InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto – Hotel Review

Sprawling over two neo-Gothic buildings on Collins Street, InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto is a stately sanctuary for the CBD curious, placing guests in the centre of everything Melbourne city has to offer. Read on for the full review.

Housing all the mod cons in the most timeless of settings, this plush property can seemingly do it all: soothe with a spa, excite with an eatery (or two) and impress with an indoor pool, complete with city views, all within walking distance of Melbourne’s best. 

Where is InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto? 

Sandwiched between Collins Street and Flinders Lane, InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto is in the south-west corner of the CBD and about 25 minutes from Melbourne Airport by car.

What’s near InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto?

The mesmerising ACMI and The Ian Potter Centre of Federation Square are both within 15 minutes walking distance of the hotel, as are the bar and restaurant-lined laneways that sprout from Flinders Lane. Melbourne GPO, the city’s biggest mall, is even closer.

Room types

There’s a classic, serene elegance to the latte-coloured rooms, which include plump beds, capsule coffee machines, rain showers stocked with fancy Byredo amenities and fluffy bathrobes. Want to up the luxury? The hotel’s Iconic Suites are the ticket, each offering an indulgent 112 square metres of space, and granting guests access to Club InterContinental with all its perks.

Restaurants and bars 

There are two eateries and one bar tucked into the corners of the hotel’s central atrium. Ronnie’s is the more casual of the two, dishing up Italian favourites by way of New York in the form of sauce-smothered pastas and gnocchi. Alluvial Melbourne, which occupies the open lower-ground space of the building, is a mix of many influences, serving everything from Korean fried chicken to Osaka-style okonomiyaki, layered with bonito sprinkles and creamy mayo.

Travel for work

Although rooms have generous workspaces, Club InterContinental is the place you should spread out. Unlocked by booking premium rooms and suites, the Club has a near all-day run of refreshments, beginning with breakfast through to afternoon tea and evening canapés, plus drinks to keep you optimistic about powering through any necessary work.

Spa, gym and pool

The instantly calm (and very chic) Botanica Day Spa is a neutral-toned slice of heaven, serviced by Elemis products and attentive staff qualified in more than just massage techniques. The self-dubbed ‘medi spa’ loops in more focused and effective approaches in their treatment menu, spanning everything from skin needling to LED therapy.

The indoor pool is another triumph, shouldering floor-to-ceiling windows that peep out over the city. It’s heated, so it’s absolutely divine on a chilly Melbourne morning, but heat-seekers should also pop into the Swedish-style wood-lined sauna for a sweat – or check out the 24-hour fitness centre.

Sustainability

There are more than a few sustainable touchpoints for guests of InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto. The most noticeable are the beds are dressed in linens from A. H. Beard, Australia’s first producer of fully recyclable sheets. The property has also implemented recycling practices across a range of materials beyond the norm, including printer cartridges and metals.

Accessibility   

There are four accessible classic guestrooms on-site, which include features such as roll-in showers and lowered vanities.

What you need to know

If you haven’t tried asking a concierge for any manner of request or recommendation, this is a great hotel to start. Whether it’s to point you in the direction of a scenic run or secure a table at a great new eatery, staff here sure do know their stuff.

SEE ALSO: The Best Hotels in Melbourne’s CBD