Hotel Indigo Melbourne review: Boutique luxury in the city’s heart

The sculptural spiral staircase at Hotel Indigo demands attention when you enter the lobby.

There’s typically one in every family. The sibling who is good looking, intelligent, charming and casts a shadow over any who try to follow. Hotel Indigo is that sibling. Despite the best efforts of the Holiday Inn next door (both are owned by the same international chain), it simply can’t compete with the class and elegance of its neighbour.

Hotel Indigo’s approach is to anchor each of its sites in the history and stories of its location. In Little Collins, statues of monkeys peppered throughout the hotel as a homage to the live primates that occasionally frequented Cole’s Book Arcade, a much-loved emporium that was a destination in the area before being demolished in the 1920s.

Statues of monkeys are peppered throughout the hotel and are a homage to the live primates that frequented the historic Cole’s Book Arcade.

Location: The hotel is tucked inside Melbourne Walk, a new retail and dining arcade that runs between the central city’s Little Collins St and Bourke St Mall. You’re right in the heart of Melbourne’s shopping district - the new Mecca mega store is right next door - so make sure you have your credit card at the ready.

Perfect for: Anyone who wants to enjoy the bustle and vibrancy of the Victorian capital. The hotel is also a stone’s throw from tram stops, which makes it easy to get to Melbourne’s endless number of trendy cafes, wine bars or eateries (if they’re not within walking distance, that is). The hotel’s charm and luxury also make it suitable for anyone celebrating a special birthday, anniversary or other such occasion; it’s a stay you’re unlikely to forget. The hotel isn’t for those travelling with a younger family as guests must be over 18 to check in.

A sculptural spiral staircase - hard to miss when you enter the lobby - draws inspiration from the drapery of Sidney Myer.

First impressions: You’re immediately struck by accents of deep blue in the hotel’s lobby, together with a sculptural spiral staircase inspired by the drapery of Sidney Myer, the businessman behind the eponymous department store. You’d be forgiven for thinking the colour palette is a hat-tip to the hotel’s name but the “Mondrian Blue” is said to be a nod to the street signs of the city. The decor, furnishings and artwork are all very busy on the eye but are a signal that your visit will be far from boring.

The room: The room continues where the lobby left off - your gaze is immediately drawn to stark blue shelves near the entrance. Keep moving and you can’t help admiring the feature wall (an abstraction of Melbourne’s city grid) above the king-sized bed in the 27sqm space. Look further still and you’ll see the furnished terrace with views of the surrounding streetscape. Two monkey sculptures double as light fittings, and a diamond-shaped stool serves as a tribute to the jewellers who once plied their trade nearby. Even products in the minibar offer a taste of the neighbourhood with gin from a local distillery and chocolate from the nearby Royal Arcade. Less unique features (but still very important) include a Nespresso machine and a smart TV.

Several of the rooms have generous terraces with views of the streetscape.

Bathroom: Grey terrazzo tiles are soft, cool and a gentle contrast to some of the louder elements of the room’s aesthetic. There’s a comfortable walk-in shower and sliding fluted glass doors separate the bathroom off from the rest of the room.

Facilities: There’s a perfectly functional gym (not my idea of a holiday but you do you). There is fast and free WiFi in the rooms and common areas. Parking is available off-site for a fee but you’d be better to leave the car at home or in the rental yard, given what’s in walking distance and the public transport that’s available nearby.

Food and drink: In keeping with the hotel, Fern Bar and Dining’s menu grabs the eye. There’s lychee gin-cured salmon (an entree at NZ$25) and a Aylesbury lacquered duck breast (a main at NZ$52). My pick of the bunch was the Hosie Wonder Pie (NZ$39), which had gravy caramelised into its perfect crust and sat atop Paris mash, peas and speck. The cocktail menu was equally alluring. Named after notable Melburnians, I opted for the EW Cole - a duck fat-washed barrel-aged Dutchy Thomas Gin with a burnt sugar syrup (NZ$28). At the other end of the day, the restaurant offers the choice of a continental breakfast or a la carte dining.

In the neighbourhood: Whether it’s Melbourne’s iconic lanes that ignite your imagination, or its cornucopia of local boutiques, jewellery stores and international luxury retailers, you’ll find them all within walking distance. Several department stores, including David Jones, Myer and H+M, are also only minutes away. So, too, is the historic Royal Arcade, a 155-year-old light-filled galleria of the type you’d expect to find on the right bank of the Seine. The oldest of its kind still standing in Melbourne, Royal Arcade is a key stop on any heritage tour of the city.

Inside the historical Royal Arcade in central Melbourne.

Sustainability: It’s a single-use plastic-free hotel.

Accessibility: The hotel has wheelchair-accessible lifts, rooms and bathrooms, with the option for amenities like showers with built-in transfer seats, safety bars and toilets with grab bars.

Price:

Booking three months out, our room class - King Standard City View Balcony - was quoted at $NZ655 per night with breakfast.

Contact:

For more information, email Res.MELGO@IHG.com or visit ihg.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/melbourne/melgo/hoteldetail.

The New Zealand Herald travelled and stayed courtesy of IHG.