"City Landmark A Touch Above"

John Wright 
Sunday Herald Sun, 11th of April 2010

"UPSCALE and non-standardised" has been a buzz phrase in the boutique hotel sector for some time,with travellers seeking something extra or a point of difference in their homes away from home.
The Accor group's global MGallery collection of hotels is part of the trend, with Melbourne's historic Grand Hotel so far the only Australian property in the portfolio. This massive Victorian building, built in 1891, takes up a city block on Spencer St close to Flinders St and Melbourne's iconic railway station,and once housed the offices of the Victorian Railway Commission.

The Accor group's global MGallery collection of hotels is part of the trend, with Melbourne's historic Grand Hotel so far the only Australian property in the portfolio. This massive Victorian building, built in 1891, takes up a city block on Spencer St close to Flinders St and Melbourne's iconic railway station,and once housed the offices of the Victorian Railway Commission.

A truly grand edifice, with wide, open corridors and 6m ceilings, it was converted from 1995 into about 100 self-catering studios and one and two-bedroom loft-style apartments and suites. The interior-design brief was to retain something of the majesty and sense of history that the building's mammoth exterior evokes while providing all the mod-cons that travellers now demand.

Accor's French influence, which places an accent on personal service, adds another touch that makes for a memorable experience. chunky lounges, flat-screen TV and work desk downstairs. There were a king-size bed, wardrobes and a small but functional bathroom upstairs on the loft level. Thick carpets, old-fashioned airconditioning vents in the floor and heavy sash windows offered a touch of character, although the painted, corrugated iron ceilings seemed a strange design element.  All rooms have broadband internet access, safes, DVD/CD players and satellite TV with a limited number of channels.

What we like

The personal check-in desks in the understated foyer; the opening sash windows; the huge bed, which had a thick, feather-stuffed mattress overlay that made it almost too comfortable; the massive corridors (originally designed to take a Cobb & Co coach, or so the history goes); and the location close to the CBD, Flinders Street Station, Docklands and the Convention Centre.

Not so keen

The hotel still makes a big thing about its in-room espresso coffee machines. Shame they don't work. The milk steamer nozzles apparently are a hazard and have been disengaged, although you aren't told this unless you ask. These machines take up a lot of the very limited kitchen benchtop space in the kitchens. They'd be better off without them, I say.

Food and drink

The hotel's restaurant, RAB (it stands for Railway Administration Building), serves breakfast and lunch daily, and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday. There is a comfortable lounge and bar. Room service dinner prices are reasonable (mains $28-$38), but the menu range is modest.

The room service continental "grand" breakfast is a bit pricey at $32, or $46 with the usual hot stuff. It makes the selfcatering facilities a serious option, and there are good coffee shops and restaurants nearby. The room Room 546 was a split-level apartment with a smart, fully selfcontained kitchen, comfortable.

The mini-bar test

Light local beer, $7.50; premium (James Boag), $8.50; imported brands, $10. Water, $7; Coke, $4.50; chips, $5.

The damage

The hotel's website recently was quoting $179 a night for a two-person studio on weeknights, and $259 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Online agency Wotif's cheapest mid-week rate was $199.

The details

Grand Hotel Melbourne, 33 Spencer St.
Melbourne. (03) 96114567.
www.mgallery.com

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