48 Hours in Melbourne’s East
Discover a new stay in a historic corner of the Victorian capital.
The hotel
What does Prince have to do with Le Méridien Melbourne? It’s all part of the history of the hotel’s host building, a Deco-fronted beauty near Parliament House that dates back to the 1850s. The theatrics of the 235-room property’s past, which spans a hotel, nightclub and the Palace Theatre – where The Artist Formerly Known As performed in 2003 – purposefully peep through the sleek refurb, which features a cinema-themed café and wine bar and moody eatery Dolly (a nod to the camera shot, not the megastar). An 18-metre rooftop pool, stunning city views and graphic art installations by Stephen Baker bring it all into the now.
The coffee
Folded into an arcade between Ridgway Place and Collins Street, boxy little St. Ali Canteen offers the reliably exceptional locally roasted brews Melburnites have been sipping since 2005.
The restaurant
Your nan’s crockery and an oenophile pal’s plonk – that’s the vibe at Myrtle Wine Bar. The Aussie-only wine list is foolproof and the food is delightfully homey – if your mum knows her way around a warrigal green gribiche, that is.
The bookstore
Fall down the literary rabbit hole at Paperback Bookshop, a bibliophile’s paradise. Ask the staff for recommendations – their knowledge is encyclopaedic.
