W Melbourne has officially opened in the heart of the city’s eclectic dining and edgy fashion district. Upon arrival, Victorian bluestone tiles connect the Living Room to the laneway, where the Welcome Desk stands. A vast lenticular art installation by local artist Rus Kitchin immerses viewers into a canopy of Australian flora and fauna above the famed Hosier Lane.
The hotel has 294 guestrooms and 29 suites, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and skyline views. The hotel’s Wonderful-, Fabulous- and Mega-category rooms are inspired by the street-level newspaper kiosks that date to the 1960s, while the Marvelous rooms have a vibrant wall graphic of a fairy wren, a bird native to Australia. (This graphic also pays homage to the city’s roots as a fashion hub, with Flinders Lane at the center of its textile trade.) The 1,900-square-foot Extreme Wow Suite is on the hotel’s highest floor (Level 15) and its complete with a large balcony with views of the Yarra River and a music station (think: a fresh take on a jukebox).
As for dining, all-day dining restaurant Lollo, under the culinary creative direction of chef Adam D’Sylva, offers a menu that’s designed to be shared. At the center of the action is cocktail bar Curious. The bar welcomes guests into a cocoon-inspired space with low lighting and muted color palettes. Signature Japanese restaurant WARABI focuses on fresh seasonal produce with seating for only 30 diners and a private dining room for 10. Culprit channels Melbourne’s café culture into a bar concept with a floor-to-ceiling charcuterie display and a Vermouth tasting tray.
There is also an “ultramodern” FIT and WET Deck (expect a gold-roofed indoor pool) on Level 14; guests will be able to sign up for signature W “Detox.Retox.Repeat” wellness programming. A poolside bar and DJ booth complete the scene.
There is also 8,900 square feet of modern conference, meeting and event space. The Great Room is a 4,6-00-square-foot pillar-less ballroom with natural light and a 43 foot-by-54 foot LED wall.
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