available Pet-friendly: Yes, via the Pets Are Welcome package Price: $$$$ Booking tip: We’d stay here over one of Melbourne’s more restrained five-stars if the hotel itself is going to be part of the weekend. If you just need somewhere to sleep, you’re paying for a lot of personality you won’t use.
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14. Shadow Play Melbourne by Peppers
The apartment-style hotel is designed with floor-to-ceiling windows. (Credit: Shadow Play Melbourne by Peppers)
Despite having opened in 2019, we still feel Shadow Play by Peppers is one of Melbourne’s most underrated hotels. And it’s a very useful Melbourne hotel for longer stays, especially when several people are travelling together. You’re getting an apartment rather than a conventional hotel room, which can make a substantial difference after a few days.
The dark and moody Southbank tower is made up of one- and two-bedroom apartments with proper kitchens and floor-to-ceiling windows. There are also three-bedroom penthouses way up on level 45. We’d look here for a family stay before booking several small rooms elsewhere in the city.
There’s still enough downstairs to stop the place feeling like a serviced apartment block. The outdoor pool is heated with a view backed by the hotel’s reflective facade, while Edwin Wine Bar and Cellar keeps its attention firmly on Victoria with a friendly, homestyle feel.
The location is practical rather than romantic. Crown is nearby, and South Melbourne Market isn’t far away.
Address: 308-320 City Road, Southbank Parking: Limited valet parking, $60 per day Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible facilities available Pet-friendly: No Price: $$$ Booking tip: Don’t miss the outdoor pool. We love getting some laps in while watching the clouds move on the building’s reflective facade.
15. The Royce
The Royce is a short walk to the Royal Botanical Gardens, Albert Park and National Gallery of Victoria. (Credit: Supplied)
The prestigious Showroom Bar at The Royce. (Credit: Supplied)
St Kilda Road has become a grey canyon of uniform residential towers, which makes The Royce’s old-world glamour stand out even more.
The building opened in 1928 as the Kellow Falkiner prestige car showroom, displaying Rolls-Royce and Bentley models to Melbourne’s well-heeled motorists. After a major renovation, the 94-room hotel has gone back to that history for inspiration. Marble and parquetry help set the mood, with deep navy used throughout the interiors. Fortunately, the whole thing stops short of turning into a Great Gatsby theme park.
We like The Showroom most. The original building gives it a sense of grandeur that’s difficult to fake, and on Friday evenings there’s live jazz around the baby grand. The Terrace is much quieter, filled with greenery and particularly pleasant over breakfast.
Address: 379 St Kilda Road, Melbourne Parking: Valet parking, $80 per vehicle Accessibility: Selected King Rooms are accessible Pet Friendly: No Price: $$$$ Booking tip: A basic King is only 27 square metres. We’d spend the extra on a Deluxe for a romantic weekend, especially since those rooms come with the big bathtub.
16. Dorsett Melbourne
The modern rooms deliver premium comfort. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
The sleek Dorsett Melbourne is positioned within the neat grid of the CBD. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
Dorsett Melbourne sits on Little Lonsdale Street at the western end of the CBD, part of the West Side Place development that also contains The Ritz-Carlton. Yet the proposition is completely different for the 316-room hotel. Dorsett is considerably more accessible on price, with colourful rooms and enough wellness facilities to make it feel like you’re getting more than a convenient bed near Southern Cross Station.
The heated indoor pool is a strong inclusion at this price point. There’s also a sauna and steam room, making Dorsett particularly easy to recommend if you actually intend to use the hotel’s facilities.
We’d also consider it for a Marvel Stadium event or an early train from Southern Cross. Both are close enough that you aren’t wasting half the morning crossing the city.
It’s unusually accommodating for travellers with dogs too. Dedicated 35-square-metre pet-friendly rooms come with a balcony, plus some useful extras for your four-legged roommate.
Address: 615 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Parking: Valet $70 per day when pre-booked; $85 if arranged on arrival Accessibility: Dedicated accessible rooms; pool hoist and accessible wellness facilities Pet-friendly: Yes, dedicated pet-friendly rooms Price: $$ Booking tip: Pre-book the valet if you’re driving. There’s no reason to pay the $85 walk-in rate when the advance rate is $70.
Escape the hustle and bustle of Melbourne CBD at Adelphi Hotel. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
The slim Adelphi Hotel has been a Flinders Lane favourite for decades, having been around in various forms since the early 1990s. And there’s still something wonderfully strange about it. The building was once a warehouse, while its later confectionery-inspired reinvention gave the interiors a playful quality that feels very Melbourne.
Then there’s that pool. Adelphi’s glass-bottomed rooftop pool extends two metres beyond the building, nine storeys above Flinders Lane. Melbourne now has far more elaborate hotel pools, but very few have a party trick this good.
Rooms are also larger than you might expect from such a compact property, starting at 35 square metres. We’d mostly book Adelphi for the address, though. You’re on one of the city’s great dining streets, so stumbling home after dinner becomes part of the appeal.
Address: 187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Parking: $30 per 24 hours; spaces are limited Accessibility: Contact the hotel regarding specific room requirements Pet-friendly: No, except support dogs by arrangement Price: $$$ Booking tip: Book direct and the minibar is complimentary on arrival. More importantly, organise parking beforehand if you need it because the hotel’s allocation is limited.
18. QT Melbourne
Head to the 11th floor for a sundowner at Rooftop at QT Melbourne. (Credit: Supplied)
QT Melbourne isn’t new anymore, but it hasn’t suddenly become boring. You’ve still got the stylish pops of theatre and fashion, glued together by the rooftop’s deathless popularity.
The Russell Street hotel landed in Melbourne in 2016 with the brand’s typically playful approach to luxury living in the Paris End. Plenty of newer hotels have opened since, yet QT still feels plugged into the city rather than sealed off from it.
We’d argue the location is now its greatest strength. Chinatown is a few minutes away, with the theatre district equally close. Flinders Lane sits just downhill, while the Paris End of Collins Street is around the corner.
Rooftop at QT remains one of the easiest places to kick off a night without having to leave the building. It’s also much better in terms of accessibility than you might assume from such a design-heavy property. Accessible rooms have roll-in showers and grab rails, while the rooftop can be reached by lift.
The hotel’s Pup Yeah program makes QT one of Melbourne’s best pet-friendly accommodations. Your pooch gets a CUB memory foam dog bed, gourmet treats (even steak tartare!), grooming using premium botanical products and waterless foam shampoo. The hotel will even give you maps for local dog-friendly walks and parks so you can show off your best bud’s new style.
Address: 133 Russell Street, Melbourne Parking: Valet and self-parking options available Accessibility: Accessible rooms with roll-in showers; lift access to Rooftop at QT Pet-friendly: Yes, selected rooms Price: $$$ Booking tip: We’d stay here for a theatre weekend. Being able to walk back from the Regent or Princess Theatre without thinking about transport is a luxury in itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What part of Melbourne is best to stay in?
We think the Melbourne CBD is still the best place to stay for first-time visitors. Not only is it largely within the Free Tram Zone, so getting around is easy, but you’re within walking distance of Flinders Lane, the theatre district and institutions like the National Gallery of Victoria. For something more neighbourhood-focused, try Fitzroy or Richmond, while Southbank works well for easy access to the entire Arts Precinct.
How many days should I spend in Melbourne?
You should spend at least three days in Melbourne to explore the CBD and a few inner-city neighbourhoods. If you want more depth and texture, five days gives you enough time for Melbourne’s galleries, restaurantsand markets, as well as a day trip beyond the city.
Where can I find pet-friendly accommodation in Melbourne?
There are several pet-friendly hotels in Melbourne, including 1 Hotel Melbourne, W Melbourne and QT Melbourne. The StandardX in Fitzroy also offers selected pet-friendly rooms, while Dorsett Melbourne has dedicated rooms designed for guests travelling with pets. You should always check individual hotel restrictions and fees before booking.
Planning a trip to Melbourne? Check out more of our recommendations here:
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Chris Singh is an arts, travel and food journalist with 17 years of experience in digital media and 4 years of experience in SEO writing. He is the former travel editor of premium men's lifestyle title Boss Hunting and currently balances his role as Deputy Editor-At-Large of the AU review with freelance travel writing gigs at Australian Traveller, Luxury Escapes, Cruise & Travel and Sydney Travel Guide. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences (Sociology and Psychology) from the University of Sydney and once worked as a line dancer for steakhouse chain Lone Star (no, seriously). He's always got his finger on the pulse for good live music and delicious new restaurants, has a particular love of historic hotels and is starting to see the restorative value of the ever-present wellness industry. Although he is a born-and-bred Sydneysider, his favourite Australian cities are Hobart and Adelaide. Internationally, he can never get enough of big cities like Tokyo, New York and Chicago. If you're looking for him, he's either at a concert, on a plane or behind a laptop.
Tuck your napkin firmly in place and get ready to dive into Bendigo’s history.
It’s an internationally recognised fact that Bendigo food experiences prove this region knows how to wine and dine. After all, its shiraz-laden landscape was named Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy. But what visitors lured in by this shiny label might not know is how deeply its culinary scene sits within the gold-rush town’s colourful past.
Whether you’re eating in a grand colonial bank or nibbling through a gold miner’s garden, grab a big plate. In Bendigo, every meal is served with a huge helping of heritage.
Take a food tour
Join a Foodie Walking Tour to local highlights like Ms Batterhams.
Start in the capable hands of Bendigo Guided Tours. Named as the 2025 Victorian Best New Tourism Business, they run two 12-person options. A Taste of Bendigo – Foodie Walking Tour will see you tasting seasonal dishes and sipping wine, craft beer and cocktails made with regional spirits over two-and-a-half hours, with stops at Ms Batterhams, Wine Bank on View, The Dispensary and Bendigo Brewing.
You can up the ante a notch or two with the Four Hats of Bendigo – a night of fine-dine hopping with the experts across Terrae, Le Foyer, Alium Dining and The Woodhouse.
Book a table
Dine at Terrae.
Alternatively, see Bendigo’s stars under your own steam. There’s Terrae, where produce from the owners’ own farm kitchen garden and orchard is plated up inside what was once a bank, while cocktails are poured in the underground bar below. For something special, book a private table in old bank vault. Rather less wholesome? The bullet hole in the window – a throwback to Victoria’s wild gold rush era.
Another former bank-turned-eatery, Alium Dining, goes full art nouveau inside a 1908 building overlooking the Alexandra Fountain in the heart of Bendigo. Here, Alium’s Asian-meets-European flavours run all the way from duck leg croquettes with mandarin marmalade to raw trevally with coconut and nước chấm, to pork milanese with anchovy and stout mustard.
Beneath an old school hall at Mackenzie Quarters, Ms Batterhams serves southern European-inspired dishes inside a 19th-century basement bar and restaurant. Beyond its sourdough crumpets (smeared with taramasalata, paprika and parsley oil, if you must know) is the origin of the restaurant’s name: Winifred Batterham, the owners’ mother’s former kindergarten teacher. Honour her properly with a ‘Winifred’ cocktail.
Alium Dining offers a unique setting inside a 1908 building.
Carnivores, get ready to bang your sharpest knives on the table. Bendigo’s only dedicated steakhouse, The Woodhouse, specialises in Wagyu sourced from surrounding farms. They’ve got beef every which way – from tartare topped with Giaveri Oscietra caviar and wagyu toast to porterhouse dry-aged and grilled over redgum.
Your next bank stop on the food circuit is Bunja Thai. Housed inside the former Colonial Bank, it’s all Victorian-era Australian grandeur, from the enormous arched ceilings to the detailing overhead. Thai Singha and local craft beer jostle for attention – but both are perfect quenchers when you’re sharing barramundi baked in banana leaf beneath all that old-world opulence.
If your trip through Australia isn’t complete without a country pub stop, make it The Bridgewater Hotel on the Loddon River. Renovated since its 1942 beginnings, but the establishment still retains its Art Deco charm. It’s the kind of place where steak burgers come stacked with bacon, egg, cheese and dripping beetroot relish, and are best handled in the riverside beer garden.
Pour a glass
Find over 180 local wines at Heathcote Wine Hub.
Your plate’s been stacked. Now it’s the glass’s turn – ideally with the famously bold shiraz and cab sav grown here. Early settlers in Bendigo and Heathcote were onto something when they first planted vines in the area’s mineral-rich soil, and their legacy still pours strong across more than 60 cellar doors today. Start big at the Heathcote Wine Hub, where more than 180 wines from nearby vineyards sit beneath the rafters of a restored former wooden church, with 16 available to taste by the glass.
Heathcote Winery might have become one of the area’s first commercial wineries in the seventies, but its story started way before its courtyard tastings. Back in 1854, it operated as a miners’ produce store during the gold-rush years. Other cellar doors aren’t immune to reinvention under the wine wave either. At Munari Wines in Heathcote, charcuterie boards are presented in their newly renovated cellar, originally the stables of the former sheep station.
Discover local events
Time your trip for the Heritage and Hidden Spaces Wine Walk
Time your trip right and watch the parks, gardens and buildings fill with food and drink. Fans of the malt: mark 29 August 2026 for Bendigo On The Hop, when craft breweries take over venues throughout the CBD. Brews make way for history at the Heritage and Hidden Spaces Wine Walk (17 October 2026), where bottles are opened inside some of the city’s most interesting buildings – including rarely opened spaces. In November, the Regional Gin Gala raises spirits in Mackenzie Quarters with a boozy celebration of its homegrown distilleries, including Noble Bootleggers, Envy Distilling and In Good Spirits. Explore wine, food and live music at Heathcote on Show (6 – 8 June 2026).
Take it all in
Tram meets tasty at Bendigo Tram Cafe.
Takeaway means something different in Bendigo. At Australia’s oldest operating Tram Depot, the Tram Cafe sits aboard an out-of-service 1916 N-Class Tram that serves tea and scones. Once you’ve polished off the last crumb, you can even pop into the driver’s cab and try the controls yourself.
Peppergreen Farm continues Bendigo’s long connection to Chinese market gardens, first established here by immigrants in the 1850s. Today, the not-for-profit farm invites visitors to pick up organic produce, alongside jars of honey harvested from its own hives.
Indulge in retail therapy
Elevate your at-home dining experience after a trip to Bendigo Pottery.
If there’s still room in your bag among the clanking jars and bottles, stop by Uniquely Bendigo inside the Old Post Office. Sharing space with the Bendigo Visitor Centre, it’s a one-stop shop for favourites like Bendigo Brittle, Bridgeward Grove and Tea Associates.
If you’d rather leave your fingerprints on your Bendigo souvenir, there’s a place for that too. At Bendigo Pottery, visitors can try their hand at shaping clay while taking part in another tradition of evolving old spaces – creating works of art within Australia’s oldest working pottery.
