With a bold personality and richly layered design language by Flack Studio, plus a streetside coffee shop to boot, Hannah St Hotel is Melbourne’s hottest new hotel – and a microcosm of the city itself.
Urban boutique hotels today are working overtime as not only places to crash after a long day sightseeing, but as microcosms of the cities they inhabit, distilling local character across every touchpoint. Hannah St Hotel does exactly that.
The headline: its interiors are designed by Flack Studio, the multidisciplinary practice behind stylish spaces across Australia and beyond (think Bistro Livi in Murwillumbah and Ace Hotel Sydney), whose aesthetic is anchored by an intentional use of colour, material and mismatching that strikes a sweet spot between contemporary, creative and elegant.
Hannah St Hotel is something of a homecoming for the Melbourne-based firm helmed by David Flack, and it’s every bit the love letter to his home town you’d hope for.
The 188-room hotel is part of Collection by TFE Hotels, whose portfolio is made up of independently owned properties that hero design and strong connections to their local communities, including The Eve Hotel in Sydney and The Calile Hotel in Brisbane.
Where is Hannah St Hotel?
Hannah St Hotel is situated in the heart of Southbank.
Hannah St Hotel sits in Melbourne’s Southbank and forms part of the area’s ongoing cultural revitalisation. It’s positioned within a 15-minute neighbourhood at the crossroads of the CBD, the Yarra River, South Melbourne and the Arts Precinct.
The 10-level hotel occupies the new mixed-use Queensbridge Building, which cuts a distinctive wedge-shaped – or bullnose – footprint likened to New York City’s 1920s Flatiron Building.
Tucked under the Kingsway overpass, it initially feels a little like an urban jungle – but within minutes the concrete gives way to the Southbank Promenade. Soon I’m strolling along the Yarra, passing a hub of eateries, riverside bars, sketch artists and street performers on the sunny Saturday I’m here.
Within 15 minutes I reach Princes Bridge. A walk over the water takes me into Fed Square and the CBD, while heading south along St Kilda Road brings me to NGV International within a few minutes.
What is the style and character of Hannah St Hotel?
Step into Melbourne’s hottest design-led stay.
The accommodation blends creativity and personality.
Hannah St Hotel is big on personality, as flagged on arrival. Its main entrance, discreetly tucked beneath the overpass, is given a playful makeover in Barbie pink and polka dots. Guests are greeted by a three-metre sculpture, Mirror Sheila (2024) by Justene Williams – part of the hotel’s art program – as they step into the lobby.
Flack Studio draws on a diverse set of influences – from French Modernism and mid-century Italy to American Deco and the Industrial Revolution – to create a one-off design that embodies Melbourne’s richly layered spirit. It’s grit and glamour and vintage-style signage flickering neon. Tactile textiles, gestural shapes and bold colours offset against industrial finishes. Just as things tip towards nostalgia, a bolt of contemporary snaps you back to the present.
The vibe is welcoming and accessible. Playful and cool without trying too hard.
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What are the facilities like at Hannah St Hotel?
Unwind at the Parisian-style Terrace Lounge.
Designed to be a neighbourhood in its own right, Hannah St Hotel has everything you need without straying far. There’s a streetside hole-in-the-wall, Hannah St Coffee, for your caffeine fix, and Coupette Corner Bistro & Bar, which does triple duty for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Ample public spaces encourage lounging, imbibing and working (or all three), including the rail-inspired Carriage Lounge, chic lobby hang Bar Hannah, the top-level Terrace Lounge – influenced by the garden cafes of Paris and boasting a rooftop bar – and a dedicated co-working space.
Dive into the 20-metre lap pool.
There’s also a fully equipped gym, a 20-metre lap pool with vertigo-inducing city views through floor-to-ceiling windows, plus a steam room and sauna.
What are the rooms like at Hannah St Hotel?
The French and Italian-style interiors were designed by Flack Studio.
The Terrace Balcony Suite is equipped with a freestanding bath.
Hannah St Hotel’s 188 boutique rooms and suites are each carefully curated.
Ranging in size from 29 to 58 square metres – from bijou Local rooms and Balcony Terrace rooms through to the ultimate Hannah Suite – they feature custom furniture, Malin + Goetz amenities, minibars, pod coffee machines, smart TVs with Chromecast, Bluetooth Marshall speakers, bespoke robes and slippers, and skyline views.
My Lookout Corner Suite makes the most of those views, its unique angular shape bestowed by the building’s irregularity offering a sweeping panorama.
Generously proportioned, it has a king bed and a separate living area crowned by custom-made banquette seating that wraps around the room’s unusual footprint. Quality finishes are stitched into every surface, from blush-coloured carpets that squish underfoot to the concrete ceiling with exposed piping offset against the statement reading chair in Yves Klein blue.
A minibar is stocked with artisanal snacks and local wines, beer and soft drinks.
Space is used efficiently throughout the distinctive layout, including a wardrobe and stowage area tucked into the gallery-style hallway that leads to a generous bathroom – rendered in grey and blue with terrazzo flooring, complete with separate shower and toilet.
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What are the dining options at Hannah St Hotel?
The rail-inspired Carriage Lounge is the perfect spot for drinks.
Melbourne hospitality stalwarts The Mulberry Group, led by Nathan Toleman, oversee Hannah St Hotel’s food and beverage offering across five distinct venues designed to take guests and locals alike from morning coffee through to late-night cocktails.
There’s Bar Hannah and the adjoining Carriage Lounge for drinks and snacks, ground-level Hannah St Coffee, and the rooftop Terrace Lounge for lingering over cocktails – soon to be joined by chef residency program Propeller.
Coupette Corner Bistro & Bar is the star of the show: a ground-level eatery that moves from breakfast to lunch and dinner as the day progresses. The menu is overseen by executive chef Andrew Beddoes and offers a playful take on the European bistro, with a distinctly Melbourne skew.
Breakfast is bright and buzzy – order anything from pastries and almond oat cups to avocado toast with goat’s cheese topped with radish and herbs, a blue swimmer crab omelette or French toast laced with blueberries, maple syrup and burnt orange curd.
Lunch brings a tight menu of bistro staples, while dinner dials the mood to elegant and pushes the food offering further: think steak frites, lamb rump and market fish with beurre blanc. The wine list spans local to Euro.
Is Hannah St Hotel accessible for guests with disabilities?
Hannah St Hotel offers several room types designed to meet specific accessibility needs. All public areas, including the pool, are wheelchair accessible.
Is Hannah St Hotel family-friendly?
Hannah St Hotel nods to the city’s energy and urban pulse.
Guests under 18 are welcome when accompanied by an adult. Rooms accommodate up to two guests, with interconnecting rooms, baby cots and rollaway beds available on request.
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Imogen Eveson is Australian Traveller’s Print Editor. She was named Editor of the Year at the 2024 Mumbrella Publish Awards and in 2023, was awarded the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) Australia’s Media Award. Before joining Australian Traveller Media as sub-editor in 2017, Imogen wrote for publications including Broadsheet, Russh and SilverKris. She launched her career in London, where she graduated with a BA Hons degree in fashion communication from world-renowned arts and design college Central Saint Martins. She is the author/designer of The Wapping Project on Paper, published by Black Dog Publishing in 2014. Growing up in Glastonbury, home to the largest music and performing arts festival in the world, instilled in Imogen a passion for cultural cross-pollination that finds perfect expression today in shaping Australia’s leading travel titles. Imogen regularly appears as a guest on radio travel segments, including ABC National Nightlife, and is invited to attend global travel expos such as IMM, ILTM, Further East and We Are Africa.
There’s no better place to unwind than the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges – a leafy and idyllic region shrouded in mist, fern-filled gullies and a peaceful atmosphere.
Wrapped in the crisp mountain air, ancient ferns and ethereally verdant landscapes of the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in another world (or at least another part of the planet).
But this gorgeous pocket is under an hour from Melbourne, a mix of top-notch food and wine, boutique stays and forested scenery that make for an easy weekend away or even a midweek escape. In fact, visiting during the week can offer a deeply relaxing experience, with fewer crowds and more space to linger.
If you’re keen to unwind, here’s how to spend your time in this idyllic neck of the woods.
Where to eat
Treat your taste buds to Yarra Valley Dairy. (Image: Visit Victoria)
From farm gates to cosy eateries, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges house a plethora of places to feast. Start your day with a leisurely brunch and coffee at Ripe. This local hangout combines warm hospitality and hearty cafe fare against a backdrop of the hills’ iconic tree-fern canopies. It’s also nestled in the heart of Sassafras, the quaint village that best captures the Dandenong Ranges’ old-world charm.
Next, take yourself on a gastronomic adventure. Visit Yarra Valley Dairy, a regional favourite doing handmade cheeses, or Cherry Hill Orchards, where in summer you can pick your own cherries and enjoy them in the farm’s picturesque grounds. Treat yourself to a tasting at one of the Yarra Valley’s renowned wineries to finish – Rochford, Re’em and De Bortoli are standout picks for a sample of the region’s signature drops.
By night, book a table at either Citrine in the mountain town of Olinda or restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate in the Yarra Valley. Both do elevated seasonal fare paired with excellent drinks.
And if you’re simply in the mood for a tipple, you’re spoiled for choice. The Alpine Hotel in riverside Warburton is a historic and character-filled spot pouring pints and locally made drinks, while Four Pillars is a must for gin lovers. The distillery’s award-winning spirits are famed nationwide, but here you can try them right from the source.
Things to do outdoors
Wander the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
A motley patchwork of misty rainforest, rugged bushscapes and beautifully tended gardens, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges are some of Melbourne’s most scenic pockets. No visit to the region would be complete without a wander through its lush surrounds, either by bike or on foot.
The Ngurrak Barring trail stretches 39 kilometres through the Dandenong Ranges, connecting the towns and fern-filled forests that make the hills so unique. Along the way, be immersed in thought-provoking art installations and cultural stories, sharing a different perspective of this ancient landscape.
While in the area, wander through Cloudehill Garden & Nursery and the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens, situated in Olinda. The cooler climate, rich volcanic soil and consistent rainfall offer both gardens ideal conditions for vivid and vibrant flora.
Over in the Yarra Valley, the 40-kilometre Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail is a flat and family-friendly path perfect for leisurely bike rides and longer walks. It takes you through vine-lined scenery and towns like Seville and Wandin. Biking enthusiasts should head to the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination, a network of 160 kilometres of trails that traverse through untamed terrain.
For a more laidback outing, Alowyn Gardens encompasses seven acres of themed gardens perfect for a meandering stroll. The nearly 100-metre-long wisteria archway that connects different garden zones is a highlight – especially in October, when the lilac blossoms are in spectacular bloom.
The arts and culture scene
Take in the displays at TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges are havens for arts and culture thanks to their inspiring landscapes and thriving creative community. Naturally, a slower escape should include a visit to some of the region’s best studios and galleries.
The TarraWarra Museum of Art in Healesville showcases modern and contemporary Australian art, with both a permanent collection and a rotating display of thoughtful exhibitions. The building and grounds are well worth exploring: a striking architectural landmark amid landscaped lawns and open-air sculptures overlooking the Yarra Valley.
Delve into the area’s rich history at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, a treasure trove of more than 13,000 unique pieces. See everything from Indigenous artefacts to archival photographs and historical objects that tell the region’s story.
On your way back to the city, stop by the leafy enclave of Eltham to discover Montsalvat. This five-acre artistic playground is Australia’s oldest continuous art community, combining galleries, Gothic-style buildings and expansive heritage gardens.
Stay at a local retreat
Re’em is an ideal pick for an indulgent stay.
No matter your style, and no matter your budget, you’ll find a suitable spot in the region to rest your head. If the weather is warm and the sky is clear, set up a tent at BIG4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park or Pine Hill Cabin & Caravan Park. The former has secluded camping spots surrounded by tranquil bushland and local wildlife, along with glamping pods and cabins. The latter has powered and unpowered sites suitable for all kinds of campers, and is pet-friendly if you’re travelling with your four-legged friend.
Or, book yourself into the RACV Healesville Country Club & Resort – a sprawling retreat complete with stylish rooms and luxe amenities that invite you to unwind. Relax at the day spa, tee off at the 18-hole golf course, or recharge with a round of tennis or a few laps in the pool.
And if you’re after something truly indulgent, Re’em is an ideal pick. A boutique collection of just 16, the luxuriously appointed rooms feature plush linens, high-end amenities and oversized baths with panoramic views across the estate. A gourmet breakfast showcasing gorgeous local produce is also included.
