The best Melbourne hotels for a staycation over the holidays

Many of us will soon be ditching our regular work chores for the far more amenable tasks of peeling prawns, watching the cricket, and rabidly fortifying the yard with citronella coils. But if you want to take your summer break to the next level, why not check into one of the city’s best hotels, or skip town for a regional getaway? Here’s our pick of the best summer stays.

Festive feasting: The Interlude, Coburg

Festive roast with all the trimmings at North & Common.

Fancy holidaying in jail? The Interlude, a boutique hotel in the former HM Pentridge Prison in which Ned Kelly was once an inmate, is now an urban oasis of high-thread-count sheets, marble bathrooms, designer amenities and a showstopping subterranean pool. The centrepiece hatted North & Common will be putting on a three-course share-style Christmas meal with all the trimmings and festive cocktails on arrival from $169 per person, or $65 for children (3-11).

Order a $10 Aperol spritz during sundowner hour from 5-6pm, Tuesday to Saturday, in the sprawling piazza, where wine bar Olivine has been transformed for a summer Aperol pop-up.

Out + about Unlike Ned, you’re allowed out of your cell for the odd excursion – head to the former E-Division block for craft beers in the BrewDog beer garden, or join a prison tour for a history lesson on the historic bluestone building and its notorious prisoners. See pentridgecoburg.com.au
Get a room Suites from $337 a night. See theinterlude.com.au

New Year’s Eve revelry: W Melbourne

Subterranean bar Curious will be throwing a dance party.

W Melbourne is seeing out 2024 with unique experiences at all three of its venues. With a “Down the Rabbit Hole” theme, subterranean lounge Curious will be playing dance floor hits alongside canapes, bottomless drinks and a Perrier-Jouet champagne on arrival for $255. Warabi is putting on a 14-course Japanese menu inspired by New Year’s Eve in the Big Apple, with wine or sake pairings and a glass of Taittinger on arrival from $460, while Lollo is offering a six-course Italian menu with a two-hour drinks package, including Pierre Mignon on arrival, from $250.

Out + about Stroll to the nearby NYE Celebration Zone, The Shrine to catch the fireworks. There’ll be live entertainment and DJs from 6pm-1am, and food stalls including Wildfire Pizzeria, Wingsters, Billie’s Crepes and more. See nye.melbourne.vic.gov.au
Get a room From $365 a night. See marriott.com

Pool lounging: Le Meridien Melbourne

Le Splash is opening on select days to the public, for the first time.Credit: Simon Schluter

Can’t get to the Cote d’Azur? Check out Le Meridien Melbourne’s luscious rooftop pool terrace Le Splash, which has once again been transformed into a Mediterranean oasis for their summer program, Au Soleil, with a wash of yellow-and-white stripes, as well as a new summer cocktail list, Le Scoop gelato and more. This season, for the first time, it will be open to the public on select days of the week. Poolside limoncello cocktails in the centre of the city? Oui, s’il vous plait!

Out + about Catch a show – you are in Melbourne’s East End Theatre District after all. Leading the summer productions are A Christmas Carol at the Comedy Theatre, and the highly acclaimed Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Princess Theatre. See eastend.melbourne
Get a room From $329 a night. See marriott.com

Rooftop rizz: Melbourne Place, Melbourne

Credit: Eddie Jim

It’s true, cocktails taste better high above the city – we don’t make the rules. Melburnians, well versed in a good rooftop bar, are no doubt thrilled about the newly launched Melbourne Place hotel’s breezy level-12 space, Mid Air. The venue is already drawing a stylish crowd with city skyline views, Mediterranean-inspired dishes by hatted chef Nick Deligiannis (go for the char-grilled quail), and drinks that transport you from city to coast.

Out + about The National Gallery of Victoria’s new Yayoi Kusama retrospective is the show to catch this summer, running until April 21, 2025. With record immersive artworks, it’s even more Instagrammable than those lofty bars. See ngv.vic.gov.au
Get a room From $300 a night. See melbourneplace.com.au

Shopping base: The StandardX Melbourne

When those Boxing Day sales land, The StandardX Melbourne – on the doorstep of the Fitzroy and Collingwood shopping precincts – has you covered. This is a retail therapy zone for the considered shopper – think eclectic art, homewares, fashion boutiques, local designers and more. Once you’ve secured your bargains, relax at the breezy Palm Springs-inspired al fresco bar, The Roof, currently open weekends and exclusive to guests.

Out + about Grab a cup of Proud Mary’s finest at Faraday’s Cage (faradayscage.com.au), venture up to The Attic at award-winning Black Pearl (blackpearlbar.com.au), or cool off with a quick dip at Fitzroy Swimming Pool (yarracity.vic.gov.au).
Get a room From $229 a night. See standardx.com

Relaxation retreat: Eco Lodges at Peninsula Hot Springs

Eco Lodge suites have the added bonus of private pools.

These luxe Eco Lodges with private pools are the newest addition to the 17-hectare Peninsula Hot Springs site, offering a serene way to experience the buzzy springs this summer away from the crowds. The lodges, which overlook a private lake, prioritise sleep and rejuvenation, while connecting guests with nature via clever architecture and landscape design.

Out + about Quealy Wines (quealy.com.au) is hosting a new pop-up food truck by Pizza Luna; nearby, Red Hill Estate (redhillestate.com.au) is reopening with a new Italian-inspired menu for summer following a refresh.
Get a room From $930. See peninsulahotsprings.com

Regional escape: Idle Lake House

Cali retro vibes on the Gippsland Lakes waterfront at Idle Lake House.

It doesn’t get more relaxing than retro-styled luxury floating accommodation on the Gippsland Lakes waterfront. The California-inspired boat house, moored on a private bay at the Lakes Entrance foreshore, is surprisingly spacious, featuring two queen-sized bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen and a large living room with floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the lake.

Out + about Admire art carved into the tree trunks along The Esplanade, stroll Ninety Mile Beach, or tuck into the tasting menu at harbour-front Sodafish (sodafish.com.au).
Get a room From $1040 for two nights (up to four adults). See idlelakehouse.com