Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street — Hotel in Melbourne

Apologies for the long review, this is going to all the way from the good to the bad.

Stayed at the Hilton Little Queen Street in Melbourne from Friday 11th March 2023 - Sunday 12th March 2023.

Stay started out lovely, friendly staff on check-in, fresh fruit bowl and some chocolates (both delightful). One tip I would make is that there is zero protruding street signage to indicate that there is a hotel on Little Queen Street, drivers got lost several times, and you won't know there is a Hilton there until the car is right out front of the hotel (it looks like you are just driving down a random alley near the Mantra).

The room was relatively well kept, bed was quite comfortable, and plenty of power points around the room (as a geek, highly important), easy Chromecast streaming was fantastic and WiFi worked well.

The included breakfast was average, scrambled eggs were unseasoned, sauteed mushrooms were very watery (and felt like they could use more flavour), the bacon was dry and chewy. But, considering it was included, not bad.

Now for the unpleasant parts of the experience (all times are approximate): At around 9am on Saturday, went down for breakfast and there was a food tray (with coffee, leftover drinks, food etc.) just sitting in the corridor next to my room. When I left the room at 3pm it was still there and had been joined by another in my path to leave my room.

I spoke to reception (in person) at 3pm mentioning (politely) that it was rather gross, and requested they be removed. I was assured they would be attended to.

When I arrived back to the room at approximately 9pm... the trays and food were still there. I again went down to reception and asked for the trays to be removed from the corridor around the room. I was again assured the trays would be removed.

Just before I hit the hay at 1pm, (approx. 16 hours after the first tray had appeared). The trays were still in place, I called down to reception and asked for a manager to attend my room immediately and they were removed (finally). Having food and plates sitting in the hall for 16 hours, I felt was unhygienic and would rapidly attract vermin. The fact that I had raised this twice to no avail was also poor-form and demonstration of process failures.

Spoke to the Hotel Manager (Carlo if I remember correctly), and raised these concerns (purely as feedback, I had the room, I wasn't looking for freebies, just to give my honest experience). Initially I got the impression that 'that is a food service element' which is run by a different area (i.e. not our area), but feel my feedback was at least heard. He also mentioned that trays are picked up at the end of shift and there were two separate shift turnovers that SHOULD have caught this, but didn't.

This last bit was unraised with staff because I just didn't have the energy after it happened. With a late checkout I was granted a checkout at 11:30am today, at 10:57am (with the do not disturb light on) housekeeping attempted to enter my room (while I was partially still in my birthday suit), and I was able to direct them that it was not a great idea before they fully opened the door but had to run to the door and put my hand on it. It feels like they didn't have the information, but, with a late checkout, the room should never have been entered until checkout completed, especially with do not disturb.

I had planned with my fiancee to attend the Hilton in future as a weekend away, however, we have now decided against that and will be looking elsewhere. I just felt this wasn't up to the standards of the Hilton, and there are some systemic problems I have seen, and, overall, the cons left a bad taste...

We booked a night staycation on the day before our overseas trip and give this property a try for ourselves.

Hilton Melb is centrally located on Bourke St in front of a tram stop and close to Southern Cross railway station with Skybus to Melbourne airport.

As a Hilton Diamond member, I was upgraded to a beautiful & comfortable Junior Suite. There’s no welcoming amenities, no wine nor champaign glasses, an empty mini fridge with milk for coffee/tea, minimal Dilmah tea bags consisted of 2xEnglish breakfast, 1xgreen tea and 1xpeppermint. Do not expect Nepresso coffee machine in Junior Suite.

Compare to other Hilton properties, I have to say the food options both at the Executive Lounge and breakfast were limited and obvious budget cost cutting was in force. The Executive Lounge is cleverly designed with comfortable sofas along the walls. During our stay, limited & restricted items consisted a cold salad noodle, mixed fruits platter, cheese patties and deep fried chicken wings. At breakfast, the same cold salad noodles again, the usual eggs station, default items eg bacons, hash browns and tasty bake beans, fruits and bakeries. Although, there was no mushrooms nor grilled tomatoes.

Due to our late flight at 6:40pm, I requested late check out of 3:30pm so we could nap in our room before the overnight flight, and I’m aware late check out is subject to availability.

I called the reception first thing in the morning, the reception got back and stated the best she could do was 1pm due to full capacity. She asked if I want to take it or leave it! A check online showed at least 2 of my Junior suites were available for check in.

Finished breakfast, I personally went to the reception to make the request, only to be told the same and stern answer.

Came 10:50am we decided to check-out, we would rather traveled back home to rest and return back to the city then to the airport. This time we were served by the duty manager Mr Chris Chen, who customarily asked how was the experience, whilst I enjoy the room and location, I expressed my disappointment with the inflexibility for later check out. Chris stated all rooms were fully booked. When I showed Chris there was not one, but two of the same room type available online, he went silent and avoided a straight answer, then replied that could be some “last minute cancellation” and if I want I could return to my room and have the late check out! At that time I had packed, ready to leave and lost my faith with Hilton LQS.

I doubt if it was running at 100% occupancy, or even close. Surely they could easily accommodate but they wouldn’t budge until I showed Chris the evidence online.

Unless the hotel is truly at full capacity, I do not see it is unreasonable to allow their Diamond members such flexibility given the situation.

There were number of times I asked the reception if their GM Mr Adrian Teh is around, it appears that receptionist like to keep a rather tight lips on the movements of their manager. When I asked when would Mr Teh available, they replied: “Sorry I don’t have access to that information!”

There are many new exciting hotels under Marriott Bonvoy coming up in Melbourne incl the Ritz-Carlton, Le Meridien, Shangri-La to the existing W Melbourne. If this is how Hilton LQS treat their elite members, surely my Platinum Elite would get better treatment elsewhere.

To date, I still haven’t received a reply from the email I sent directly to Mr Teh. Perhaps he...

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Hilton Melbourne Hotel, and it was an experience that exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I stepped into the hotel's elegant lobby, I knew I was in for a special stay.This hotel is in a beautiful old historic building

Check-in and Service (★★★★★) Upon arrival, I was warmly greeted by the friendly and attentive staff at the front desk. I opted for the digital key which was activated automatically on the Hilton app and i was able to unlock the lift and my room door with my phone without interacting with the reception staff, super impressed with this technology.

Accommodations (★★★★★) The room I stayed in was nothing short of luxurious. It was spacious, beautifully decorated, and impeccably clean. The comfortable king-size bed provided a restful night's sleep, and the large windows offered stunning views of Melbourne's skyline. The room also featured modern amenities, including a flat-screen TV, a well-stocked minibar, and a spacious work desk, making it suitable for both business and leisure travelers.

Dining (★★★★★) I had the pleasure of dining at the hotel's signature Italian restaurant Luci, which served delectable Italian cuisine prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The breakfast buffet was a great as well offering a wide selection of delicious dishes to start the day right. Additionally, the hotel's bar Douglas club is set within the historic Equity Chambers Building, The Douglas Club is an opulent lounge bar split across two rooms and it celebrates a bygone era where glasses are clinked between the historic walls of this polished yet laid back establishment. The walls are swathed in a blue-green hue that compliments the bar’s striking marble features, countered by emerald green velvet lounges and rose gold , a perfect spot to unwind with a well-crafted cocktail after a day of exploring the city.

Location (★★★★★) One of the standout features of the Hilton Melbourne is its prime location in the heart of the city. It was incredibly convenient to explore Melbourne's vibrant neighborhoods, cultural attractions, and shopping districts, all of which were within walking distance or a short tram ride away. This central location made my stay even more enjoyable and allowed me to make the most of my time in this captivating city.

Conclusion (★★★★★) In summary, my stay at the Hilton Melbourne Hotel was a memorable and delightful experience. The impeccable service, luxurious accommodations, and prime location made it a top-notch choice for travelers seeking both comfort and convenience. Whether you're visiting Melbourne for business or leisure, I highly recommend the Hilton Melbourne for an unforgettable stay in this dynamic city. I look forward to returning to this exceptional hotel on my next visit...