Melbourne’s trendy inner north is arguably one of the city’s main drawcards, but there’s something special about strolling the banks of the Yarra River as the city wakes up to the day. Walking over the bridges that criss-cross the river as Melburnians scurry to work is a very “global city” experience, and from Vibe Hotel Melbourne, you’ll be doing just that in a matter of minutes. Rather watch the city unfold from your bed in the sky? No problem.
Why stay at Vibe Hotel Melbourne?
The location, right on the banks of the Yarra in the heart of the city’s CBD, is the main reason you want to book a stay here. From my room on the 21st floor, the city stretched out in front of me for miles through floor-to-ceiling windows: glass towers reaching into the sky, train lines zipping people across the city, the sea cut deep blue into the horizon to the east, and the mountains beneath a hazy cloud to the west beyond the 'burbs.
With reticulated glass walls stretching into the sky for 24 floors, the building itself is an urban architectural masterpiece, and the abundant natural light is very welcome in a city that’s so often shaded by nearby towers.
Home to Flinders Street’s highest bar, as well as a reliable all-day eatery, a gym, an indoor pool and three light-flooded conference rooms, this hotel is an urban staycation all-rounder.
What are the rooms like at Vibe Hotel Melbourne?
Spread across 22 floors, the 201 rooms at Vibe Hotel Melbourne range in size from the most affordable Urban Rooms (on floors two-six) to Deluxe King Suites, dotted throughout the hotel. Travelling with family? Interconnecting rooms can be booked on request.
The comfy, clean, climate-controlled rooms come equipped with everything you’ll need for a few nights of CBD staycation: a well-stocked mini bar (complete with Curatif Espresso Martinis if you’re getting ready to hit the town), Dyson hairdryers, and large bathrooms with O&M toiletries and a good supply of fluffy towels.
And while there’s nothing over the top on the design front, the interiors are tastefully simple, with muted palettes, natural fibres and framed photographs of natural spaces curated to draw attention to the world outside your window.
Which are the best restaurants at Vibe Hotel Melbourne?
High in the sky on the 22nd floor, you’ll find Fleet Rooftop Bar, the jewel in Vibe Melbourne’s crown. The glass-walled space is the ultimate sunset destination, with far-reaching views across the river and the city beyond. With a space so striking, Fleet could get away with serving standard pub grub, but the drinks and snacks here are as exceptional as the setting. I ordered a Martini, and it was poured tableside from the ice-stacked Martini trolley – no notes. The menu, carefully crafted by executive chef Ajosh Abraham Thomas, heroes local Aussie ingredients and Asian-inspired flavours. Top picks include half-shell seared scallops drizzled with nduja butter and lemon labneh; freshly shucked oysters with finger lime mignonette; and pan-roasted John Dory doused in yuzu garlic butter and topped with a tiara of salmon roe.
The drinks menu is a similarly creative take on the classics, with three different Negronis to choose from and a signature cocktail menu dominated by seductive autumnal flavours.
Not ready for cocktails just yet? Head to One Queen, the hotel’s all-day dining destination serving breakfast and a small but perfectly formed lunch and dinner menu. The hotel’s buffet brekkie is served here until 10am daily (10.30am on weekends), and an exceptionally affordable happy hour ($8 beers, wines and spirits) runs from 5-6pm Mondays through Saturdays. One Queen is open for dinner Mondays through Saturdays, and it’s a great option for a quick, reliably good meal in the CBD. That being said, if you only have one night at Vibe, we’d suggest spending it on level 22 – at 68 metres above sea level, Fleet is an incredibly special spot to spend an evening.
What is the service like at Vibe Hotel Melbourne?
Throughout my stay, the service was warm and friendly – special mention goes to the team at Fleet.
Is there a gym or pool at Vibe Hotel Melbourne?
On the first floor, you’ll find a well-equipped gym with a good selection of machines and weights, as well as a medium-sized heated swimming pool. Though it lacks the skyline views boasted by some of the city’s more expensive hotel pools, the Vibe’s aquatic oasis has its own charm: the back wall is lined with ferns and leaves that bring nature into the city’s urban heartland, and the other side of the pool is framed by tables and cushioned chairs
What’s the area like around Vibe Hotel Melbourne?
The hotel is right in the centre of the CBD, with Melbourne’s buzzy laneways within a few minutes’ walk. As with most CBDs, this isn’t necessarily the most soulful corner of the city, but if you’re travelling for business, to catch a footy match or to immerse yourself in Melbourne’s world-class art scene, this is an excellent base. From the hotel, the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is just a ten-minute walk, popular concert venue Hamer Hall is an 11-minute walk, and the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is just under 15 minutes on foot (or a ten-minute tram ride).
Why should you book a stay at Vibe Hotel Melbourne?
The Vibe Melbourne is an affordable CBD hotel with the kinds of luxuries often reserved for more expensive stays, a reliably excellent standard of service and one of the best golden hour destinations in the city.
Address: 1 Queen Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000.
Price per night: From $139 per night.
Closest transport link: The Flinders Street/Market Street tram stop is a one-minute walk from the hotel.
Book now: Over here.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.