Melbourne visitors in search of an edgy, playful place to stay in the city’s center should consider a few nights at Adelphi Hotel. The 34-room boutique property is located right on Flinders Lane, one of the down-under metropolis’ hipper neighborhoods, surrounded by bustling pedestrian alleys best known to locals as “laneways.”
“Melbourne is known for its hidden gems,” said Katie Batzias, director of sales and marketing for the hotel. “The more laneway off laneway turns you have to make, the better, and we are in the heart of that.”
Housed in a former soft-goods warehouse built back in 1938, Adelphi is a multistory property tucked snugly in a line of taller high-rises. Batzias describes the property’s design as “dessert-inspired” and notes that the hotel underwent an extensive refurbishment two years ago, creating a stylish, elegant feel punctuated with splashes of color.
“We often receive the comment that our rooms feel like a New York loft apartment, and all the pieces and furniture within the rooms have been commissioned specifically for the hotel,” Batzias said. “A unique aspect to a stay in an Adelphi room is that you receive a complimentary minibar of nonalcoholic beverages and snacks replenished daily.”
Some of the guestrooms’ custom furniture includes distinctive, wooden tripod “Lucy” lamps; modern, comfy couches featuring a range of colored throws; and Adelphi’s trademarked “marshmallow” beds, which recently received the highest comfort rating in Australia, according to Batzias. Guests can also take advantage of free Wi-Fi access, flat-screen LCD televisions, and a wide selection of free, in-room movies.
Adelphi is also home to a rooftop outdoor deck and pool — which hangs over the building’s edge, allowing swimmers to look down at pedestrians below — and the tasty Om Nom restaurant, a name inspired by the sound of Cookie Monster enjoying his favorite food. Other top-notch dining options are only a few minutes away, including the often-packed Cumulus Inc. and the Southeast Asian restaurant Chin Chin. Both eateries had long lines for dinner during my recent stay, so I opted to try them late in the afternoon and wasn’t disappointed.
Art fans will also enjoy nearby Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane, both legendary locations for Melbourne’s rich street art and graffiti. Each is just a few minutes’ walk from Adelphi.
“Melbourne’s famous food and restaurant scene is on your doorstep,” Batzias said. “Street art and galleries surround Adelphi, and coffee, shopping, music venues and theaters are all around. Federation Square, the National Gallery and the Arts Centre are all a very short walk away.”
Adelphi room rates start at around $190 per night, and the property features a collection of comfy king and twin rooms, beginning at about 375 square feet. Suite categories range in size from 430 square feet to more than 1075 square feet for the property’s high-end Palatial Suite, which starts around $675 per night.
The Details
Adelphi Hotel
www.adelphi.com.au
Chin Chin
www.chinchinrestaurant.com.au
Cumulus Inc.
www.cumulusinc.com.au
Visit Melbourne
www.visitmelbourne.com
