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Melbourne / Travel

Urban List Travel

Hotels, bars, restaurants, must-dos and travel diaries from folks who love holidaying as much as you do.

Highlights

Rest of the best

Food & Drink

Moon Dog Beach Club

Get that party shirt out and your drinking thongs on, Moon Dog’s fifth monster concept venue in Frankston serving up tropical cocktails and craft brews for days

A bedroom in muted tones at Hyde Melbourne Place one of the best luxury Melbourne hotels
Travel

Melbourne Place

The latest offering to Melbourne’s hotel scene, the elegant Melbourne Place is a must-do eat, stay, play situation like the city hasn't seen before, complete with the most aesthetic rooftop bar.
notel-melbourne
Local Escapes

Hotel No

Not exactly what you expect on a CBD rooftop. Six gleaming Airstream camper trailers, straight out of the 1970s, converted into boutique chalets. Whoever reckoned we hit peak Melbourne didn't bank on these bad boys.

Local Escapes

The Good House

Tucked away on the cusp of the New South Wales border resides a quaint country town called Huon—and right on the banks of Lake Hume is the all-new eco-friendly The Good House.
july-emporium
Travel Tips

July | Emporium

You might be familiar with Melbourne-based luggage brand July, we wrote about them earlier this year. Well, now less than a year since the brand launched, they’ve opened their first retail store in Emporium.
Taltarni Vineyard
Local Escapes

Taltarni Vineyard

Looking for a gem to visit on your next Sunday (or weekday) drive? Look no further! Recruit your bae, jump in your car and road trip to the stunning Taltarni Vineyard. This spot will woo your heart. Guaranteed.
Wellness

Peninsula Hot Springs

Nestled among the coastal tea-trees of Fingal and only 90 minutes from Melbourne, Peninsula Hot Springs has remained a key attraction on the Mornington Peninsula for good reason. The award winning natural hot springs, thermal springs, and their relaxing facilities make it an obvious choice for a visit in 2024, any time of year, at one of Victoria's ultimate wellness destinations. 
lon-retreat
Local Escapes

Lon Retreat

Add this place to your list of special-occasion-pay-cheque-blowing getaways. It’s Victoria’s hottest new boutique escape, set on rolling green hills behind the Pt Lonsdale bluff. Write the name in your dream journal now: Lon Retreat.
united-places-melbourne
Local Escapes

United Places

Next time you’re walking along Domain Rd in South Yarra, cast your gaze up a couple of floors. You’ll notice a modernist, brushed concrete building above the new Matilda. They look like high-end apartments, but they’re actually the city’s newest boutique hotel. Twelve spiffing suites with personal butlers, designer furnishings, and some of the best damn views in the city.
marnong-estate-melbourne
Local Escapes

Marnong Estate

This place might be 15 minutes from Tullamarine, but 'airport hotel' doesn't really seem appropriate. This is a $35m four-star regional estate, featuring a historic homestead, 250-person event space, 250-seat restaurant, vineyard and farmers' market, set on 1,100 beautiful acres.
crown-towers-melbourne
Local Escapes

Crown Towers Melbourne

If you’re travelling to Melbourne for work or play, or just looking for a little staycay—you’d be mad not to consider the Melbourne hotel institution that is Crown Towers.
Local Escapes

Novotel | South Wharf

Need to break free from work for a couple of days? We’ve been there. The Novotel Melbourne South Wharf may just be the solution, in prime position for a cheeky Melbourne staycay.
crown-metropol-melbourne
Local Escapes

Crown Metropol

Ahhh, so THIS is how the other half live. Those swish, globe-trotting businessmen and women who use words like ‘dividend’ and spent domestic flights making calls to their broker in Helsinki. We noticed half a dozen in the lobby of Crown’s elegant Southbank hotel, Metropol.
mitchelton-hotel-spa
Local Escapes

Mitchelton Hotel & Spa

Want to know what $16m looks like in the hands of Victoria’s hottest architects? It looks like the new hotel at Mitchelton winery in the Goulbourn Valley, a couple of hours due north of Melbourne.
ovolo-laneways-melbourne
Local Escapes

Ovolo Laneways

Ovolo Laneways is one of the ‘new breed’ Melbourne hotels. Which means they’re big on added extras, little conveniences and high-speed, free-flowing WIFI.
Local Escapes

Crown Promenade

When most people think Crown, they think Crown Towers. But don’t dismiss Crown Promenade for a cheeky weekend getaway or city staycation. It ticks A LOT of romantic boxes.
the-chen-melbourne
Local Escapes

The Chen

The Arts Series has done it again. After expanding with Larwill Studio in North Melbourne, they’ve unleashed a brand new boutique hotel, this time in Box Hill—and damn, will you look at that view.
park-hyatt-melbourne
Local Escapes

Park Hyatt Melbourne

Right off the bat, we’ve gotta mention Park Hyatt Melbourne’s latest employee, Mr Walker the hotel's canine concierge. A profesh guide dog, Mr Walker busies himself with friendly welcomes at the lobby and accepting belly rubs in his custom-made Tasmanian Oak bed.
the-cullen-melbourne
Local Escapes

The Cullen

The Cullen was one of The Arts Series’ OG hotel ventures (along with The Olsen, just down the road), and like all Arts Series hotels, it’s got a bit of a reputation.
doubletree-by-hilton-melbourne
Local Escapes

Doubletree By Hilton

You can’t buy views like this. Well, you can. You can buy them at Doubletree By Hilton, perched opposite historic Flinders St station. In terms of location, Doubletree can’t be beaten. You’re 50m from Fed Square, a stone’s throw from the greatest laneway in the city (Centre Place), and surrounded by more bars, restaurants cafes and bruncheries than any normal human could visit in one lifetime.
larwill-studio-melbourne
Local Escapes

Larwill Studio

Contemporary painter David Larwill was known for bright, punchy colours, and you’ll cop an eyeful as soon as you enter Larwill Studio’s dreamy lobby space. Six giant canvases hang on the wall, paired with some slick mid-century furniture. You wouldn’t expect anything less from The Arts Series—these guys have pretty much redefined boutique Melbourne accommodation over the last few years.
qt-melbourne-hotel
Local Escapes

QT Melbourne

Looking for a classy stay in the CBD? It’s hard to go past QT. You can’t knock a place that picked up #1 Hotel In Melbourne on Tripadvisor, right?
Local Escapes

The Hotel Windsor

Think The Hotel Windsor and their iconic Afternoon Tea sessions come to mind. But apart from serving up a mean cuppa and the most delectable little pastries and cakes, the Hotel Windsor is also renowned for its other many odes to Victorian heritage.
adelphi-hotel-melbourne
Local Escapes

Adelphi Hotel

Central location, sweet designer homewares, and the city’s fanciest cocktail bar downstairs—we believe they call that ‘the whole package’.   
Victoria's Best Country Pubs
Bars & Pubs

These Are Victoria’s Best Country Pubs That Are Worth The Drive

We’re pretty lucky in Victoria, we definitely have some of Australia’s best country pubs. Big, grand old dames, or ramshackle, quirky little numbers with plenty of nooks and crannies. Victoria’s Best Country pubs are tough to nail down. Is it the vibe, is it solid gigs, where does food fit into the equation? What about a bangin’ wine list, because that certainly exists too.
Pets

The Best Dog Beaches In Melbourne & Victoria For 2025

Dogs love water just as much as we do, from chasing garden hose streams to splashing in shallow pools. Watching your pup frolic in the waves at Melbourne’s best dog-friendly beaches is pure joy. However, not all beaches welcome furry friends. We've curated the top dog beaches in Victoria for 2025 so you and your best mate can enjoy the coast together. Here are Urban List's picks for the best dog-friendly beaches in Victoria.
Hamilton Island waterfront restaurant
Local Escapes

8 Of The Best Restaurants On Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island—the holiday place of the nation’s rich and famous and if you're lucky, you and yours. we’ve done the legwork and scoped out the best restaurants Hamilton Island has to offer, so get that online booking forefinger ready.
Travel

11 Of The Best Places To Stay On Hamilton Island In 2025

Explore the best Hamilton Island accommodation options, from luxury resorts to family-friendly stays and secluded villas. Whether you're after a romantic escape, family holiday, or relaxing retreat, our guide will help you find the perfect Hamilton Island resort for your dream getaway.
A person walking with a dog.
Pets & Travel

8 Of The Best Dog-Friendly Campsites In Victoria

With warm weathered days increasing in frequency and summer just around the corner we are looking for places to escape the urban concrete jungle and explore Victoria’s scenic outdoors. But the guilt of leaving behind our dogs when planning our getaways is all too real. Regional Victoria has no shortage of stunning campsites to feel grounded in nature and the best part, for a lot of them you can bring along your furry friends.