The Westin Melbourne

In the popular imagination Melbourne is the arty, slightly scruffy one and Sydney is the shiny, beautiful one. But as with any stereotype, there are plenty of exceptions — the Westin Melbourne comes to mind. You couldn’t accuse this place of being anything other than grand, from the swooping central staircase to the bedroom windows that take in front-row views of City Square.

There’s more than a small echo of Twenties Art Deco, but it’s not a nostalgia trip. The Westin is as much contemporary as it is retro — some of the references are consciously historical, but the prevailing style is a chic, pared-down, modern one. Then again the visual impression only lasts so long before the other senses take over. Rooms contain Westin’s trademarked Heavenly Beds, as well as oversized bathrooms with tubs.

Leisure facilities are state-of-the-art, including a well-equipped fitness center and a full-service spa. The Allegro restaurant serves Mediterranean-influenced fare and the Martini Bar joins a small circuit of upscale Melbourne haunts. Business facilities, naturally, are as extensive as you could ask for, and the Westin is well positioned for leisure as well — many of the city’s top cultural and commercial destinations are close at hand, as is Flinders Street Station, offering access by rail to just about everything else.