Essence of Melbourne’s Lyall Hotel reborn

The South Yarra establishment has revealed a first glimpse at its newly-refreshed rooms following a two-year long makeover.

Lyall Hotel and Spa, South Yarra, Melbourne.

One of Melbourne’s established hotels has announced it will be reopening its doors in September following a two-year multimillion-dollar refurbishment.

The Lyall Hotel and Spa has been transformed by owners Rowina and Peter Thomas with their signature “classic modern style” in mind. Initial renders of the project, which includes a spa and new restaurant, reveal substantial changes to the much-loved property.

The original apartment-style accommodation has been reimagined with spacious, defined areas for living, sleeping and relaxing as well as walk-in robes and powder rooms. Bathrooms have been upgraded with heated towel rails, rain showers and Tundra Grey marble with gold light fittings over double vanities. Most rooms have oval inlaid or freestanding baths. The hotel’s Signature guestrooms also have a separate powder room.

All suites will open out to a French balcony or a furnished terrace, eight of which have kitchenettes to suit families and longer-stay guests. Four of these have living rooms and two are ultra-luxurious specialty suites.

“We have also added eye-catching details such as full-height bedheads to create a sense of grandeur and our own collection of furniture,” Ms Thomas says.

A render of one of the refurbished rooms, reimagined by owner Rowina Thomas.

Drawn to the “calm and clean” lines of Eastern-inspired pieces, Thomas, who led the design process for the interiors, sketched original furniture designs and had them produced locally using Australian materials.

The essence of the original property remains in the library near the entrance. “We’ve kept the fireplace so that warm, inviting atmosphere is still there as soon as you walk in,” Mr Thomas says.

All rooms open out to a French balcony or a furnished terrace.

The hotel’s spa is also being refurbished and the Lyall Gym is in a new location overlooking the tranquil Japanese-inspired maple garden. The Lyall Spa and available treatments will be unveiled later this year.

A new restaurant and bar called Bistro Lyall will premiere a menu of seasonal dishes, serving sophisticated “global comfort food” made with local produce. The venue features velvet banquettes against a backdrop of a Lelievre brocade in autumnal tones, as well as hand-blown lighting by Oliver Hoglund and Ryan Roberts.

Situated in Melbourne’s bustling South Yarra, the Lyall Hotel and Spa is close to leading restaurants and attractions, including chef Charlie Carrington’s Atlas Dining, the Royal Botanic Gardens and National Gallery of Victoria.

“Being in South Yarra you can really immerse yourself in living like a local,” Ms Thomas says. “We’ve been in this location for a very long time so we have a lot of relationships in the area. With these contacts, it’s like having a little black book of entry points. We can really personalise our guests’ stays.”

The Lyall Hotel and Spa will reopen on September 1, 2022; rooms from $450 a night.