First impressions: Coming up the elevator from the laneway entrance, the Holiday Inn’s bright, spacious and sleek lobby is an oasis of calm and a marked contrast to the stream of shoppers who throng through the central city. There’s plenty of room to lounge and relax if you’re early for your 3pm check-in.
There are vibrant pops of colour within the otherwise more minimalist aesthetic.
The room: The perfect mix of function and form. Our King Premium room had everything we needed for our two-night stay, but didn’t go overboard with frippery or ostentation. Its Scandi-style pale wood fixtures and detail were punctuated with a bright green two-seat sofa and pink light fittings – vibrant pops of colour within the otherwise more minimalist aesthetic. The 32sq m room boasted a comfortable king-sized bed, views down to Bourke Street Mall and a smart television. Despite the busyness of the surrounding area, we enjoyed a quiet night’s sleep up on the eighth floor.
Bathroom: A capacious bathroom, well-finished with calm green-blue tiles and a walk-in shower. In keeping with the rest of the suite, it was amply stocked with essential toiletries (a local brand of shampoo, conditioner and soap) but didn’t pile on needless frills and dispensed with vanity kits, disposable toothbrushes or single-use cosmetics.
The bathrooms at Holiday Inn Bourke Street Mall are a generous size.
Facilities: Holiday Inn has a perfectly functional gym and fast, free WiFi, both in the rooms and in the common areas. Parking is available off-site for a fee, but you’re better leaving the car at home or in the rental yard, given what’s in walking distance and the public transport that’s available nearby.
Food and drink: Breakfast at The Greenery, the hotel’s in-house restaurant, is a gluttonous buffet with something for everyone. The scrambled eggs, batch-cooked bacon, and hash browns are unlikely to turn the head of a Michelin inspector but are the perfect fuel for a day out, whether you’re visiting landmarks, maxing out the credit card at nearby shops, or starting how you mean to go and grazing your way around Melbourne’s eateries. The Greenery’s lunch and dinner menu is classic bistro fare. We opted for the charcuterie and cheese board (NZ$48) and followed up by sharing fries and 250g of aged sirloin doused in French butter with a side of salad (NZ$55). A similar steak frites combination – along with much of the restaurant’s grub – is also available on room service. The Greenery’s menu might appear simple, but it’s classic food done well. The same is true of its cocktail, wine and beer list – like on a greatest hits CD compilation, you’ll definitely find something to suit your taste.
The charcuterie and cheese board at The Greenery.
In the neighbourhood: Whether it’s Melbourne’s iconic lanes that ignite your imagination, or its cornucopia of local boutiques, high-end jewellery stores and international luxury retailers, you’ll find them all within walking distance. Several department stores, including David Jones, Myer and H+M, are also only minutes away. So, too, is the historic Royal Arcade, a 155-year-old light-filled galleria of the type you’d expect to find on the right bank of the Seine. The oldest of its kind still standing in Melbourne, Royal Arcade is a key stop on any heritage tour of the city.
Inside the historic Royal Arcade in central Melbourne.
Sustainability: It’s a single-use plastic-free hotel.
Accessibility: The hotel has wheelchair-accessible lifts, rooms and bathrooms, with the option for amenities such as showers with built-in transfer seats, safety bars and toilets with grab bars.
Options from the breakfast buffet at The Greenery.
Price: Booking three months out, our room class – King Premium City View – was quoted at NZ$548 with breakfast included.
Contact:
For more information, email Res.MELBS@IHG.com or visit ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/melbourne/melbs/hoteldetail.
The New Zealand Herald travelled and stayed courtesy of IHG.