The newly renovated stay right in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD

The hotel

The Sebel Melbourne Flinders Lane

Check in

This newly renovated stay is right in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. Flinders Lane is busy with pedestrians scuttling off to a basement bar or a viral sandwich shop, but once inside the hustle and bustle evaporates. You are greeted by an almost ethereal white lobby with staff standing behind glowing golden desks (I half expect to see pearly gates at their backs). Guests are led to a beige lounge area with forest-toned lounges and chairs that surround a teardrop-shaped hanging electric fireplace for an informal check-in and key exchange. Everything has a nice, clubby feel.

The look

The hotel has had a $5 million facelift with a remit to provide a “contemporary urban chic” space. The reconfiguration of the lobby introduces the aforementioned lounge, contemporary artworks and a history of the building for you to read while waiting for the lifts. Flinders Lane, near Queen Street, was the city’s rag trade precinct and The Sebel, built in 1921, was home to various textile and fashion retailers. Accor purchased the building in 2005, and it is now a key urban stay in the club portfolio but also open to the public.

The room

My one-bedroom accommodation is more like an apartment. It includes a dining nook with four-seater marble-topped table, living room with leather modular couch and massive bedroom with a soft grey bedhead and wireless phone charging ports on each side of the bed. The walls echo the beige-and-tan public spaces in the living room and bedroom with a darker charcoal and grey palette in the bathrooms. My room has a view across Melbourne rooftops to skyscrapers beyond. It looks out to a communal outdoor space, with a barbecue and sun umbrellas, where guests can gather. The Sebel Melbourne Flinders Lane is part of the Accor Vacation Club, which encourages guests to mingle and feel at home.

Food + drink

The only hospitality on site is a barista bar decorated with black-and-white photographs of Melbourne. Next door is Cuff, which operates as the de facto Sebel breakfast spot. Named for the area’s rag trade history, the breakfast pick is Cuff Florentine – poached eggs and hollandaise sauce on an English muffin with spinach and your choice of ham, smoked salmon or spicy beef brisket. Show your room key and receive a 15 per cent discount.

Out + about

With the hotel’s position on Flinders Lane, the CBD is yours to explore. Walk up a few blocks to new upstairs wine bar The Florence. The red-lit space is Tuscan-inspired and a pepperoncini martini is a savoury glass of brine and spice with a vodka base; bites include spanner crab and apple on a warm blini, scallop crudo and caviar or a grilled sandwich of truffled pecorino and raw honey. For something more casual Super Taco, on Crossley Street, serves simple fish tacos (as well as al pastor and cauliflower options) with a range of fresh and spicy salsas. Sydney import LB’s Record Bar has the bright orange retro fitout of its Sydney sister JAM Record Bar. Both are from Sydney’s Merivale Group.

The verdict

The lack of food and beverage amenities is tricky for a short stay, but the proximity to Flinders Lane and the outsized apartments are a winning combo in a city where hotel rooms are not always huge. For longer-term visits the kitchen space is great for cook-in meals, so a definite bonus.

The essentials

The Sebel Melbourne Flinders Lane has one-bedroom apartments starting from $493, there are also studios. Accor Vacation Club members receive special offers. See accorvacationclub.com.au; all.accor.com.

Our rating out of five

★★★½

Highlight

The space, camaraderie and barbecue patio make it feel like you suddenly live in the heart of the city.

Lowlight

Having to head out for anything other than a coffee when you feel so at home.

The writer was a guest of Accor Vacation Club.