Dorsett Melbourne – Hotel Review
There are plenty of nods to the past at the chic, 4.5-star Dorsett Melbourne, from the retro, powder blue taxi parked at the entrance to the old-school pinball machines in the foyer. The hotel’s notable mod cons bring it squarely into the now: there’s a heated, indoor pool, a state-of-the-art gym and a gilded wine bar, a dazzling tribute to the state’s gold rush heritage. Read on for the full review.
Where is Dorsett Melbourne?
A 10-minute walk from Southern Cross Train Station, Dorsett Melbourne is located at the southern end of the city on Little Lonsdale with easy access to Docklands and Southbank. It’s under half an hour from Melbourne airport and, conveniently, the SkyBus will drop you right at Southern Cross.
What’s near Dorsett Melbourne?
It’s just a short (and free) tram ride to the centre of Melbourne for shopping at the Emporium or dinner in Chinatown. Brunch fiends will love the fact that Melbourne hotspot Higher Ground – and its cult-status blueberry and ricotta hotcakes – is just around the corner.
Rooms
Across the 316 modern rooms and suites are nine different room types, including accessible rooms with valet parking and an accessible car space. Executive rooms and suites offer access to the Club Lounge which features a continental breakfast, tea and coffee during the day and pre-dinner drinks. And if you can’t bear to leave your pooch behind, there are pet-friendly rooms, too.
Restaurants and bars
Little Jin Coffee, a street-side window serviced by a barista and pastries from Richmond’s Penny for Pound in the morning ( bring your Keep Cup for a 50-cent discount) is the place for a morning hit, while Port Bistro is the spot for an extensive buffet breakfast. Jin, which means gold in Mandarin, is the hotel’s gold-hued wine bar and spotlights local wines and craft beer. Peckish? The menu features a charcuterie and cheese board, Angus beef burgers and hearty pastas.
Travel for work
Expect the usual high-speed wi-fi and desks in rooms. If you need more space, there are three meeting rooms (which can be reconfigured for large conference spaces) and a private dining room on level one.
Pool, gym and spa
An indoor pool that’s heated year-round to combat Melbourne’s chill? Yes, please. There’s also a spacious and well-equipped gym featuring Technogym machines, a wellness room for mediation and a sauna and steam room.
What you need to know
All of the art within the hotel is by local artists, from Luke David’s moment-in-time photography of Melbourne to Marta Figueiredo’s dramatic and oversized floral sculpture that lights up the hotel’s inner atrium.
