Aiming to “bring the golden age of hospitality back to the city,” the newly reopened The Royce Melbourne aims to be one of the city’s most coveted boutique hotels thanks to a swift refresh as part of a two-year-long redevelopment project. Built on the original site of Rolls Royce in Melbourne, the former prestige showroom turned 94-room hotel is promising more than a few pops of opulence as it seeks to align with the building’s illustrious history.
The heritage-listed building, located on the border of Melbourne CBD and South Yarra, was originally designed in 1928 by Art Deco architect Harry Norris in partnership with the leading agent for prestige cars at the time, Kellow Falkiner. And it’s their work that informs the new iteration of The Royce Melbourne, which now has an illuminated porte-cochère to channel a bit of 1920s glamour for guests amongst other new features.
18 spacious suites, many of which have their own balconies, comprise the higher-end offerings at The Royce Melbourne. Six of those are two-storey loft suites, all of which feature original details that were once home to the original Rolls Royce mechanic workshop. In each room, guests will find soft leather upholstery and a raft of responsive technology to help automate the accommodations. Italian Carrera marble bathrooms with Molton Brown amenities feature throughout all 94 rooms, while some of the suites also add a freestanding bathtub.
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Given a lot of hotels in Melbourne can be quite dated inside, The Royce’s refresh sounds like its a significant play for the luxury market, with plush furnishings in hues of navy blue and royal purple greeting guests in the lobby lounge, next to a 14-metre tall curved marble fireplace, a 9-metre-long Showroom Bar and a sweeping marble staircase which leads up to the balcony and The Royce’s spread of event spaces.
Also on the second floor is The Library, designed for a nice little Champagne session or a classic cocktail framed by floor-to-ceiling Zebrano timber bookshelves, mirroring the bespoke clubs of London.
Other amenities at The Royce Melbourne include a breezy restaurant with timber parquetry floors and a terrace for alfreso dining. There is no fitness centre, spa or swimming pool to speak of, but the all-class interior should easily prop this newly refurbished property up as one of the best hotels in Melbourne.
The Royce Melbourne
Address: 379 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC
Contact: (03) 8614 1414
Rates at The Royce Melbourne start from $420 per night.
