Ritz-Carlton Melbourne – Hotel Review

With service that’s polished (but never pretentious) and design that sparkles (though never flashy), you could say The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne deals in luxury of a more understated variety. But with pomp aplenty – including an entire floor dedicated to wellness, a shimmering fine-dining restaurant at its apex and inimitable views over the city sprawl no matter where you turn — the shine of this western CBD sparkler is nothing short of blinding. Read on for the full review.

Where is The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne?

On the top 17 floors of an 80 storey skyscraper, twisting into the sky above the western end of Melbourne’s CBD, near Southern Cross train station. It’s about half an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport.

What’s near The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne?

Melbourne's tram network is free within the bounds of the CBD, bringing the city’s best eateries and cafes within a handful of stops. The cluster of gastronomic gold around the eastern end of Flinders Lane — namely Chin Chin, Gimlet, NOMAD, Supernormal and the lines-out-the-door LUNE Croissanterie — takes around 15 minutes by foot, if you follow the Bourke or Collins Street lines.

Room types

Dressed in layers of burnished gold, the generous rooms and suites feel at once intimate and expansive. Spacious floorplans, enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, bathrooms of intricate marble and gloriously deep soaking tubs, as well as butter soft Frette linens and Diptyque amenities signal a sophisticated decadence. They do, as promised, feel residential (perhaps it’s fact the toilet is separate, in its own private powder room?) while the bath and shower sprawl over the main bathroom.

Restaurants and bars

The views like those that greet diners at Atria, the fine diner that rests on the hotel’s top floor, are nothing short of spectacular. And doesn’t it just know it: the 19-metre long communal dining bar, crafted from Victorian ash, that faces the windows purposefully distracts. This unique vantage point gives you the feeling you could be in Tokyo, or New York, but the focus on seafood, sourced locally, brings you back to Melbourne. Around the corner, the dimly lit ‘lobby’ bar Cameo benefits from the same incredible views but with a more intimate atmosphere. The cocktail list here leans towards classic, bolstered by antique spirits.

Travel for work

You’ll have no trouble spreading out a station for remote work in the spacious suites (and the wi-fi is, unsurprisingly, crisp and quick). For larger functions, there’s no shortage of space — from the enormous ballroom that accommodates up to 958 to the more intimate boardrooms that holds a comfy 15, any event set here is sure to stun.

Spa, gym and pool

Level 64 is entirely dedicated to wellness. Turn left from the lifts and you’ll discover the marble-lined pool — an exceptional place to start — with its infinity-edge that seems to dive into the city below. Turn right and ready yourself for exploration: the Ritz-Carlton Spa and its attentive, warm and exceptionally-skilled staff reside here, offering treatments in a string of six rooms that have floor-to-ceiling windows peering out to the city below.

No, you’re not even close to being done. In both the mens and ladies bathrooms, there’s a treasure trove of tech to kick things up a notch: stumble on a hydrotherapy bath, sauna, steam room and ice fountain that spits chips on a loop for a post-steam cool down.

What you need to know

The hotel’s namesake suite is the stuff of dreams (if you have cash to burn, of course). Space-wise, it’s the length of the entire building… and includes living, dining and kitchen spaces, all-day beverages and food, as well as an in-room sauna.

SEE ALSO: The Best Hotels in Melbourne for Every Traveller