If you want to plan a luxurious getaway – look no further than Melbourne. Le Méridien has just been unveiled in Melbourne, bringing the brand’s European essence of savouring the good life to global tastemakers and locals.
Located in a prime location overlooking Parliament House, Spring Street, and the east of Melbourne, the hotel invites you to connect with Melbourne’s famed art, culture, and culinary scene through the brand’s timeless perspective on modern travel.
Originally built as a hotel in the 1850s, the site has been a cornerstone of Melbourne’s arts and culture scene through its many iterations as a theatre, cinema, nightclub, and live performance venue. Returning to its original interpretation as a hotel, Le Méridien Melbourne pays homage to its rich history through curated design, immersive art installations, and exciting culinary collaborations.
Mid-Century Modern Design
The property offers 235 guest rooms including 14 suites, where contemporary style meets mid-century elegance with custom joinery, eye-catching lighting, and chic marble bathrooms. Soothing neutrals are paired with tactile finishes and a pop of colour – such as the striking air-force blue velvet chairs that give a nod to the brand’s Air France origins. High room floors feature floor-to-ceiling views over the pool and out to the east of Melbourne, while lower levels immerse travellers in Melbourne’s bustling laneways or the historic red brick and stained-glass façade.
All guest rooms feature the brand’s signature room scent, Malin + Goetz bath amenities, signature Le Méridien beds, Marshall Speakers, 55-inch LCD TVs, signature bottled cocktails by The Everleigh Bottling Co., a personal coffee machine with artisan coffee pods, and a dedicated working desk designed for the creative-minded traveller. Suites are elevated with black stone kitchenettes, premium Smeg appliances, luxury barware, a selection of art books, beautifully-crafted oak board games, and Yamaha MusicCast 500 turntables with a selection of vinyls from artists such as Prince and James Brown, who once performed on-site.
Focus on Local Art
Retaining the original Art Deco façade paired with chic mid-century interiors, the 12-story building designed by Melbourne architecture practice, Peddle Thorp, brings a sense of glamour and theatre to Bourke Street. Guests are greeted with a private porte-cochère driveway featuring a striking mural by local artist Stephen Baker, before entering the dazzling lobby filled with mid-century inspired furniture, polished natural stone, and terrazzo. A large-scale sculptural installation by Marta Figueiredo and projected video art by Wendy Yu introduces lobby visitors to Le Méridien’s global Unlock Art programme, which connects guests with the “Art of Noticing” self-guided walking tour and complimentary access to local cultural attractions, all simply accessible by presenting their Unlock ArtTM room key.
Le Splash
Le Splash – the showpiece rooftop pool and terrace – hosts an additional large-scale mural by Stephen Baker and features an open-air bar serving cocktails, poolside snacks, and inventive local gelato flavours from Le Scoop by Le Méridien – the brand’s signature handcrafted gelato and sorbet cream programme. There will also be a seasonal pop-up cinema on the rooftop that will launch later this year, in collaboration with Melbourne International Film Festival and French Film Festival. Adjoining the pool deck is a 24-hour TechnoGym complete with virtual personal trainers and a sauna.
Dolly
Descend the art deco staircase at 20 Bourke St to discover Dolly, a moody 1930’s backdrop evoking the glamour and mystique of the backstage. Opening this March, the restaurant and adjoining bar serves cinematic cocktails, premium wines, and a nostalgic European-inspired menu with a Melbourne twist.
Named after the dolly zoom camera technique, pioneered during Hitchcock’s 1958 masterpiece ‘Vertigo’, the restaurant name pays homage to iconic storytelling and the site’s long history – originally as a hotel, through to theatre, cinema, live music venue, and entertainment playground.
Helmed by Executive Chef, Christian Graebner, each dish draws from classic European cuisine whilst showcasing, seasonal local produce. Growing up in a small epicurean town in northern Bavaria, Graebner’s focus on wild, hyper-seasonal ingredients translates to dishes that are both familiar, yet unexpected, with each plate a perfect vignette.
Bookings are open for dinner daily at Dolly from 5.00pm until late.
For more information on Le Méridien Melbourne or to make a reservation, visit www.lemeridienmelbourne.com
This post was last modified on 11/05/2023 1:14 pm