The Westin Melbourne – Hotel Review

Spacious rooms, a heated indoor pool and a refined onsite restaurant await guests of The Westin Melbourne, an elegant hotel on Collins Street in the city’s CBD tangle. Read on for the full review.

Where is The Westin Melbourne? 

The Haussmann-esque building occupies a corner of prime real estate between Collins and Flinders Streets. From Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport, you’ll arrive at the porte cochere in about 35 minutes by taxi.

What’s near The Westin Melbourne?

The eastern end of Collins, often referred to as the “Paris end” of the main vein, where a selection of designer labels are clustered (Celine, Dior, Gucci and the like). This part of the CBD is also where a glut of well-known Melbourne eateries are located, too — do the names Chin Chin, Gimlet or Lune Croissanterie ring a bell? You’re not far from the excellent museums of the NGV’s Ian Potter Centre or ACMI, either. 

Room types 

Simple, generous and light-filled, The Westin’s rooms are dependably comfortable, with floor-to-ceiling windows and sturdy workstations, anchored by the brand’s signature Westin Heavenly Beds with plush pillow tops. Collins Street-facing rooms have particularly lovely views, peering out over the grand clocktower spire of Melbourne Town Hall.

Restaurants and bars 

In addition to the Lobby Lounge, a cluster of eggplant-coloured lounges under a central, sweeping staircase where cocktails are swiftly prepared, the hotel also has Allegro restaurant. Popular with a pre-theatre crowd (the historic Regent Theatre resides next door), Allegro offers a number of welcome surprises that delightfully deviate from the average hotel restaurant menu. 

Mains span sustainably sourced dory with chorizo and chickpea ragú to free-range chicken with yuzu koshu and leek cream, all presented with an impressive precision.

There’s also room service for more relaxed evenings, with the beloved burgers, fries and sticky toffee pudding classics. 

Travel for work

The generous in-room work spaces and free wifi lend themselves well to business travellers who need more than just a makeshift setup at a corner table. There are also plenty of flexible meeting rooms and event spaces — a total of 756 square metres, to be exact — from formal ballrooms to more relaxed boardroom areas. 

Gym and pool

Melbourne winters are no match for the hotel’s heated indoor pool, warmed to a delicious 28-30º0C on level P1 — a delight for a chilly Melbourne snap. There’s also a fitness centre on the same level.

Sustainability

Thanks to specific in-room fixtures such as premium yet water-efficient showerheads and carbon monitoring, The Westin Melbourne has successfully been able to reduce its carbon emissions, gas and water usage.  

Accessibility   

There are several accessible rooms for travellers with disabilities, as well as features such as widened and automatic doors and lowered sinks.

What you need to know

Allegro hosts a decadent high tea for sweet tooths, often themed in tandem with Regent Theatre’s performances. At the time of writing, a decidedly green Wicked high tea was on offer, with Oz-inspired treats such as Emerald City Lime and Coconut Delight.