At QT hotel it’s all about the dark velvets and beautiful views. The lighting is low, the windows are big, the room service is delish and the rooftop is one of a kind. They have a bar and grill that serves up an extensive list of French wines, a Japanese knife shop (just in case you feel an impulse to learn omakase), and a cake shop, with a cake for every occasion and fantastic coffee. Staying at QT is an experience for all the senses.

Napier Quarter—yes the cute little wine bar/restaurant/cafe on Napier Street—has a guest house upstairs. Couples and singles are invited to stay for two or more nights, in the upstairs of this beautiful bluestone building, that continually smells like Aesop and fresh bread. It’s in a dreamy location, with an even dreamier destination underneath. It’s the perfect place for a little couples retreat, a staycation, or for a short visit to Melbourne.

You get a warm biscuit on arrival at DoubleTree. If that isn’t enough incentive, it’s located in between Fed Square and Degraves Street—so you’ll never miss a thing going on in the CBD. It’s understated, classy, and minimal, with a fantastic breakfast offering and great facilities.

The Langham is old-school luxury at its finest. It’s complete with themed rooms and colour palettes to match, almost every space looks out onto the Melbourne skyline and looks especially magical in the evening. One of the best features of The Langham is its day spa; a lavish underground sanctuary decked out with pale stone columns, a star-dappled sky ceiling, and a 20-metre heated pool. And of course every holistic therapy under the sun; treating the mind and the body.

Hotel Windsor is home to one of the most sought-after high teas to exist in Melbourne. As a hotel, it’s one of Australia’s most grand hotels, pre-dating The Savoy, The Plaza, and The Ritz. It has hosted Prince Charles, for goodness sakes. Located across the road from Parliament house and next to the Princess Theatre, Hotel Windsor’s building is striking, timeless, and of course heritage.

The Chen Melbourne is simple and modern, with touches of hot pink and dark blue everywhere—which somehow works. It’s located in Box Hill and features many works by Chinese-born Australian artist Zhong Chen. The Chen Melbourne is part of the Art Series hotels, a series of hotels that are dedicated to Australian contemporary artists, promoting a particular artist with each hotel design.

The Prince Hotel has been newly refurbished and screams party, fun, and carefree energy. With youthful modern design touches and a clear European influence, The Prince is inclusive, with the slogan “open to everyone and everything”. It’s a St Kilda icon, having been a part of the landscape since the 1800s and living many lives. It was once a Soldier’s Club, before becoming a well-known ballroom and live music spot.

Notel is not a hotel. The venue is home to six Airstreams that were found in the US, completely gutted, sent on a boat to Geelong, and have somehow ended up on a rooftop on Flinders Lane. It’s very Melbourne. It’s about getting out of your comfort zone, it’s about exploration, it’s about doing things differently—it’s also about finding your way in.

United Places is a hidden gem overlooking the Botanic Gardens. They offer serviced apartments that can be booked out for short, medium, or long-term stays, perfect for a staycation (what we all need right now tbh). The decor is minimalist, tonal, and very design-focused. They use Le Labo products in their bathrooms, which is honestly such a huge selling point for us.

The Coppersmith Hotel is in South Melbourne and is a rustic retreat of intimacy and privacy. Located on the corner of Clarendon Street and Thomson Street in a beautifully refurbished pub building, Coppersmith is an urban oasis, designed to make you feel like a local. It has an in-house bistro, bar and rooftop, while also being in a total hub of produce, with the South Melbourne markets just a short stroll away. It only has 15 rooms, which is kinda perfect if you want luxury on a smaller scale.

The Lancemore Mansion Hotel literally looks like Downton Abbey. Who knew that such sprawling lawns and perfectly trimmed hedges existed in the form of a mansion hotel here in Melbourne? Located in Werribee Park, it’s just 30-minutes from Melbourne CBD, but you genuinely feel like you’re living in an alternate universe. With junior suites, superior suites, and heritage suites to choose from, the world is your oyster.