Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street – Hotel Review

With elegant on-site dining, a central CBD location and a generous executive lounge, Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street knows what matters to the work-focused wayfarer. Read on for the full review.

Fronted by a heritage façade dating back to the decadent early-’30s Art Deco era, the hotel’s blend of old and new conjures a modern brand of grandeur for guests. It also gives the common spaces – most notably, the soaring ceilings of stately modern Italian eatery Luci – the kind of atmosphere even the most carefully-planned contemporary project can’t engineer. It just feels fancy and, if you’re meeting colleagues or clients there, or just stopping in for a weekend, you’ll feel pretty fancy by extension.

Where is Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street?

Although the building faces Bourke Street, the small, somewhat secret lobby area is just off Little Queen Street in the north-east corner of the city’s CBD. ) It’s about a 25-minute drive there from Tullamarine Airport.

What’s near Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street?

Thanks to the city’s free CBD tram network, every bolthole bar and sleek eatery within its edges are easily accessible. The web of Flinders Lane favourites (Chin Chin, Cumulus, Gimlet and friends) is 15 minutes on foot, as is the mesmerising ACMI – less if you take the Bourke Street tram to its cross-street on Russell. Galleria Melbourne, the massive mall precinct in the heart of the city, is a five-minute stroll away.

Room types

There’s a sensitive yet purposeful contrast between the historic façade and rich interiors of the 90-year-old building and the softly modern rooms of sky blues, storm greys and steel-frame bathroom details. Thoughful touches include blackout blinds, slippers and bathrobes and the little circular dining area that can double as a desk for remote working. Here to swoon over the style? Book a stay in the Equity Chamber wing, where some rooms retain impressive heritage features, namely rich timber panelling that also covers part of the ceiling, with a plush bed proudly sat in the middle.

Restaurants and bars

The two on-site venues – The Deco Douglas Club and the much-lauded Luci – share the property’s wider approach to historic design nods and rich interior reinterpretations. At Luci, a near-cavernous space of geometric-tiled floors and velvet banquettes, the menu mixes Italian influences with local produce, alongside a thoughtful collection of natural wines. The dimly lit Douglas Club is an evening-only joint serving decadent bar snacks (think truffle fries and caviar with potato waffles) as well as palette-cleansing cocktails, vintage Champagnes and craft beers.

Travel for work

The elegant Queen Adelaide lounge, fit for Hilton Honors Diamond members and guests staying in King Heritage Rooms, Premium Rooms and above, is expansive, proving the hotel’s commitment to well-heeled business travellers. There’s a central buffet area and spacious dining and lounging areas, where emails can be comfortably fired off and meetings informally held.

Gym

The on-site fitness centre is decorated in timber panelling too, giving the space an interesting air of boardroom formality. For those in the business of exercise, it fits the bill with treadmills, free weights and exercise balls.

Accessibility

In addition to accessible parking, reception access and public areas, the hotel has a number of accessible rooms available featuring lowered toilets, shelving units and thermostat controls, and visual alarms.

What you need to know

Although you’ll miss the grand ambience of Luci, room service is available.

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