Best for design aficionados
Opened in the landmark Collins Arch development in February, W Melbourne is an extravagant expression of à la mode Melbourne, from the cocoon-like subterranean cocktail bar Curious (accessed via a hidden laneway door) to the 14th-floor swimming pool with its own bar and DJ deck beneath a reflective gold ceiling. The lobby makes a grand statement with large-scale artwork riffing on Melbourne’s iconic graffiti and Australian flora, while rooms proudly display objects d’art (a Ned Kelly helmet reimagined as a faux-fur-lined leather fascinator, anyone?).