The StandardX Melbourne Hotel Review

It’s the first of its kind in the world, so naturally, this Fitzroy hotel is setting its own standards.

Back in 1999, hotelier André Balazs opened the first Standard Hotel on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip . With its live models in the lobby’s glass vitrine, a DJ booth at the front desk and affordable prices, it soon became the place to stay and party, even for the celebrity set. Standard Hotels opened all over the world – the New York iteration straddling the High Line was briefly famous thanks to exhibitionists displaying their wares through the full-length windows to the strolling crowds below – but it’s taken 25 years for the brand to reach Australian shores.

Well, kind of. StandardX is the little sister of the original Standard. It’s not quite as brash, and nowhere near as party-hard. This far more subtle offshoot is perfectly suited to its locale in one of Melbourne’s coolest neighbourhoods and offers visitors an attractive alternative to the average CBD stay.

Here’s everything to know about the newly-opened The StandardX, Melbourne.

Location

It’s one of Melbourne’s favourite suburbs, for both locals and travellers. Fitzroy has a few famous streets – Gertrude and Smith, which it shares with Collingwood – but the StandardX is only a hundred metres from the best-known: Brunswick Street. In every direction, there are restaurants, bars, cafes, boutiques, galleries and just about everything else you could possibly want to visit.

Plus, on weekends, the Rose St Artist’s Market next door displays the original creations of local designers and makers. The tram into the city is only a couple of minutes’ walk away.

the exterior of The StandardX Melbourne — The StandardX is only a hundred metres from Brunswick Street.

Style and character

The eye-catching, rusted exterior, designed by Woods Bagot, looks as if it has been part of the neighbourhood for decades. That’s the overall vibe you get from this new-build hotel, even though, when I visit, it’s only been open for days. From the welcoming staff members at check-in to expanses of lush greenery, the StandardX Melbourne feels established.

Sarah Smalltown's macramé work at The StandardX Melbourne — The StandardX Melbourne features Sarah Smalltown’s macramé work. (Image: Carrie Hutchinson)

Imagine you gave your friend with impeccable taste a healthy budget to create a stylish yet modern space for people to hang out. That’s the feeling downstairs in the public spaces designed by Hecker Guthrie.

the interior at StandardX Melbourne — StandardX offers a stylish yet modern space to unwind. (Image: Rhiannon Taylor)

Custom and vintage furniture is used throughout the lobby, the adjoining Bang restaurant and in an almost hidden Loft area, complete with a fireplace. Throughout there are art books to peruse and peaceful corners where you can sit and work. Artist Sarah Smalltown’s mega macrame, used here to wrap cement pylons, adds texture and a hand-crafted element to the sleek finish.

the BANG restaurant at The StandardX Melbourne — The adjoining BANG restaurant feels sleek and classy. (Image: Carrie Hutchinson)

Facilities

There’s no gym or pool, although the hotel has an agreement with one of the local 24-hour facilities for those who want to work out. It’s also just a short walk to the Fitzroy Swimming Pool – on summer weekends, it’s quite the scene. Guests can also access the rooftop, with its Mexican casa fit-out and views of the city.

the rooftop restaurant at The StandardX Melbourne — Enjoy Mexican eats and drinks on the rooftop. (Image: Carrie Hutchinson)

Rooms

At first glance, you might not think the rooms are particularly special. Apart from the blue-and-white striped carpet, they’re understated, with white and cream tones dominating. Look closer, however, and the details shine. At the base of a terracotta-coloured locker that hides the mini bar is a rounded silver shape, designed to prevent kicked toes on a bare metal leg in the middle of the night.

the bedroom interior at The StandardX Melbourne — Each suite is laid out with blue-and-white striped carpet. (Image: Rhiannon Taylor)

There’s a tiny, fluoro artwork by Jane Sinclair and a foldaway ledge, where you can set up your laptop to work. Bathroom walls of fluted glass offer equal parts privacy and natural light. Within, there are full-size bottles of Davines products.

the living room interior at The StandardX Melbourne — You’ll find vintage furniture across the lobby. (Image: Carrie Hutchinson)

The hotel has 125 rooms in total, ranging from Cozy King to Suite Spot. My King View is on level six (of seven), and I spend some quality time watching the streets around me and admiring the view of the city skyline. And, praise be, the windows can be opened.

a look inside one of the bedrooms at The StandardX Melbourne — Rooms overlook the city skyline. (Image: Rhiannon Taylor)

Food and drink

It’s all about Thai street food influences at BANG on the ground floor. Chef Justin Dingle-Garciyya (formerly of Aman Resorts) is sending out dishes like blue swimmer crab pa tong ko donuts, roast pressed duck red curry and white boy noodles, a play on char kway teow with crab and lobster bisque. The punchy flavours are an excellent match to signature cocktails like the Going Incognito (vodka, lychee liqueur, lime) and Koh Ma Phrao (coconut milk, creamy chai, white rum, spiced rum, lime).

the roast duck leg curry at The StandardX Melbourne — Indulge in the roast duck leg curry.

At breakfast, guests can order mango sticky rice, turmeric and ginger porridge, coconut fried eggs and prawn siu mai, or a more traditionally Western take on the day’s first meal.

a waiter arranging the chairs at the BANG restaurant, The StandardX Melbourne — Amble down to the BANG restaurant on the ground floor. (Image: Carrie Hutchinson)

The Box, near check-in and open 24 hours, is essentially your mini bar. It’s stocked with local wine, beers and spirits, Hunted + Gathered chocolate made in Richmond, tubs of ice cream churned by the hotel’s pastry chef and other snacks, as well as books supplied by Bookshop by Uro and clothes made in collaboration with Saint Cloud.

the Box at StandardX Melbourne — Get all your essentials from The Box. (Image: Rhiannon Taylor)

As soon as summer rolls around, Mercado Medellin will open for guests only, serving Mexican eats and drinks on the rooftop.

a Thai dish at the Bang, StandardX Melbourne — Dine authentic Thai at the newly opened restaurant, BANG. (Image: Carrie Hutchinson)

Accessibility

The Cozy Suites have enough room around the bed for a wheelchair and the showers are roll-in. Lifts and facilities are also accessible.

Family-friendly?

There’s no reason you couldn’t bring the kids, but they’ll be sharing your bed. Cots are available; rollaway beds are not. If your family is furry, tell the booking team. You’ll get a pet waiver to sign at check-in, and a bowl, bed and treats will be supplied.

the lobby at StandardX Melbourne — StandardX offers visitors an attractive alternative to the average CBD stay. (Image: Carrie Hutchinson)

Details

Best for: Business travellers, families, and design-savvy travellers.
Address: 62 Rose Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne VIC
Cost: From $224 per night.

the dimly lit interior at StandardX Melbourne — StandardX is the little sister of the original Standard. (Image: Rhiannon Taylor)

Follow our guide to all things Melbourne.

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim , ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas.

eel tank — The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Dumawul walkingtour — Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance. The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.

Kooyoora walking tour — Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Kingfisher Cruises

Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises . Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.

wawa biik

Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik.

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.

Healesville Sanctuary

Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm.

The Grampians

Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.

Inside the newly opened The StandardX, Melbourne hotel

It’s the first of its kind in the world, so naturally, this Fitzroy hotel is setting its own standards.

Location

Style and character

Facilities

Rooms

Food and drink

Accessibility

Family-friendly?

Details

Follow our guide to all things Melbourne.

A sultry Shanghai-style cocktail den has just landed in Melbourne

A new luxury hotel is opening in Melbourne’s hottest neighbourhood

Time travel to ‘80s Tokyo at this new disco bar in Melbourne

Melbourne’s floating sauna combines relaxation and city views

Unforgettable First Peoples tours and experiences in Victoria

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Kingfisher Cruises

wawa biik

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Healesville Sanctuary

The Grampians

It’s the first of its kind in the world, so naturally, this Fitzroy hotel is setting its own standards.

Location

Style and character

Facilities

Rooms

Food and drink

Accessibility

Family-friendly?

Details

Follow our guide to all things Melbourne.

A sultry Shanghai-style cocktail den has just landed in Melbourne

A new luxury hotel is opening in Melbourne’s hottest neighbourhood

Time travel to ‘80s Tokyo at this new disco bar in Melbourne

Melbourne’s floating sauna combines relaxation and city views

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Kingfisher Cruises

wawa biik

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Healesville Sanctuary

The Grampians

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.