Adelphi Hotel

"One of Melbourne 's first designer hotels, the Adelphi opened in a converted warehouse in the early nineties, but after an overhaul completed by new ownership in 2013, it’s as edgy as ever. The stylish lobby has swinging couches, and 34 rooms are decorated in a bold black-and-white color scheme with shocks of pink and turquoise and benefit from large windows and modern LED strip lighting. Guests in need of respite from Melbourne’s buzz (or merely hiding out from the drizzle) can bingewatch and chill: all rooms come with a 40-inch flat-screen Smart TV loaded with unlimited recently released films. Meanwhile, the dessert bar Om Nom serves high-concept sweets with components like “apple whizz fizz” and “toasted-marshmallow milk granita,” and the hotel’s breathtaking glass-bottomed pool, cantilevered nine floors above Flinders Lane, is the hottest spot in town thanks to seasonal events like last year’s pop-up gin bar."

"First impressions? This small property's fashionable laneway location, boldly decorated guest rooms, and cantilevered rooftop pool help create a buzzy atmosphere that's rare among Melbourne hotels. And a dessert-themed restaurant? Genius. What’s the crowd like? Young creatives visiting from Sydney ; international travelers who want to be close to the action. How was check in? The Adelphi squeezes guest rooms into almost every square foot of its slender former warehouse premises, leaving space for only a tiny lobby. Check-in and checkout can feel a little squishy. Tell us about the rooms. There's a real energy in the rooms, which are decked out with mid-century furniture, zig-zagging black-and-cream carpets, and large warehouse windows. Street noise may disturb light sleepers, but the beds are comfy enough to compensate. How about the little things, like mini bar? Help yourself to the jars of candy and the non-alcoholic mini bar—it's all complimentary, as is the Wi-Fi. Room service and food: Worth it? Lobby restaurant Om Nom is dessert-focused (the sweet degustation is the way to go), but also offers a decent savory grazing menu. It doubles as a breakfast spot for guests, serving a tight menu of smashed avocado on toast and other Oz-centric options. Anything else stand out? That famous rooftop pool is heated, so pack your swimmers no matter what time of year you visit. Bottom line. Some of the city’s best eating spots—including Supernormal and Kisumé—are just meters from this hip boutique hotel, burnishing its allure." - Dan F. Stapleton

"This small property's fashionable laneway location, boldly decorated guest rooms, and cantilevered rooftop pool help create a buzzy atmosphere that's rare among Melbourne hotels. And a dessert-themed restaurant? Genius. Clientele tend to be young creatives visiting from Sydney , and international travelers who want to be close to the action. Some of the city’s best eating spots—including Supernormal and Kisumé—are just meters away." - Dan F. Stapleton