Why stay here?
Crown Towers Melbourne is located in the heart of the Melbourne CBD overlooking the Yarra River. The five-star hotel is within walking distance to Flinders Street Station and popular tourist spots like the National Gallery of Victoria, Federation Square and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). In 2015, Crown Towers was voted Best Australian Hotel in Luxury Travel magazine’s annual Gold List awards; a well-deserved title considering the lavish resort facilities, grand architecture and delightful staff.
Rise and shine breakfast time
Guests staying in the Premier Suite have access to the Crystal Club Lounge where complimentary breakfast is served each morning. A sophisticated buffet features smoked salmon, miniature jars of rhubarb and orange bircher muesli, platters of fresh fruit, fresh pastries and croissants, and selection of hot food. I ordered an eggwhite omelette with baby spinach and local mushrooms from the à la carte menu and our waiter brought us freshly squeezed orange juice.
What’s for dinner?
Crown Towers definitely isn’t short of fine-dining options. The hotel offers 24-hour room service and also houses some of Australia’s top restaurants. There’s Dinner by Heston Blumenthal with award-winning chef Ashley Palmer-Watts, fine-dining, modern Chinese restaurant Silks; the world-renowned Nobu for new-style Japanese; and the hatted Bistro Guillaume for French classics. The Waiting Room, the hotel’s luxurious lobby bar, is the perfect place for classic cocktails and small plates.
Time out
The Crown Spa was the perfect place to spend an overcast Melbourne Sunday. Located on the third floor, guests can select from a variety of massage, facial or salon treatments. We spent the day lounging in a cabana by the 25-metre indoor pool and relaxing in the Aqua Retreat which features a hammam steam room and vitality pool.
Wow factor
The sheer grandeur of the hotel blew me away; high ceilings, marble and stone colonnades, magnificent chandeliers and gorgeously plush furnishings combine to create true indulgence. Much to the credit of the attentive staff, it’s a luxury hotel you can relax in.
I would like an upgrade
At 174 square metres, the Tower Suite contains two large bedrooms, two bathrooms and a separate lounge and dining area. Even more luxurious are The Villas, located on the 30th and 31st floors. Measuring 130 square metres, the deluxe one-bedroom villas offer guests a penthouse experience.