Widely acclaimed luxury lifestyle hotel brand, W Hotels, is set to finally open doors to their ambitious new Melbourne property in February. A long time in the making, W Melbourne represents a triumphant expansion for the eccentric global chain, which returned to Australia after many years of absence when it opened W Brisbane in 2018.
Full details have now been locked in for the 294-room hotel, forming part of the $1.25 billion Collins Arch precinct and described as a statement of “rebellious luxury” for parent company Marriott International.
That brief seems to have been spread generously across the hotel’s many amenities, which include four restaurants and bars, a tightly curated wellness program, fitness facility, and a 14th floor indoor pool treated with gold accents alongside a pool bar and DJ booth. Roughly 830sqm worth of conference, meeting and event spaces will round up the offering, led by a 426sqm pillarless ballroom bathed in natural light with a 4x5m LED wall.
A patchwork of the city’s history and culture has been worked into the narrative design of W Melbourne, which from photos looks as varied as anything W Hotels have done before. The Curious Bar, for example, features spiralling timber beams set in a parametric sequence, where the order of the hour appears to be a Ristretto-inspired martini sealed with beeswax and buzzing with nutmeg smoke.
Day-to-night eatery Lollo will be the signature dining offering for W Melbourne, led by Executive Chef Adam D’Sylva (best known for his work at Coda and Tonka). Hotel executive Chef Jihun Kim has worked closely with Sylva to bring “unexpected” angles to classic Australian produce.
Japanese restaurant Warabi, with just enough space for 30 diners at a time and a healthy listing of sake, whisky and beer, serves as the hotel’s more private dining experience, while Culprit, a hybrid cafe, wine bar and deli, rounds out the hospitality program.
Lolla and Curious will open with the hotel on February 4th, while Warabi and Culprit arrive in May.
Those looking for the the hotel’s most extravagant suite will be pleased to learn about the 175sqm 15th floor “Extreme WOW” penthouse, which will feature a vintage jukebox, private bar, and a 40sqm balcony overlooking the Yarra. Below that will be the “WOW Suites” ranging from 105-127sqm, and other categories bottoming out with the entry-level 35sqm ‘Cozy’ King room.
W Melbourne will open at 408 Flinders Lane on 4th February 2021.
