Best for luxury lovers
The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne has more than one drawcard but none is more talked about than the view it offers guests upon check in on the 80th floor. From here, where the lobby, fine-dining restaurant Atria and dimly-lit bar Cameo reside, you can see all the way to the Dandenong Ranges. There's plenty to feast your eyes on here, however (and we'd start with the level dedicated to wellness).

Best for design aficionados
W Melbourne is an extravagant expression of à la mode Melbourne, from the cocoon-like subterranean cocktail bar Curious (accessed via a hidden laneway door) to the 14th-floor swimming pool with its own bar and DJ deck beneath a reflective gold ceiling. The lobby makes a grand statement with large-scale artwork riffing on Melbourne’s iconic graffiti and Australian flora, while rooms proudly display objects d’art and full scale cocktail setups.

Best for location
Perched on the Yarra River looking across to Flinders Street Station, there’s no beating The Langham, Melbourne for a location in the thick of it. Federation Square and the National Gallery of Victoria are a short walk away, and the bars and restaurants of the riverfront promenade await below. 

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Best for late-nights
The most extroverted of boutique hotels is a rock’n’roll tribute act that celebrates the groovy excesses of the 1960s and ’70s. Artsy touches include a reception desk that looks like a mid-century vision of the future and a lobby with a neon faux fire pit, while the rooms sport a fun aesthetic in which Mad Men-esque wallpaper, turntables and plush fabrics rule. Even the restaurant – acclaimed (mostly) vegan Lona Misa – isn’t afraid to subvert and surprise, while the communal party room with a flashing disco floor is just the place to kick on after hours.

Best for city views
Hit the rooftop terrace at Lancemore Crossley St for a giddy immersion in the bright lights of this big city, complete with day beds and a fire pit for lounging. The theatrical interiors include a chandelier that once adorned the Palais Theatre making a grand statement in the lobby.

Best for food lovers
Opposite the historic Prahran Market and offering its own in-house delights at the HuTong Dumpling Bar, The Cullen will ensure no guest ever goes hungry. The avant-grunge artworks by hotel namesake Adam Cullen add extra frisson when cooking up a storm in your room’s kitchenette.

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Best for heritage
A brilliant redevelopment of the grand 1930s Equity Chambers building ensures Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street makes an unforgettable first impression. The Art Deco-styled Douglas Club cocktail bar capitalises on the yesteryear charm, as do the timber-panelled suites (accessed by antique elevators) in the old wing.

Best for a tranquil escape
Hallowed ground for lovers of the big-ticket hotel, the Park Hyatt Melbourne stands in splendid isolation at the end of an imposing driveway, yet it’s less than 20 minutes’ walk to the CBD. An easy stroll through the beautiful Treasury Gardens will take you to the equally hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Best for a rooftop bar
The cocktails at the flamboyant urban garden Rooftop At QT Melbourne are infused with herbs and fruit grown right on-site. The chic address is a scenester’s paradise – yes, that means dress to impress – but if you feel like heading out, the buskers and buzz of the Bourke Street Mall are just a block away.

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Best for waterfront views
After a fresh perspective on Melbourne? Right next to Marvel Stadium and close to Southern Cross Station, Peppers Docklands has magnificent views of its waterfront neighbourhood, including the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel. Head a few blocks into town for shopping at Melbourne Central and the lively Queen Victoria Market.

Best for families
The rare combination of a CBD location and room enough for the whole family is certainly a winner but there’s more to recommend at this sleek “apart’hotel” (that’s serviced apartment hotel). Each of the studios and one and two-bedroom apartments has its own fully equipped kitchenette, and while you’re perfectly placed for shopping (Bourke Street Mall is one block to the south) and attractions such as the Melbourne Museum, Melbourne Aquarium and the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) – it’ll be tough work getting the kids out of the indoor pool.

Best for Australian art
Part of the Art Series group, The Olsen on South Yarra’s famous Chapel Street celebrates the work of John Olsen, whose captivating landscapes make the urban property’s public and private spaces sing of Australia. Appreciation of Melbourne’s landscapes can be enhanced with an amble along the Yarra to explore the stunning Royal Botanic Gardens.

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Best for grandeur
Perhaps it’s the pianist in black tie tinkling the ivories in the lobby, the shiny marble or the signature scent – whatever the case, Crown Towers delivers a gold-plated sense of occasion. The enormous indoor swimming pool is another winner, as are the leading restaurants including Nobu and Rockpool Bar & Grill. 

Best for Melbourne cool
A trailblazer when it opened, the Adelphi Hotel remains top of the cool kid pops. From a glass-bottomed swimming pool that cantilevers over Flinders Lane to the sweet fantasias served at Om Nom dessert bar and the artworks decorating every available surface, this boutique bolthole gives an unforgettable taste of the city.

Best for luxury
The comforting certainties of Greek marble flooring, crystal and a hushed reverence for the good things in life epitomise this grand dame. It’s an opulent, self-sustaining universe from breakfast in the award-winning Collins Kitchen to a nightcap in the laneway Ru-Co Bar; from tennis on the rooftop court to a workout in the epic gym (with equally epic city views). But if you must go out, it’s good to know you’re right above Melbourne’s Collins Street, where designer boutiques such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada await you.

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Best for beachside vibes
St Kilda royalty, The Prince Hotel capitalises on its glorious Art Deco bones and bayside setting. Miami vibes rule among the pastel-hued rooms and suites, while the St Kilda Sea Baths are nearby and offer laid-back aquatic fun.

Best for its swimming pool 
Crown Metropol boasts the blingiest pool in the business. On level 27 of the deluxe CBD-edge haunt, its walls of glass offer amazing glimpses of the city and the West Gate Bridge, while designer pendant light shades and colourful sun loungers bring a keen sense of style.

Best for day spa enthusiasts
Spa classicism rules at the Sheraton Melbourne, where a full menu of massages, body treatments and facials will make short work of a lazy afternoon. Feel like something more high-octane? The fitness centre has a state-of-the-art gym, indoor swimming pool, steam room and whirlpool, with a personal trainer on hand for one-on-one sessions.

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Best for anyone with a sweet tooth
If the elegant rooms, spectacular pool and convenient Spencer Street location don’t convince you to book a stay at this luxe property, these two words should do the trick: Chocolate Hour. From 4.30-5.30pm every day, guests can sample a suite of complementary chocolatey treats including ice cream sandwiches and churros.

Best for high tea
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins’ sumptuous Sunday high tea is high indeed – on the 35th floor, amid the black-and-white-marble finishes of the No35 Restaurant. Equally chic are the upmarket boutiques of Collins Street’s Paris End, right at the doorstep of this French-accented luxury stay.

Best for hipsters
The hallways on each floor are decorated with bespoke street art and all the rooms and suites at Ovolo Laneways rack up similar cool points. The hotel is located in the thick of Melbourne’s theatre district, so there’s plenty going on at street level but try booking the penthouse and see if you can tear yourself away from its terrace jacuzzi.

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Melbourne’s Best Late-night Food and Drink Spots