215 Little Collins St, Melbourne, Australia | (888) 399-9863
Central location on Little Collins Street
Indoor pool and hot tub are nice perks for a value hotel
Restaurant serves Thai and Australian food
Bar features a billiards table and multiple seating options
Large event space on-site
On-site fitness center
Dated rooms have bland decor and small bathrooms
Fee for Wi-Fi and parking
TVs in some rooms have odd, awkward placements
The Victoria Hotel is a historic landmark, but the late 19th-century grandeur has largely faded away. However, its bland, dated rooms do have a major upside -- they're often very inexpensive for the prime location, right in the heart of the city. That's not the only draw here either; the property has an on-site bar with a billiards table, as well as a restaurant that serves Thai food all day after a continental breakfast buffet. The indoor pool, hot tub, and fitness center are all inviting, but none are big enough for the number of budget travelers the hotel can accommodate.
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Scene
Historic hotel with a bland makeover
One of the first hotels in Melbourne, The Victoria opened in 1880 as the Victoria Coffee Palace. In a boxy, beige building, much of the original lobby structure remains, but a skylight dome was taken out during WWII when forced blackouts were often the norm. Today, the grand staircase with its brass banister still twirls up to the second story under a pretty chandelier. Seating and tables can be found on the second level and a white, mod reception area greets guests coming through the spacious ground floor.
Location
Centrally located on Little Collins, near array of attractions
The hotel is located on Little Collins Street -- which is parallel to Collins Street, bustling with boutiques and restaurants -- and manages to feel both tucked away and lively. Some of Melbourne's most fashion-forward stores are along this stretch of road, as well as a number of excellent mid-range restaurants and cafes. It's also an easy walk from the hotel to most of central Melbourne's attractions, including the aquarium. The huge open-air Queen Victoria Market is a 20-minute stroll north. Trams are plentiful on Collins Street as well as on nearby Flinders and Swanston Streets. The Melbourne Airport is about a 25-minute drive northwest.
Rooms
Budget rooms with generic decor
Ironically, the Victoria's 370 Heritage Rooms have no trace of the hotel's historic past, offering a bland decor similar to that found in many budget hotels. The walls are painted in an earth-tone palate with few adornments save token pieces of framed art and handy reading lights fixed over a variety of bed configurations. Most units have sitting chairs with small wooden tables and work desks. Bathrooms are more modern, with polished chrome details and walk-in rainfall showers. All rooms also provide mini-fridges and electric tea pots, but no dedicated coffeemakers.
Features
Thai restaurant, bar with billiards, indoor pool, and meeting rooms
At one point in its history, the hotel became known simply as The Vic, a name its second floor bar now pays homage to. The venue has a classy wood billiards table to go along with libations and lounge space. Alice's Thai Restaurant does a traditional buffet breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and fruit before switching over to a mix of Australian and Thai cuisine for lunch and dinner. An indoor pool and hot tub are upstairs in a space with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the Central Business District. An adjacent fitness center has all the standard cardio machines and weight trainers, though there are only a few of each. There are also a pair of flexible event rooms, the largest of which can host up to 250 people.
