Hyde Melbourne Place — Hotel in Melbourne

Disappointing Stay Despite the Aesthetic Appeal

We chose Melbourne Place for its design and aesthetic reputation, but our 2-night stay in mid-May (during the off-season) fell far below expectations for a hotel at this price point. Below are the key issues we faced:

Faulty HVAC System Melbourne nights were cold (~10–12°C, with strong winds), and as visitors from Singapore, we were especially sensitive to the chill. Our room’s heating/cooling system did not function properly: First night: We were initially told by staff that guests could adjust the system themselves. Later, another staff member claimed it could “only” be controlled from the equipment room. After intervention, it finally switched to heating mode. Second night: The system defaulted back to cooling. A third staff member attempted to fix it in-room, failed, and promised to "restart the system remotely" or relocate us—but never followed up. Midnight (12:36 AM): A fourth staff insisted the system was "working fine" with a hard cap of 24°C (no heating/cooling toggle) and offered a room change—yet again, no further action. We went down to the counter. The front desk finally brought us to another hotel room and showed all rooms had the same issue. We ended up using spare blankets to endure the cold.

Inconsistent & Dismissive Service Each interaction with staff yielded contradictory information, making us feel like we were being passed around without resolution. Be Promises (e.g., system resets, room changes) were repeatedly, ignored or abandoned.

Poor Soundproofing & Room Allocation Our room was on the lower floor - level 5, amplifying street noise until 1AM（can u image how noisy during Friday and Saturday night when downstairs is a bar restaurant?). Corner room but all windows faced inner side, all cover by buildings. Even cannot see a tiny sky. When we requested a higher floor, staff claimed the hotel was "fully booked" (despite Booking.com showing availability). Given it was the off-season, this felt disingenuous.

Conclusion: The hotel’s design is undeniably stylish, but the lack of functional facilities and unprofessional service severely undermined our experience. For the price paid, we expected far better.

Follow-up on the Check-out Experience

Upon checking out at 8 AM (the hotel’s standard time is 10AM), we found an apology letter on our door offering complimentary breakfast as compensation. We declined for two reasons:

Token Gesture, Not a Solution Offering breakfast seems to be their standardized apology tactic (as seen in other Google reviews), which does nothing to address the core issues: poor service and faulty facilities. A meal cannot compensate for nights spent shivering due to a broken HVAC system or hours wasted chasing inconsistent staff responses.

Disrupted Travel Plans We had already scheduled to depart for our next destination immediately after check-out. An unplanned breakfast—especially one offered as a hollow apology—was not feasible nor meaningful to us.

This experience solidified our disappointment. Melbourne Place prioritizes aesthetics over functionality, and its apologies lack sincerity.

But appreciated their effort to write the...

Having stayed in over 20 hotels in Melbourne so far, I felt this hotel truly deserved a lot of praise. When I first entered the hotel, from the orange-toned check-in desk to the colorful screen behind it, it was a soothing and pleasant experience. Two contrasting words came to mind: quiet and lively. However, the check-in area was a shame. During busy times, it was packed, and I had no idea where to find it. Still, after a short wait, the hotel staff warmly welcomed me. The atmosphere was casual, yet welcoming. Check-in was quick, and I was treated to a welcome Accor Platinum experience, including a late check-out at 2 p.m. There was no fuss. After reading the hotel introduction, I headed to the elevator. The elevator itself was quite modern. We entered our keycards into the pad and were directed to the elevator, which took us straight to our floor without having to press a button. It was a very modern and clean system. From the moment we got off the elevator, we were impressed by the hotel and headed to our room, the Platinum Suite. My room on the 14th floor was, quite literally, a work of art. The room's seemingly high ceilings, visible as I opened the door, surprised me. While the living room, bedroom, and bathroom areas had standard ceiling heights, the area near the window was considerably higher. Lying on the bed, the ceiling near the window was practically invisible. This was akin to the feeling I get when lying in a tent and looking outside, and the lack of a ceiling was incredibly cozy. The shower itself felt the same. It felt like I was showering in the woods. The view, with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown Melbourne, was truly impressive. The bed was also fantastic. I almost fell asleep the moment I laid down... Be careful with the bed! It was a very comfortable bed that made me fall asleep immediately. The overall feel of the room was modern and futuristic in function, but the design and color palette, with its natural earthy feel, was quite unique and captivating. The bathtub being located near the bed was philosophically appealing. The balcony and the minibar with popcorn and potato chips further enhanced our love for the room. Perhaps because our room was on the 14th floor, there was no noise. I slept really well. The hotel's 12th-floor mid-air lounge, an auxiliary facility, feels like another landmark rooftop in Melbourne. The cocktails, the atmosphere, and the stunning night view made me feel so good about staying at this hotel. Overall, it was a great experience and stay. I would definitely...

Melbourne Place is a newly opened hotel, as of November 2024. While the foyer is small and fairly unremarkable, every member of the concierge team I interacted with was friendly, helpful and accommodating. It was apparent that some were still new to their roles, but they remained professional and efficient throughout.||The rooms are modern with warm, earthy tones that create more of a Byron Bay feel than a typical Melbourne hotel. It’s a relaxing aesthetic, though perhaps not what you’d expect in the city. The open shower design is stylish but not really to my personal taste. That said, the bed was very comfortable, and the use of luxury Frette bedding sheets added a lovely, high-end touch. Amenities were adequate and included the likes of a SMEG kettle and decent mini bar. No complimentary water, and a sink located in the room, which is a design choice I’m not particularly fond of. The lighting is low and sexy and there are plenty of mirrors.||I used room service on the Friday night to request a chamomile tea, as this wasn’t available in the room. After a half-hour wait, a staff member delivered it and made a point of saying how annoyed she was to have had to bring up two herbal teas, my business partner had ordered one to his room as well. Rock and roll I know. He also commented that she was short and bordering on rude when she dropped his off. This stood out, as it didn’t align with the otherwise friendly service we’d experienced throughout our stay.||On my second night, I requested a quieter room, and the team kindly made the change. However, somewhat oddly, the lights in the new room turned on by themselves on at least three or four occasions between 2 and 4am. Maybe karma for changing.||I had breakfast on both mornings at Mid Air, which is also a popular spot for drinks in the evening. While the atmosphere is pleasant, many of the outdoor heaters weren’t working, and the breakfast menu, although good, was fairly limited.||With hotel prices in Melbourne being so competitive at the moment, I might consider staying here again. That said, after being recommended the hotel by three different people who raved about it, my expectations were very high and unfortunately, it didn’t just quite meet them. A decent option, but I’ll likely continue exploring...