Assessment: Park Hyatt Melbourne | Prince of Journey

Upon arriving in Melbourne after visiting Sydney, I made my way to the Park Hyatt Melbourne, located close to the heart of the city.

This particular property doesn’t necessarily have a reputation as one of the best Park Hyatts in the world, but I was still curious to check it out.

Additionally, having stayed at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne on my last visit to the city, I was also keen to see how the higher-end Park Hyatt stacked up.

Park Hyatt Melbourne – Booking

The Park Hyatt Melbourne is moderately priced, with a standard room starting in the region of $250 AUD ($170 USD, $224 CAD). During periods of peak demand, it can often climb to upwards of $500 AUD ($340 USD, $445 CAD).

On the loyalty side, the Park Hyatt Melbourne is a Category 5 property with World of Hyatt, which means that a one-night stay in a base-level room can be booked for 40,000 Hyatt points at the standard rate.

Peak and off-peak pricing at this property changes the cost to 46,000 and 34,000 points, respectively.

For my stay, I made my booking via Hyatt Privé for $280 AUD ( $190 USD, $250 CAD).

Compared to our valuation of World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents per point (USD) / 2 cents per point (CAD), paying cash was the optimal choice for this stay.

If you’re booking a cash rate at the Park Hyatt Melbourne, be sure to get in touch with a travel advisor with access to Hyatt Privé, Hyatt’s preferred partner program.

You’ll pay the same as the publicly available refundable rate, but you’ll get extra perks such as free breakfast, a $100 (USD) property credit, a room upgrade, and more.

Park Hyatt Melbourne – Location

The Park Hyatt Melbourne is well situated close to the city’s core, just outside the city’s Central Business District (CBD) on the eastern edge of Melbourne.

The hotel sits west of the CBD in an area that’s known as a quieter location, away from the bustling city centre. The area is quite affluent, with parks, green spaces, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral nearby.

While it isn’t in the heart of the CBD, it’s still within walking distance of many of Melbourne’s prime attractions.

Just steps from the Park Hyatt Melbourne is Daniel O’Connell Statue, and it’s less than ten minutes to Fitzroy Gardens and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Federation Square and Flinders Station, which are located in the centre of the CBD, are less than 20 minutes away by foot, or a few minutes by car.

To get to the airport, it takes around half an hour by car, or an hour by public transit.

Park Hyatt Melbourne – Check-in

Upon arrival, a lengthy driveway leads to the Park Hyatt Melbourne’s main entrance located on Parliament Place. The entrance seamlessly connects to the hotel’s lobby under a canopy adorned with pillars.

Embodying a blend of residential charm and Victorian elegance, the building has a striking façade. Its spacious porte-cochère, accompanied by a graceful water feature, sets a warm and inviting tone.

Stepping into the lobby, you’ll find a rather grand entrance with a spacious two-floor atrium, characterized by dark tones, refined furnishings, and dim lighting. Large pillars add a feeling of grandeur among shiny marble and sculptures.

It looked beautiful, but not very “Park Hyatt” based on the brand’s other properties that I’ve visited, which have been more minimalist in design.

During check-in, I was proactively upgraded to a Park Suite King, which is the standard suite for Globalists, and was confirmed upon my arrival at the front desk.

I was quite satisfied with the automatic suite upgrade as an elite member, and happily took my keys and went upstairs to my room.

Park Hyatt Melbourne – Park Suite King

As I made my way towards my room, the hotel’s hallways were adorned with carpeted floors and dark wooden walls. The overall appearance of these hallways exudes a rather outdated feel.

The Park Suite King room has a sophisticated aesthetic, with dark wooden walls and brown leather furnishings, and is in keeping with the hotel’s lobby with dark and subdued lighting.

Stepping inside, the suite features a separate living room and bedroom, complete with a small seating area, as well as a desk and chair positioned by the window.

To the right, the suite opens up to a spacious bedroom. The king bed sits front and centre, with a tan leather headboard set against the wall.

A flat-screen TV positioned on a stand sits opposite the king bed, while a small armchair is tucked into the right-hand corner.

From the bedroom, you can access the full-marble ensuite bathroom directly. The bathroom offers a bright contrast to the otherwise dark aesthetic of the suite, although it’s still a bit older in appearance.

The bathroom is spacious, with two double vanities, a large soaker tub, and a walk-in shower concealed behind a glass door. The toilet is also concealed within its own compartment.

Nearby, a walk-in closet offers ample storage space, and is equipped with a tea and coffee station, as well as additional bathrobes.

Overall, the Park Suite King had an attractive layout and made for a comfortable home for the night. However, a few gripes I have include the dated interiors, as well as some difficulty finding plugs around the room.

Park Hyatt Melbourne – Breakfast

The Park Hyatt Melbourne offers a complimentary breakfast buffet for Hyatt Globalists in Radii Restaurant & Bar, which is located next to the lobby. The breakfast buffet runs from 6:30am to 10am on weekdays, and 7–11am on weekends.

The selection was fairly run-of-the-mill, offering eggs, sausages, grilled tomatoes, and home fries. Additionally, there was a salad bar, fruit and yogurt display, and a selection of cured meats and cheese.

While the buffet lacked a wide variety, I found it to be quite tasty and satisfying. Additionally, I had the pleasure of encountering a Prince of Travel reader, and it’s always delightful to pause and engage in a conversation.

Park Hyatt Melbourne – Dining

Later in the evening, I came back for dinner at Radii Restaurant & Bar, which also offers a lunch and dinner menu.

The restaurant offers a pleasant atmosphere in the evening, with a sophisticated setting complete with leather furnishings. Additionally, the restaurant expands across multiple levels.

I opted to indulge in a juicy steak paired with a fine wine, which was delicious.

In addition to the hotel’s signature restaurant, there’s also the Tea Lounge & Garden. This dining venue overlooks the outdoor Trilogy Gardens, and offers informal all-day dining options.

It’s worth noting that a Club Lounge at Park Hyatt Melbourne was formerly available for World of Hyatt Globalist members; however, the lounge has since been closed and won’t reopen.

Park Hyatt Melbourne – Other Facilities

The fitness centre at the Park Hyatt Melbourne is quite nice, and overlooks the hotel pool. The facility is well-equipped with treadmills, strength training equipment, and free weights.

Additionally, the hotel features an indoor heated lap pool, which also has several whirlpools and a kids pool. The pool is a generous 25 metres long, and large windows allow an ample amount of natural light to filter through.

Conclusion

While the Park Hyatt Melbourne may not rank among the best properties in the brand’s portfolio, it still offers a comfortable stay, and the rooms are well-appointed. At the same time, there are elements of the hotel that feel a bit outdated, and it could certainly use a bit of a makeover.

While the hotel’s location isn’t as strong as some other high-end Melbourne hotels, it’s conveniently situated near enough to the heart of the city to quickly get to where you need to go.

In the end, I wouldn’t necessarily return to the hotel in the future. Instead, I’d stick to Grand Hyatt Melbourne for a better location if I wanted to remain within the Hyatt brand, or head to the newly opened Ritz-Carlton Melbourne for top-tier luxury experience.