While Sydney is renowned for its sea and shopping, and Perth is all about that wine life, Melbourne is a city known for its incredible cafés, outstanding dining venues, world-class sporting events, and fantastic cultural offerings. More recently, though, a plethora of stylish boutique hotels are popping up across town, both within the CBD and a little further afield. We recently checked into Ovolo Melbourne South Yarra, in one of the city’s perennially trendy inner-city suburbs, to discover a bold, creative bolthole.
While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Review of Ovolo Melbourne South Yarra
Hong Kong-headquartered hospitality brand Ovolo Hotels specialises in spunky, character-filled properties that combine bold design and curated food, all driven by heavy lashings of creativity.
From start to finish, this stay was a treat for the senses
Walking into the bold, spacious lobby of Ovolo Melbourne South Yarra, I was immediately surrounded by the fun, audacious experience that the brand promises.
Comfy seating is arranged around a faux fireplace, Pop Art tributes to David Bowie, Debbie Harry, and movies like A Clockwork Orange range over the lifts, and behind the reception desk, friendly, smiling staff stand ready to check guests in.
Rock chic
Hidden on a corner off Chapel Street and Toorak Road, Ovolo Melbourne South Yarra achieves that delicate balance of being a welcome escape for travellers and an appealing destination for locals. The neighbourhood is well known for its fashionista boutiques, trendy bars, and laid-back restaurants offering gourmet fare, and this spritely hotel manages to fit right in—then turn the tables to stand out.
Beyond the elegant simplicity of its clientele—laid-back outfits in black are a must here—and the eatery where locals pop in for working breakfasts and after-hours bevvies, Ovolo South Yarra pays tribute to classic Melbourne insouciance in a design aesthetic that blends disco queens and rock gods with mid-century retro chic and plenty of pop art. With bright pops of colour and groovy patterns to Soul Train beats and Rockstar Suites named for two of the era’s most infamous couples—Sonny and Cher and John and Yoko—you might just find yourself spontaneously compelled to hum a few bars of Stayin’ Alive or That’s the Way (I Like It).
The room
The Groovy City room
Like the rest of the hotel, rooms here take their cues from the halcyon days of Studio 54, when moderation was definitely not a virtue, Andy Warhol’s Factory was the centre of the art world, and disco was all the rage. Translation: expect retro touches, graphics inspired by the pop-art movement, and plenty of pops of colours and patterns.
My first impression on walking into my Groovy City room was that it was small. But a second glance revealed that what it lacked in size, it made up for with creature comforts—and lots of punchy personality. There’s a deliciously cosy queen bed, backdropped by a plush, oversized headboard and patterned wallpaper in shades of green that’s straight from the 70s.
There’s also a flatscreen with device-mirroring capabilities and plenty of charging points—both hallmarks of any hotel worth its salt these days. Then there’s the industrial-esque open wardrobe that’s an Ovolo signature. The best part, though, is the complimentary minibar—wines and beers included—stocked with local treats, and the loot bag full of snacks. Tying all this deliciousness together? Idiosyncratic retro objets d’art, including a vintage-style camera, framed record, artist’s hand model, and ceramic cacti.
Southside superstar
While the location and rooms are reason enough to book a stay at Ovolo South Yarra, the hotel has plenty more to offer guests.
Bar Yarra serves a range of tasty treats from morning to night, with occasional pop-ups from local chefs. The a la carte breakfast has options from homemade granola to a Nordic breakfast, and coffee that rivals any of the nearby trendy cafes.
The hotel’s basement packs plenty more surprises. Backroom is a chic little cocktail divan that draws inspiration from America’s Prohibition-era speakeasy. Guests can follow the neon Martini glass sign to find an intimate space that serves art deco design alongside deliciously decadent cocktails infused with top-shelf and boutique spirits. Outside this bolthole, the games room is decked out with brightly-coloured Pop Art on the walls, a solid pool table, and even a hidden nook for video games.
Final thoughts
The full complement of the brand’s offerings—boundary-pushing concepts, in-your-face design, great food, and plenty of small touches that make a big difference—creates a hotel worth staying at, but its seamless integration into the suburb of South Yarra will give guests a truly Melbourne experience.
Find out more about Ovolo Melbourne South Yarra or Book through Booking.com Book through Expedia Book through Agoda
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