I stayed at and reviewed the Grand Hyatt Melbourne on my recent trip to Melbourne.
Location
Grand Hyatt Melbourne is located in the bottom right corner of the Melbourne CBD, right at the intersection of the upscale shopping stretch of Collins Street and Russell Street. The hotel is close to other attractions: Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Hosier Lane, Chinatown, Theatre district, Old Treasury Building, Parliament, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Fitzroy Garden are all within a few blocks. There is also a tram station right outside the hotel, and trams within the Melbourne CBD are free, which makes the trip to other attractions in the Melbourne CBD just a short commute.
There are two entrances to the hotel. A pedestrian walking entrance on Collins Street leads to the main lobby and a vehicle drop-off foyer at the Russell Street entrance one floor below. The decor in the lobby is luxurious, with a few artworks prominently featured. The hotel’s restaurants – Lobby Lounge and Collins Kitchen- are opposite the check-in area, while the bars – Bistro bar and Ru-Co- are tucked in a corner next to them.
Style & Character
Rooms
As a Diamond member, I used a Diamond Suite Upgrade with my booking. This got me booked into the Grand Suite King on a high floor. The room was 80 m², with huge windows offering a great panoramic view of the city. The suite opened into the living room with a nice seating area and a large work desk. There was a small bathroom next to the entrance and a closet that concealed the minibar and Nespresso machine.
The bedroom was separated from the living room with a sliding door. There was also a small sofa set in the bedroom. The marble bathroom featured a bathtub and a separate shower area at the back of the bedroom. Toiletries were from June Jacobs, a common brand standard across most Grand Hyatts. As a Diamond member, I have also given a welcome amenity of grapes, a jar of salted nuts, and a bottle of wine.
The standard rooms in the hotel start from 33 m² and are quite similar to the bedroom module of the suite. If possible, ask for a room on a higher floor with views of the CBD or the Yarra River.
Service & Facilities
The hotel has a huge full-fledged gym that spans the entire 9th floor and more. The gym is called City Club Health & Fitness and has all the equipment and facilities that one would expect from a proper gym. It is open to hotel guests and external members 24 hours, although some parts of the gym close after certain hours.
The gym also has an indoor swimming pool, plunge pool, and jacuzzi next to the changing rooms, which also contain a sauna and steam room. The spa treatment area is also located here. More impressively, you can also walk up a flight of stairs to get to the gym’s roof, where the basketball half-court, golf swinging areas, and tennis court are located. I cannot remember the last time I was in a city hotel with a basketball and tennis court together!
The hotel has a club lounge on the 31st floor. Entrance is available for guests who booked a club room and above and Diamond members. The Grand Club Lounge is a huge long space overlooking the Melbourne skyline. The entrance is at the elevator lobby, with the reception desk in the middle of the club. Both left and right sides feature comfortable seating spaces. On the far left, there is also an impressive meeting boardroom. Both sides of the lounge also have a workstation near the bathrooms.
In the evenings, the lounge serves food and drinks. Desserts are on the left side, while hot food and appetizers are on the right. In my time there, two red and two white wines, and Chandon champagne, where available. There was also a selection of beers, hard liquor, regular drinks, and a coffee machine. The lounge also serves breakfast in the morning. Diamond members are entitled to breakfast here only. Eating in the hotel restaurant is an additional $20 USD surcharge.
Food & Drink
During my stay, I had breakfast and dinner in the hotel’s signature restaurant, Collins Kitchen. The breakfast buffet spread was magnificent, with all the typical Australian hot breakfast food, cold cuts, cereal, and yogurts on display. There was also a row of Asian cuisine, an eggs/omelet station, and a waffle/pancake station. A small selection of gluten-free cakes and bread was also available. I also took the opportunity to order the classic Australian flat white coffee here.
Most impressively, there is a smoothie station! The smoothie station has some ready-made smoothies prepared in a bottle, as well as the option to customize your own smoothie from the available ingredients. Breakfast was popular and packed while I stayed at the hotel, but the service remained tip-top.
Dinner time at Collins Kitchen was different from the bustling mornings. The restaurant environment is more upscale and quiet. The dinner menu features some seasonal items on top of the regular selections. A small selection of wine is listed on the menu, but a more extensive and separate wine menu is also available.
The hotel focuses on food sourcing, working with local farmers to obtain organic and local ingredients for the meals. The dinner menu highlights this nicely, with the origins of the meat explained in further detail at the back of the menu.
The dinner started with a loaf of fresh bread and butter. The bread was still warm when served, which melted the butter nicely. I had a medium-rare Darlings Down Wagyu from Queensland for my main course, accompanied by a 2014 Bowen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon glass. I also ordered a shaved cabbage salad, pepper sauce, and chimichurri sauce.
The steak was done as well as one could hope for, with the outer layer grilled perfectly while the middle still pink. The sauces were also well-executed, with the chimichurri sauce providing a spicy kick to the meal. I also had the opportunity to chat with the sous chef, Jelena, who had worked her way up from the Hyatts in Serbia and Dubai. She was friendly and explained the competitive dining scene in Melbourne and the seriousness the hotel took to procure its local ingredients.
For desserts, I ordered the signature dessert – “Living Grand” white chocolate sphere. This dessert comes with a white chocolate sphere on a crunchy puffed rice platform. The waiter then pours the passionfruit coulis onto the sphere, melting it away to reveal the inner goodies. This dessert was quite a fun spectacle to experience. Jelena explained that in the past, the hotel used to serve a version with regular chocolate and raspberry coulis as well.
Conclusion
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne. The hotel is in a prime location with comprehensive facilities and great dining options. The rooms are comfortable, and the Grand Club Lounge was a delight. I would not hesitate to stay here again when I return to Melbourne.
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This review was written by Luxury Travel Diary contributor Lenard Lim.
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