This elegant hotel is bringing Art Deco glamour to the city.
There’s tough competition for hotels in Melbourne. The 2023 openings of The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne and the re-opening of The Royce solidified Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s best city for hotels, a status further strengthened by recent openings such as 1 Hotel and Hannah St Hotel. But The Royce’s convenient location, size and storied past put it in a unique position in the market.
I recently checked into the elegant stay, albeit with low expectations, but was pleased to find it was nothing short of immaculate. Here’s everything you need to know.
Where is The Royce?
The Royce sits on the edge of the CBD and South Yarra.
The Royce sits on St Kilda Road and is a perfect base for those wanting the city at their doorstep without the noise. Sitting on the edge of the CBD and South Yarra, it’s a short walk to the Royal Botanical Gardens, Albert Park and National Gallery of Victoria and iconic local eateries such as The Kettle Black and Brick Lane. The nearest tram stop sits conveniently opposite the hotel, taking travellers everywhere from Federation Square and the NGV to St Kilda Beach, without having to change lines.
Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) is approximately 30-40 minute’s drive away, while Avalon Airport is 50 minutes away.
What is the style and character of The Royce?
The hotel exudes Art Deco glamour
A huge marble fireplace anchors the Showroom Bar.
When trying to encapsulate the glamorous Art Deco aesthetic and ambience, I feel it can be easy for venues to tip into looking a bit gimmicky. The Royce doesn’t have that problem.
The building, which was originally designed in 1928 by Art Deco architect Harry Norris, has a rich motor history that has been celebrated in both its name and design. Once the home of Rolls-Royce in Melbourne, the now accommodation received a refresh by renowned design firm SJB, which they completed in 2023.
The hotel’s latest iteration pays homage to its Art Deco heritage and the prestigious showroom via tiered chandeliers, a huge marble fireplace, a sweeping staircase, chrome ballroom panels, the loft mechanic workshops and the illuminated porte-cochère. The six two-storey lofts also feature the original cornicing from the Royce mechanic workshop.
A palette of grey, royal blue and deep plum sets an elegant tone against white Italian Carrara marble and chrome accents. Botanical and bird-print wallpaper across the dining spaces and rooms adds character.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
What are the rooms like at The Royce?
The elegant Boulevard Suite.
The Boulevard Suite features a separate living area.
Relax in the freestanding bath,
The King room opens up to lush views.
The Royce Suite's luxe living area.
Loft suites are spread across two storeys.
There are 94 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites at The Royce, which range from intimate King Rooms to the ultra-luxe The Royce Suite. I’m staying in a Boulevard Suite, which features a separate living room and balcony. It’s spacious, impeccably presented and feels more high-end apartmentthan hotel room. Some details I appreciate are the plush robe and bed, large bath and Dyson hair dryer. A trio of sweets on arrival and Molton Brown products in the bathroom make this room feel even more considered.
What facilities does The Royce have?
Indulge in a lavish breakfast at The Terrace.
The gap in this 5-star stay is the lack of swimming pool or spa. There is a gym fitted with state of the art equipments, as well as a library and ballroom (how fitting) available for private events. On-site dining venues Showroom Bar and The Terrace make for a delightful offering.
What is the dining like at The Royce?
Indulge in elevated bites and cocktails.
Tuck into smoked beef tartare.
A beautifully plated dessert at The Royce Melbourne.
Melbourne is widely regarded as the foodie capital of Australia, so staying in to eat might feel sacrilegious, but The Royce has fantastic food offerings I recommend considering. For starters, Executive Chef Pawan Dutta of onsite Showroom Bar was crowned Chef of the Year at the 2025 Victorian Accommodation Awards for Excellence. His menu covers bar snacks, entrées, mains, comfort dishes, dessert and caviar options.
Tuck into indulgent dishes such as Moreton Bay bug with Brussels sprouts, purple potato, leeks, turnips, achiote oil, black bean aioli; hibachi grilled duck breast with confit leg croquette, liver parfait and port wine poached figs, Swiss chard and cherry jus; and Grand Cru Cuvée chocolate soufflé with bellini sorbet and gianduja.
For a post- or pre-dinner tipple, unwind in a sink-in club chair next to the fireplace and work your way through the cocktail menu of signature and classic drinks like the ‘Berries in the City’ with strawberry-infused JJ Whitley vodka, Pierre Ferrand, cranberry, lime and gin aged orange bitters and the Negroni with Whitley gin, Campari and Unico yuzu sweet vermouth.
A continental buffet on weekdays and a full buffet on weekends is served in leafy The Terrace.
Weekly travel news, experiences insider tips, offers, and more.
Does The Royce have access for guests with disabilities?
The Royce King Accessible rooms feature accessible-friendly design features such as automated doors, handrails, extra space and assistance.
Is The Royce family-friendly?
The Royce caters for discerning travellers.
The Royce doesn’t position itself as a family-oriented hotel, and its opulent atmosphere feels more in line with business, solo travellers and couples.
The details
Best for: Business travellers and those looking for a bit of indulgence.
Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Rachael Thompson is a freelance travel journalist. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to curating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love, Bed Threads and Australian Traveller/International Traveller. When she's not writing, editing or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list is Lord Howe Island.
From coast to mountains, hiking in Gippsland offers a stunning array of landscapes, with trails that take you deep into the region’s heritage.
I step out onto the sand and it cries out underfoot. Kweek! I take another step and there’s another little yelp. Screet! Picking up the pace, the sounds follow me like my shadow, all the way down to the water. It’s obvious how this spot got its name – Squeaky Beach – from the rounded grains of quartz that make the distinctive sounds under pressure.
For many, Wilsons Promontory National Park is the gateway to Gippsland, and the best way to explore it is by walking its network of hiking trails, from coastal gems such as Squeaky Beach through to the bushland, among the wildlife. But it’s still just a taste of what you’ll find on foot in the region.
Venture a bit further into Gippsland and you’ll discover the lakes, the rainforest, and the alpine peaks, each changing with the season and offering summer strolls or winter walks. Just like that squeaky sand, each step along these trails has something to tell you: perhaps a story about an ancient spirit or a pioneering search for fortune.
The best coastal hikes in Gippsland
Wilsons Promontory National Park is a sprawling wilderness with many coastal bushland trails. (Image: Mark Watson)
Wilsons Promontory National Park (or ‘The Prom’, as you’ll end up calling it) is an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne, but you might ditch the car when you arrive, with much of the park’s 50,000 hectares accessible only by foot. From the inky water of Tidal River (dyed dark purple by abundant tea trees), I like the easy walks along the coast, among lichen-laden granite boulders, to golden beaches and bays.
Panoramic views from the summit of Mount Oberon. (Image: Everyday Nicky)
The trail to the panoramic views at the summit of Mount Oberon is a bit harder, up steep timber and granite steps, but it’s a popular 6.8-kilometre return. The more remote hikes are found through the open banksia and stringybark woodland of the park’s north, or along the multi-day Southern Circuit, which ranges from about 35 to 52 kilometres, with sunrises and sunsets, kangaroos and cockatoos, and maybe even whales.
Walk ‘The Prom’s’ golden sand beaches. (Image: Tourism Australia/Time Out Australia)
You might also see whales on the George Bass Coastal Walk, even closer to Melbourne on the western edge of Gippsland. This dramatic seven-kilometre trail along the clifftops takes in sweeping views of the wild ocean, occasionally dipping down from grassy green hills to coastal gullies and a secluded beach. It also now links into the Bass Coast Rail Trail for an extra 14 kilometres.
George Bass Coastal Walk trails for seven kilometres along clifftops. (Image: Visit Victoria/Time Out Australia)
Over at the eastern edge of Gippsland, in Croajingolong National Park, you can wander along the lakeshores beneath koalas and around goannas (I keep my distance since one chased me here!). For those who are even more adventurous, the park is also the starting point for the 100-kilometre Wilderness Coast Walk, usually done over seven days.
Wander along the lakeshores in Croajingolong National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)
The best bush hikes in Gippsland
The alpine heath of Baw Baw National Park. (Image: Everyday Nicky)
Deep in the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine at Walhalla, mining guide Richard tells me how this small town in the mountains east of Melbourne boomed when prospectors found gold here in 1862. These days, you’ll find most of the town’s treasure – its heritage – above ground, with the Walhalla Tramline Walk a wonderful way to explore it.
Just seven kilometres long, the walk takes you through decades of Gold Rush history, following the original rail trail from lush bushland to the mining sites, and through the charming village of just 20 residents with its wooden cottages and old shopfronts adorned with turn-of-the-century advertising posters. Blazing a trail where trailblazers once opened up the region, this is also the starting point for the 650-kilometre Australian Alps Walking Track.
Nearby, Baw Baw National Park has walks through gnarled snow gums and alpine heaths that show off the colourful wildflowers in summer and the pristine carpet of white in winter. Several trails are perfect for snowshoes, including a 45-minute route from St Gwinear up to vast views across the Latrobe Valley.
Further up into the mountains, the Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls Loop Walk is an easy 2.2-kilometre path that serenades you with the sound of flowing water as you pass mossy rocks and tree ferns en route to two sets of waterfalls cascading over boulders in the remote wilderness.
The best cultural hikes in Gippsland
Hike the Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)
Across a pool in a natural sandstone amphitheatre, deep within a cave behind a waterfall, it’s said the Nargun has its lair. A fierce creature, half human and half stone, that abducts children and can’t be harmed by boomerangs or spears, the story of the Nargun has been told around the campfires of the local Gunaikurnai people for generations.
As a culturally significant place for women, hikers are asked not to go into the Den of Nargun, but a 3.4-kilometre loop walk leads you through a rainforest gully to the entrance where you can feel the powerful atmosphere here in Mitchell River National Park, along Victoria’s largest remaining wild and free-flowing waterway.
Bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)
The Den of Nargun is part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail, a series of important traditional Gunaikurnai sites through central Gippsland. Another location is Victoria’s largest cave system, Buchan Caves Reserve, with trails to important archaeological sites of human artefacts up to 18,000 years old. The FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk includes the naturally sculpted white limestone steps of the 400-metre-long Federal Cave, while the Granite Pools Walk goes among tall timber and moss-covered gullies.
The ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park. (Image: Josie Withers)
Also important to the Gunaikurnai people is Tarra-Bulga National Park, known for its ancient myrtle beeches and enormous mountain ash trees. Just 40 minutes return, the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk offers a taste of this verdant landscape, while the Grand Strzelecki Track takes you deep into the lost world of forest giants on an epic 100-kilometre trail rich with tradition.
A traveller’s checklist
Staying there
Wilderness Retreats in The Prom. (Image: Christian Pearson)
Wilderness Retreats in Wilsons Promontory offers glamping-style tents with luxurious queen beds. Star Hotel is a reconstruction of a Gold Rush-era hotel from 1863 in the heart of heritage Walhalla. Caves House is a historic three-bedroom house with views over the Buchan River.
Eating there
Enjoy a post-hike lunch at Carrajung Estate. (Image: Everyday Nicky)
Kilcunda General Store serves great coffee and meals of local produce at the George Bass Coastal Walk. Alpine Trout Farm is located near Toorongo Falls in Noojee. Fish for your own lunch and barbecue it with the provided cookware.
Carrajung Estate is a short drive from Tarra-Bulga National Park. The winery’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu of regional ingredients and you can stay at The Lodge.
The table is set for a seafood feast at the estate.
