4 Reasons to Book the Adelphi Hotel in Melbourne
The dessert-themed Adelphi Hotel on Flinders Lane is both quirky and comfortable. Here are four reasons to check in.
The fit-out
Like most of Melbourne’s trademark structures, this 1938-builiding once operated as warehouse for the rag trade before its conversion into a boutique hotel in the late 1980s. More recently, local design firm Hachem redefined its interiors, fashioning the colourful candy world that it is today. Book the Flinders King suite, with its oversized windows that gaze above the laneway, plush chocolate-toned furnishings and stools inspired by licorice allsorts. Each room offers unlimited movies, bedside docking station and gorgeous Appelles bathroom amenities. Did we mention the complimentary mini-bar? A glass canister is filled daily with a mix of lollies and chocolate bars – don’t forget your toothbrush.
The rooftop pool
Ride the lift to the hotel’s top floor then climb through the fire escape to arrive at Adelphi’s rooftop deck. A glistening glass-bottom lap pool – which juts out above Flindes Lane – allows you to float between Melbourne’s rooftops. The heating has been switched off, as the pool will undergo an upgrade in early 2016, so it may be a little chilly. However, the space itself is spectacular and should not be missed.
Om Nom Kitchen & Dessert Bar
Adelphi’s pièce de résistance is Om Nom, the ground-floor dessert bar with French-trained patisserie chef Christy Tania at the helm. An indulgent high tea is served on weekends, with morsels such as raspberry and rosewater macaron, sour-cherry pâte de fruit toadstool and chocolate-coated passionfruit meringue with popping candy. For the more savoury-inclined, there are dishes such as fried goat’s cheese with sage, duck dumplings and beef and beer sliders. Yum.
The location
This could be one of the hippest addresses in Melbourne. The city’s arcades and laneways are a playground for foodies, and top-notch restaurants such as Tonka, Chin Chin and Comulus Inc surround the Adelphi Hotel. Take note of its colourful street art and you may just spot a Banksy. Shopping on the mind? Explore Bourke Street Mall and Emporium for a mix of big-name brands as well as local Australian designers.
