W Melbourne is a Selected hotel located in Melbourne, Australia. It has been recognized by the Michelin Guide for its exceptional hospitality and unique experience.

How many Michelin Keys does W Melbourne have?

W Melbourne has been awarded Selected by the Michelin Guide, indicating a very special stay.

Where is W Melbourne located?

W Melbourne is located in Melbourne, Australia, in the Oceania region.

What makes a Selected hotel special?

Selected hotels provide very special stays with excellent service and a unique sense of place.

How do I book W Melbourne?

You can view more details and booking information for W Melbourne through the Michelin Guide website. Each Michelin Keys hotel offers a unique booking experience tailored to their guests.

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W Melbourne

Name: W Melbourne
Address: Melbourne, Oceania, Australia
Rating: 4.5

Selected

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Hotel Details

Location

Melbourne

Australia, Oceania

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Expert Review: W Melbourne

W Melbourne, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a bold and vibrant luxury experience in the heart of Melbourne's CBD. Generally, guests praise its striking design, prime location, and excellent facilities, though some minor inconsistencies in service and specific room aspects are occasionally noted.

Overall Rating & Sentiment

The W Melbourne generally receives exceptional customer reviews, with an overall rating of 8.9 on Agoda, 4.4 out of 5 on Marriott, and 9.1 on Booking.com. Guests often describe their stay as "exceptional" and highlight the hotel's stylish and contemporary ambiance. Its selection as a Michelin Key property further underscores its reputation as a high-end luxury hotel blending flamboyant design with vibrant dining and a party-friendly energy.

Key Highlights

Guests frequently commend the W Melbourne for its high design, offering a balance of casual luxury and Australian hospitality. Standout features include the incredibly comfortable beds, a careful balance of moodily lit spaces with splashes of color, and unique bars like the basement speakeasy, Curious. The heated indoor pool with its dramatic gold ceiling and city skyline views is also a significant draw. Its central location, providing easy access to attractions and dining, is consistently highlighted.

Room Quality

The W Melbourne features 294 guest rooms and 29 suites, with design cues taken from Melbourne's laneway culture. Rooms boast bold, contemporary styles, often with graphic checked carpet and brightly hued murals, and playful slogans. While the design is eye-catching, some find the color palette, featuring black tones balanced by grays and creams, to be less kitschy than other W properties and more focused on sleekness. Rooms are built for comfort, equipped with plush king beds, high-quality linens, and luxe bathrooms, some featuring Japanese toilets. Amenities typically include floor-to-ceiling windows, rain showers, and mini-bars with cocktail setups. However, some guests have noted issues such as relatively soft beds for their preference, weak rain shower pressure, and occasional signs of wear in bathrooms for a relatively new hotel. Views can vary, with some lower-floor rooms offering less impressive cityscapes.

Dining Experience

The hotel offers a diverse range of food and beverage outlets. Lollo, the ground-floor restaurant, serves modern Australian cuisine and offers breakfast. Breakfast at Lollo is generally well-received, often served buffet-style with a good selection of hot dishes, pastries, fresh fruit, and fantastic coffee from St Ali. Some past reviews mentioned à la carte breakfast options.

Warabi is the hotel's high-end Japanese omakase restaurant, offering a nine-course degustation menu in an intimate setting.

Curious, a basement speakeasy hidden behind an unmarked door, is a major highlight. Known for its dramatic timber beam canopy and cocktail menu celebrating Melbourne's art, coffee, and fashion scenes, it's considered "the bar to see and be seen in" and often features live DJs on weekends.

Service & Staff

The service at W Melbourne is largely described as top-notch, with staff being friendly, professional, courteous, and responsive. Guests appreciate the "good, old-fashioned Aussie hospitality" and report staff proactively addressing needs and offering excellent assistance. However, some experiences mention inconsistencies in service, particularly regarding elite benefits like late check-out for suites.

Location & Accessibility

W Melbourne boasts a prime location on Flinders Lane in the southwest corner of the city's central business district (CBD). This central position makes it an ideal base for exploring Melbourne, with easy walking access to attractions such as Bourke Street Mall, Federation Square, Melbourne Aquarium, Eureka Skydeck, and a wealth of dining and nightlife in the Southbank district. The hotel has two entrances, from Flinders Lane and Collins Street, with Collins Street offering better accessibility to trams. Melbourne's extensive tram network is free within the CBD, making transport convenient. An Uber from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) takes about 30 minutes, or the Skybus to Southern Cross Station followed by a tram is another viable option. The hotel also offers 11 accessible guest rooms and has accessible common areas.

Value & Pricing

The W Melbourne is considered a high-end luxury hotel. Midweek rates for a base-level "Cozy" room start from approximately AU$352 ($259 USD), with prices rising sharply during weekends and special events, potentially reaching upwards of AU$550. Some guests have found the average price of $316 per night to offer exceptional value for money given the luxurious amenities and services. However, weekend rates are often described as expensive for Melbourne, with some questioning the value if seeking quiet romance or relaxation rather than the lively W experience.

Common Complaints

While generally positive, some recurring criticisms include:

Inconsistent Service: Especially concerning elite benefits like guaranteed late check-out for suites, where guests might be asked to move rooms.
Underwhelming Lobby/Entrance: Some guests find the main entrance and lobby area to be cramped or lacking the grand impression expected of a luxury brand.
Room Issues: Occasional complaints about weak rain shower pressure, beds being too soft for some preferences, or minor wear and tear in bathrooms. Some rooms with two double beds rather than queens have been noted as a disappointment for a 5-star property.
Restaurant Hours/Offerings: Confusing or limited operating hours for some dining outlets, particularly Lollo, have been mentioned in the past. Some found the breakfast buffet, while good, to offer a limited variety compared to other W properties.
Pool Vibe: While the pool is visually stunning, some noted it felt more like a community pool during the day, with many families and toddlers, rather than a swanky day club, and the pool bar sometimes felt like an afterthought.
Lack of "W" personality: Some reviewers felt that the hotel lacked the usual "loud and outlandish" W energy and sometimes fell short of fully reflecting the brand's DNA, making it "a bit dull" for those expecting the typical vibrant W atmosphere.

Sources

Points to Consider

•While generally positive, some recurring criticisms include:
•Inconsistent Service**: Especially concerning elite benefits like guaranteed late check-out for suites, where guests might be asked to move rooms.
•Underwhelming Lobby/Entrance**: Some guests find the main entrance and lobby area to be cramped or lacking the grand impression expected of a luxury brand.