Review: The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne

What we loved: One of the newest and nicest luxury properties in Melbourne, perched at the top of an 80-floor skyscraper that delivers breathtaking views. The location is super convenient for travellers connecting through the airport or hopping on a train to nearby destinations, and the package offered through Amex's Fine Hotels & Resorts brings incredible value for a short stay.

What we didn't love: While staff were polished and professional, the service wasn't quite as personalized as I've experienced at other luxury properties at this price point.

How to book: This property participates in the Marriott Bonvoy program, with standard room redemptions starting from 68,000 points or $550 per night.

The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne – About the Property

Having opened in March 2023, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne is a modern architectural landmark. It pays homage to the city's industrial roots through its podium design, where the base of the building intentionally uses heavy, textured materials, and to it's gold rush heritage from the 1850's through its curated brass accents and warm metallic finishes.

The combination of contemporary design and historical nods gives the property a distinct personality that feels grounded in Melbourne rather than generic luxury.

Location

The hotel sits at the western end of Melbourne's business district, anchored in the historic and commercial heart of the city. It's within a 5-minute walk of Southern Cross Station, which makes it incredibly convenient for onward travel to other Australian destinations by train.

The hotel also falls within Melbourne's Free Tram Zone and offers easy walking access to Marvel Stadium and the iconic Queen Victoria Market. Most of the city's notable dining and shopping venues sit within a 10–20 minute walk.

Melbourne Airport (MEL) is roughly 22 km away, or about a 20–30 minute drive depending on traffic. The SkyBus departs every 15 minutes from the airport and drops you within walking distance of the hotel for a fraction of the cost of a taxi or rideshare service.

Keep in mind that if you're driving, valet parking on-site costs 75 AUD per night, which is steep but not unusual for a downtown luxury property.

Booking

This property participates in the Marriott Bonvoy program, with standard room redemptions starting at 68,000 points per night. Cash rates begin at around $550 CAD per night and climb quickly during peak periods or for higher room categories.

At Prince of Travel, we generally value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.8 cents per point (CAD), which means a 68,000-point redemption represents decent value when cash rates exceed $550 CAD. With dynamic pricing, it's worth checking specific dates to see whether points or cash makes more sense for your stay.

Since my husband and I both have the U.S. Amex Business Platinum, we booked through the Amex's Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) program to make use of our $300 FHR credits. 

The standard FHR benefits include a $100 USD property credit, complimentary breakfast for two, room upgrade when available, late check-out, and a noon check-in when available. Through the end of 2026, Amex is offering an additional $75 USD hotel credit on top of the usual $100 USD credit at this particular property, bringing the total to $175 USD (or 245 AUD) hotel credit per room per stay. 

Travelling as a family of five presents some logistical challenges when it comes to fitting everyone comfortably into a hotel room. We ended up booking two rooms to give the kids their own space. This gave us a generous amount of hotel credit to put towards dining and other on-site experiences.

For incidentals, I used the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card to earn elevated points on Marriott spend.

The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne – Check-In Experience

The hotel sits along a busy main street, but a discreet roundabout brings you to the dedicated entrance where staff were quick to greet us and assist with our luggage. 

Stepping inside, we entered a grand lobby foyer with high ceilings, generous seating areas, and a striking chandelier that immediately set the tone for the stay.

Because the hotel occupies the top 20 floors of the building, check-in and reception take place in the Sky Lobby on the 80th floor. The elevator ride up is quick, and stepping out into the bright, airy lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows was a wow moment.

Although we arrived early, staff were able to check us in promptly and were given a warm recognition of our Titanium and Platinum Elite statuses. 

Elite Benefits & Amenities

As Platinum and Titanium Elite members, we received the following benefits during our stay:

• Upgrade: The hotel proactively upgraded us to Harbour King rooms on one of the highest floors. Because we preferred connecting rooms for the kids, we opted instead for two Deluxe King rooms, which were the only connecting option available at the time of check-in.
• Welcome amenity: 1,000 Bonvoy points, plus a package of Australian fruit jellies in our rooms
• Late check-out: Offered, though we didn't need it given our early departure
• Breakfast: Not typically complimentary at Ritz-Carlton properties, but included for both rooms thanks to our FHR booking. The hotel kindly extended the benefit to include our third child, which was a generous gesture.

The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne – Deluxe King Guest Room

Our two rooms weren't physically connected in the traditional sense, but rather sat as two corner rooms sharing a common entryway with its own door. The setup felt like having our own private corner of the hotel, which was honestly a better arrangement than typical connecting rooms.

Both rooms had one king bed. The kids converted the spacious chase into an extra bed in the evening. Though the same room type, our king room was slightly more spacious, but the design aesthetic was identical across both.

Light tones with dark accents with floor-to-ceiling windows set the tone for a refined, contemporary stay high above the city. The windows dominated the space, flooding the rooms with natural light and framing sweeping views across Melbourne's skyline and harbour beyond.

Roller shades helped reduce glare and offered privacy, with separate blackout curtains for nighttime. 

Beside the window, a chaise, coffee table, and armchair created an inviting nook, perfect for a morning coffee or an evening wind-down while watching the city shift from day to night. Everything felt intentional without being overdone.

The plush king-sized bed sat against a soft neutral backdrop, complemented by warm timber accents and subtle, sculptural wall art. To one side of the bed was a small dresser with a carefully placed mirror that reflected the view, adding to the sense that this was a space designed not just for comfort but for experience.

While many hotels offer a small work desk, here there was a large standalone desk, big enough to serve as a workstation for our entire family. The overhead lighting was more than adequate, and outlets along the side made it convenient for charging devices.

It felt slightly out of place, but it worked well as a workstation and later as a dining table for the room service spread we ordered one evening. A flat-screen TV faced the bed and chaise, with a beverage station housing a mini bar and fridge tucked to one side.

Marble surfaces and dark wood paneling created a luxurious contrast in the airy bathroom, punctuated by elegant brass accents. Premium Diptyque toiletries enhanced the sense of indulgence.

A double vanity provided convenience while a separate shower and deep soaking tub provided options.  

The water closet was tucked away in its own enclosed space for added privacy.

Just outside the bathroom, a vanity desk and open walk-in closet completed the dressing area, making the entire layout feel more like a small suite than a standard hotel room.

The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne – Food and Drink

The hotel offers several dining venues, each taking advantage of the property's elevated setting. We had the chance to try a few during our stay.

Breakfast was served at Atria and consisted of a continental buffet featuring baked goods, yogurts, fresh fruits, vitality shots, and more, plus a choice of one a la carte item. 

The a la carte menu had a good variety of options from different cultural influences. A kids menu was available, which the children appreciated.

Atria is also open for dinner and Saturday brunch. Because we had the FHR property credit to use, we tried dinner here one evening and were treated to beautiful Australian cuisine paired with skyline views.

The menu offers both a la carte and tasting menu options, with adventurous local specialties like kangaroo tartare alongside more familiar choices. The steak and fish we ordered were both excellent.

For lighter fare, afternoon tea, or daytime cocktails, the Lobby Lounge offers the same skyline views in a more relaxed setting. In the early evening, the hotel's bar, Cameo, opens for drinks and late-night socializing.

In-room dining is available 24/7, and we took advantage of it one night when we wanted a change of pace and quieter family evening. We ordered quite a spread and used the large desk as our family dining table.

The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne – Other Facilities

The 64th floor houses The Wellness Floor, which is home to the Ritz-Carlton Spa, an infinity pool, a 24-hour gym, and gender-specific steam rooms, saunas, and vitality pools. 

If you're interested in a spa treatment, I'd recommend booking it well before arrival, as availability was extremely tight during our stay, likely due to the generous FHR hotel credit drawing in plenty of guests.

The infinity pool overlooking the skyline was a wonderful way to unwind after a day of touring around the city, with plenty of loungers and daybeds for everyone in our family. 

The Ritz-Carlton Club is available to guests staying in Club-level rooms and offers a dedicated concierge service plus culinary offerings throughout the day. If you're not booked into a Club-level room, access can be purchased separately at check-in.

Throughout our stay, staff were courteous and professional, and small touches like the welcome jellies and the breakfast extension for our third child were appreciated. That said, the service didn't feel quite as personalized as I've experienced at other top-tier luxury properties.

Conclusion

If you're heading to Melbourne and want a hotel that makes the city feel like a backdrop to your stay, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne delivers on that promise. The views alone are worth the price of admission, and the location near Southern Cross Station is hard to beat for families combining city sightseeing with day trips elsewhere in Australia.

For our family, the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts booking transformed an already strong property into exceptional value. The combined $245 AUD credit per room easily covered our dinner expenses, and the complimentary breakfast for all three kids was a meaningful saving. If you are travelling to Melbourne this year, I would book through FHR without hesitation.

Would I return? Yes, in a heartbeat. For a modern, family-friendly luxury stay in one of Australia's best cities, the Ritz-Carlton sits at the top of my Melbourne list.