Rising up in a striking composition of red brick, textured inlay, and claret-tinted metal window frames, Melbourne Place stands out “like a beacon visible across the city,” says Patrick Kennedy, founding partner of Kennedy Nolan. The hotel’s distinctive rooftop terrace, featuring porthole-like windows set within an arched brick wall, is especially eye-catching.

Inside, the 191 rooms and suites draw inspiration from the Australian landscape, with color themes that shift by direction—eucalyptus green and orange in the Eastern rooms, and indigo and calico dress blue in those facing North.

“We were keen to imbue an experience to the hotel with qualities specific to Melbourne and not found elsewhere,” Kennedy says.

To achieve this, the design team commissioned many of the guestroom furnishings from local makers and designers, including coffee tables in rich russet-toned West Australian jarrah wood, handmade metal wall lights, custom terrazzo tiles, and curvaceous armchairs upholstered in earthy brown bouclé wool.

The hotel is also home to a trio of dining venues. On the ground-floor, Marmelo—designed by local studio Mitchell & Eades—features a blend of natural, tactile materials, such as a marble bar, handcrafted tiles, and banquettes upholstered in an épinglé fabric. The firm also spearheaded the design of Mr Mills, the moody basement supper club accessed via a chartreuse staircase and decked out in timber and terracotta.

Crowning the property is rooftop bar Mid Air, which reflects the “rich materiality, natural textures, and warmth,” of the rest of the property, says Kennedy. The space flaunts ochre-tinted canvas sofas, tiled tabletops, and bright manor red high chairs with canvas saddles. The circular windows are the venue’s focal point, he adds, drawing eyes to the city’s skyscrapers from the herringbone-tiled terrace.

Marmelo restaurant

This article originally appeared in HD’s May/June 2025 issue.