The verdict on Melbourne’s glam new Manhattan-style hotel

The hotel

Hannah St Hotel, Southbank, Melbourne

Check-in

When assigning our capitals a global shorthand, Sydney is often equated to Los Angeles, while Melbourne is furnished the (arguably cooler) likeness of the Big Apple. It’s a comparison that sticks at the newly opened Hannah St Hotel, whose triangular footprint mimics New York’s iconic Flatiron Building. This is the third Australian property to launch under the design-led Collection by TFE Hotels, joining The Eve Hotel in Sydney and The Calile in Brisbane.

Tucked directly under the Kings Way overpass in the $150 million Queensbridge Building development, the entrance feels like a well-kept secret. Far from drab concrete, the underbelly of this rust-red cantilevered highway has been dressed-up with Barbie-pink columns and a polka dot driveway (a “yellow brick road” for Ubers). It’s a scene completed by resident caffeine purveyor Hannah St Coffee’s crimson “grab ‘n’ go” window, where the aroma of Square One coffee proves that even under a motorway, Melbourne’s coffee snobbery is elite.

Inside, the welcome is well-oiled; a cool-looking staffer in white kicks whisks away my luggage before a pink-tinged welcome mocktail appears.

The look

Melbourne-based Flack Studio (The Eve Hotel, Ace Hotel Sydney) is behind the interiors, which lace New York old-world grandeur with ’80s maximalism. Brace for playful throwbacks like jewel-toned velvet lounges, neon flourishes and a monochromatic “piano key” motif at the reception desk and 20-metre lap pool on the ninth floor.

Swirling marble and custom furnishings flood the public spaces and 188 rooms. The hotel doubles as a gallery; an all-female collective of Australian artists was commissioned to create site-specific works, including a fragmented neon poem by Jazz Money that unfolds through the lobby and halls. While the gritty space beneath the freeway currently hosts, erm, construction skips, there are plans to bring it to life with flea and farmers markets.

The room

Channelling the retro ’80s-glam of Hamer Hall, the rooms feature brutalist concrete walls, blush-pink carpet and walnut timbers. My skyline corner suite (28 square metres) isn’t significantly larger than entry-level categories, but curving floor-to-ceiling glass floods the space with light and offers a front-row seat to the pulsing Kings Way traffic below.

Space is smartly utilised thanks to custom furnishings, comprising a king bed, a large open en suite with double vanity, a desk and a mini-bar stocked with treats. The tech is generally great – Dyson hairdryers, Marshall Bluetooth speakers and USB-C ports – though the lighting controls are a riddle. I spend an embarrassing amount of time decoding the two-touch dimming function while trying to switch off the lights (there’s no master switch). More frustrating was the shower, which flickered hot and cold, more temperamental than Melbourne’s weather. Management’s response, however, was stellar; maintenance was dispatched with a promise of personal testing before my next stay.

Food + drink

The Mulberry Group (Hazel, Dessous, Lilac Wine) handles the food across all five venues, led by executive chef Andrew Beddoes – a savvy move given the city’s foodie chops. The signature Coupette Corner Bistro and Bar, with its dining room of cherry-toned marble and powder-blue banquettes, is a destination in its own right.

Breakfast is a highlight – the blue swimmer crab omelette, smacking of chilli and lime, is a revelation, served with precision brews. Lunch and dinner leans modern European; think beef tartare with puffed beef tendon crisps and steak frites smothered in Montpellier butter. Don’t miss the Terrace Lounge for an alfresco rooftop drink.

Out + about

The location is a walker’s dream. The Melbourne Arts Precinct, currently undergoing a $1.7 billion transformation, is on your doorstep. The NGV International, Southbank Theatre and Federation Square are all within a 15-minute stroll. Don’t miss the NGV’s Westwood Kawakubo exhibition, on until April 19, 2026.

The verdict

A playful, art-saturated sanctuary with a formidable food offering, this could be Melbourne’s most convincing slice of Manhattan grit-turned-glamour yet.

Essentials

Local rooms from $295 a night; skyline corner suites from $564. Several DDA-compliant rooms available. 19 Walker Street, Southbank, Melbourne. Phone: +61 03 9944 6000. See hannahsthotel.com

Our rating out of five

★★★½

Highlight

Coupette’s crab and apple salad with lardo, finished tableside with a vivid-green oyster dressing, is a must-order.

Lowlight

A few more room service comfort staples (like a club sandwich) wouldn’t go astray. I love seafood, but dishes like fried school prawns leave behind a lingering pong.

The writer stayed as a guest of Visit Victoria and Hannah St Hotel. See visitvictoria.com