Hilton have by far expanded their footprint over here in Melbourne. When I was here a decade ago, there were no Hilton hotels at all. I was first considering the Curio before deciding on the Hilton. The pricing is more or less the same, but the Hilton comes with an executive lounge, which will be handy. I have also been wanting to check out this property. It is literally the best Hilton property in Melbourne. The location is very central and good. You are right smack in the middle of the CBD with a tram stop right outside the hotel. This gets you easy access within the free tram zone. Let’s see how this is!
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
I will be staying here for 3 nights and got the base-level guest room. Before my check-in, I got an automated upgrade to their Junior Suite a couple of days out from my stay. This is a great upgrade and a lovely one. This is awesome elite treatment from them and a very nice gesture. The Junior Suite would have cost around 700 AUD per night if booked directly. Looks like I will end my Australia trip with a bang. The Hilton Melbourne Little Queen St features 244 features 206 guest rooms spread across 10 categories. You can find the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Executive Lounge Access | Bathtub | Room Size | No. of Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guest | No | No | 25 – 27 Sqm | 60 |
| Superior | No | No | 27 – 31 Sqm | 57 |
| Deluxe with View | No | No | 25 – 27 Sqm | 43 |
| Heritage Bourke St View | No | No | 28 – 29 Sqm | 13 |
| Executive | Yes | No | 27 – 31 Sqm | 15 |
| Studio Suite | Yes | Yes | 36 Sqm | 5 |
| Family | No | No | – | 13 |
| Junior Suite | Yes | Yes | 43 – 44 Sqm | 3 |
| Premium Suite | Yes | Yes | 55 Sqm | 1 |
| Master Suite | Yes | Yes | 58 Sqm | 1 |
Checking In
I got into Melbourne Airport at around noon after a flight from Hobart. We hopped on an Uber and got to the hotel at around 1pm or so. The main entrance of the hotel is on a side street or so. Upon arrival, the bellboy came over to help us with our bags and usher us over to the check-in desk. The lobby area is boutique-style and very chic. I love the look of the entire place. It looks very new and well-maintained.
I was warmly welcomed by a friendly lady who provided us with all the information. The hotel is 3 years old but not showing its age. I love the heritage aspect. I was reconfirmed to be in their Junior Suite, which is assigned to be in the heritage wing, and it is also ready right now. I was offered a late check-out at 4pm. The lady was an absolute gem and even showed me around the hotel and how to get to the executive lounge. There are two sets of elevators. One in the main building and another in the heritage wing. The latter is a classic one that is retrofitted.
They also have another entrance on the main road, which is better for pedestrian entrance as well as direct access to the restaurants and the trams. The hotel’s public places look so luxurious with a classical touch.
Junior Suite
I was assigned a junior suite on the third floor. This is the entry-level suite. Most of the suites over here are located on the lower floors, given that they are in the heritage building. I got assigned suite 320, to be exact. It is accessible from both sets of elevators. It is very easy to access the executive lounge. The junior suite over here measures a lovely 44 Sqm. It is located in the corner and comes with an L-shaped entrance. It is such a cosy space, and with the layout it feels like a full One one-bedroom suite.
Straight ahead, you can find the bathroom near the entrance. This is one of the loveliest spots in the entire suite. It is super spacious and comfortable. I really love the look of the entire place with the cream finishing and bronze taps. It goes so well with the marble and all. How pretty this is! All sorts of amenities and toiletries are provided. Surprisingly, the toiletries are from Hunter Labs rather than the usual Hilton brand.
The bathrooms come with both a standing shower and a freestanding bathtub. The water pressure and temperature are excellent. It comes in a fully enclosed shower room with both a handheld shower head and a rainshower. The bathroom also comes with some view of the surrounding streets, with privacy screens available for those who prefer much more privacy.
The living room is in a regular layout. Immediately ahead by the wall, you can find a round-shaped table as well as two chairs. This is more or less the working space as well as the dining table in the suite. There are power plugs located within reach. The Wi-Fi works very well, too. Left on the table was also a personalised welcome note from the hotel, as well as a bottle of wine which they had left for us as a welcome amenity. I appreciate it.
The living area comes with a cosy sitting area consisting of a sofa set, which could sit 3 to 4 people comfortably, surrounding a coffee table.
Mounted on the wall over here is a large, high-quality smart screen television that supports Chromecast. This will be a nice setup to watch content from your devices and mobile devices. It is perfect for a movie night and gatherings.
In the corner over here, you can find the mini bar area, which comes with a proper coffee machine as well as a kettle. Capsules and packaged tea are provided. There is also a mini fridge that is left empty for your use below.
There isn’t much of a view from the living room or the suite, given that we are only on the third floor. It simply faces the surrounding buildings and the streets. The sheers over here are electronically controlled, but the blinds are done manually. Heading on to the bedroom area, there isn’t a physical barrier between the two spaces. The bedroom area is actually pretty private, given the design and layout. It felt smaller than the living room, but still a great space. Similarly mounted on the wall, you can find a large, high-quality TV. It seems to be a replica of the one in the living room.
In the corner, you can find another side table and an armchair. The seating is endless in this suite.
On the side, you can find a nice space consisting of a wardrobe and a luggage storage area, nicely incorporated. It is well stocked with everything. The space can also fit a medium-sized suitcase well. Additional portable racks are available upon request, too. They have lots of amenities.
The centrepiece got to be the plush king-size bed. I love the sheets and comfy mattress. I got some contour pillows that were firmer and slept super well. I love that the mattress is on the firmer side. Flanking both sides of the bed are nightstands with controls for the lighting, power outlets and even an alarm clock.
This suite fits my requirements, and I enjoyed my stay here. It will be perfect for a stay of any length. You will be comfortable here.
Fitness Centre
The gym is located on the first floor and it is open 24 hours a day. The space is very nice and bright, which makes it welcoming. The place is accessible with your key cards. It is slightly on the smaller side but well-maintained. I love the look of the place. You can find an assortment of gym equipment consisting of treadmills, exercise balls, yoga mats, lifting stations, and bikes. Drinking water and towels are provided
Executive Lounge
The executive lounge is also known as the Queen Adelaide Lounge. I am certainly digging the little heritage and culture that comes with it. The lounge is open from 6.30am to 8pm daily, and they offer a sunset drinks service from 5pm to 7pm, which offers alcoholic drinks. The lounge is located on the mezzanine level of the heritage wing. This is also where my suite was, which makes it very simple and fuss-free. The lounge is super gorgeous and cosy. It is not an overly huge place. It comes with seating for around 30 pax or so. I love the homely vibes with views of the surroundings. It will be a nice change of scenery from your room if you want to get some work done. Here are some pictures of the lounge.
Throughout the day, there will be all-day drinks and some snacks. Given the central location, it will be nice to pop by and rest your legs. You can also enjoy the soft drinks, fresh juices, tea and coffee.
On the first day of my stay, they had a private event in the lounge, and as such, we were shifted to the restaurant. It was quite quiet. Drinks-wise consists of some spirits with mixers, red wines, sparkling wines and white wines. I enjoyed their chardonnay. The staff service is impeccable and constantly offers refills.
Food-wise, you can find some cakes, fresh fruits, cold cuts, cheese and salads. There are also two options for hot food. Overall, it is not a very big spread, but everything tasted pretty delicious. I am glad to see that the selections change day to day.
It is certainly not a full dinner replacement. I did enjoy knocking back some drinks and then heading out for dinner. The lounge comes with power outlets throughout. It is very convenient for working and lounging. You can also pop by while sightseeing in the city. Top notch on this aspect.
Breakfast at Luci
Breakfast is served at the hotel restaurant on the ground floor. It is such a gorgeous restaurant. I love looking at it from the floor above. What a classic. Breakfast is served from 6.30am to 10.30am on weekdays. On Sat, Sun and Holidays, it is offered from 7am to 11am. I appreciate the extension on weekends. As per the usual practice in Australia and New Zealand, only the continental breakfast is offered to elite members. For the full hot buffet, it is a 10 AUD upgrade per person per day. Barista-made coffee is also available with an upcharge. This reflects the prices that they charge for continental at 32 AUD and 42 AUD for the full breakfast.
We were shown around the buffet since it was our first time here. The staff gave an introduction of what is included as part of the continental and what is extra for the hot buffet. Let me first share what is included in the continental breakfast. You have a selection of pastries baked, salads, cold cuts, cheese, fruits, juices and filtered coffee. I tried some of their pastries, the almond croissants were absolutely delicious and not much different from bakeries outside in Australia.
Onwards, the hot food items require an upcharge. This includes the egg stations, bacon, sausages, tomatoes and scrambled eggs. It is actually not a lot more.
We simply went for the continental, which was sufficient to kick-start our day. We would then have a brunch out at one of the numerous cafes in Melbourne. I figure that this is more worth it. Melbourne is one of the cities that is famous for their breakfast and coffee. This way, I still have some capacity for it.
Conclusion
What an amazing hotel. I really enjoyed my time over here. Everything is great from the front desk to the restaurant and the executive lounge. I have no regrets choosing this place to stay. I am glad to have made the right decision. The hotel also upgraded me to a very nice junior suite, and I appreciate the elite treatment. Everything is close to perfect. The junior suite is excellent and one of the better room types over here. It even felt like a one bedroom suite. They only have a limited amount of them. This is definitely the best property in Melbourne. I will have no qualms coming back here for another stay next time.
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