Hotel Review: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins (Prestige Suite)
- Mario Ng
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
The first time I visited Melbourne, I walked past the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins multiple times. It possesses the old-school charm that purrs timeless elegance. I told myself that the next time I am back in Melbourne, I must find a way to stay in this grand hotel.
And so it was that when we booked a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Australia, Sofitel Melbourne on Collins became our first location! Since it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, we knew we had to book a gorgeous room to go with our trip’s theme. When planning our trip, I looked at the various hotel rooms and decided on the Prestige Suite. It is a beautiful suite that comes complete with a proper living room. I knew in my heart that we had to stay here! Thankfully, my friend needed little convincing, and we were all in! Let’s go!
TL:DR
Old-school charm in the middle of Melbourne
Luxurious suite
Delicious room service
Great service
Service:
The service at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins was excellent, and we thoroughly enjoyed every interaction with the staff members. When we first checked in, the staff was polite and professional, with everything completed smoothly. I mentioned that we needed valet parking, and the staff informed us that the cost would be added automatically to our invoice at the end of our stay. There was nothing we needed to do. Perfect.
During the room service meals and at our time in the club lounge, all was great. The staff on duty were always professional and polite, and we never left feeling anything but satisfied.
Whenever we collected the car when leaving the hotel, the staff at the valet parking were always quick and polite as well. Everything was always completed efficiently, and we have only praise for the staff members at this lovely hotel!
Club Sofitel:
During our stay, Club Sofitel was located on the 35th floor, next to No35 restaurant. We understand that the club lounge has since relocated to the 47th floor.
While we were there, three meal services were available. Breakfast was served from 7.00 am to 10.30 am daily, while Le goûter, also known as the French tradition of having an afternoon snack, is served between 2 pm and 4 pm. Due to Covid-era restrictions during our stay, evening canapés were divided into two sessions: the first from 5 pm to 6.30 pm and the second from 6.30 pm to 8 pm. Reservations were required to manage the crowd, although all these restrictions are now a distant memory.
When we first arrived in the afternoon, we had the opportunity to check out Club Sofitel and enjoyed Le goûter simultaneously. Tea is served in a traditional two-tier stand, and we had some lovely cakes and pastries with our coffee. It was simple but delicious.
Come evening, the quantity of food increased. Each guest was served a trio of hot canapes, including a spring roll and a Chinese dumpling. The buffet table showcased some club lounge delights. We had a mixture of everything, from smoked salmon to other cold cuts and additional pastries. We had multiple servings of the yummy smoked salmon and cheese, which we complemented with soft drinks.
For some reason, we did not head up for breakfast the following day. It was likely because we had a late dinner and slept in. Unfortunately, although our booking included breakfast, we were unable to try both the Club Sofitel’s and the main restaurant’s breakfasts.
The lounge was beautiful and peaceful. It had plenty of space, and guests could choose where to relax, either on a sofa or at a proper table, where they could work and enjoy food at the same time.
Room:
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins’ Prestige Suite measures 77 square metres, a substantial amount of space in the heart of downtown Melbourne. Few get to enjoy this luxury, and we were privileged to indulge in it at such a beautiful hotel.
The Prestige Suites face either the city or the bay, and ours had a fantastic view of the city. From our suite, we could spot both the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Rod Laver Arena. Considering it is about a 5-minute drive to Rod Laver Arena, this is the best hotel to stay in during the Australian Open season!
The Prestige Suite features a spacious living room that arguably occupies half of the suite. This is spaciousness at its maximum. Guests can relax at the full-size dining table, read the newspaper, work on their tasks, or enjoy a nice meal with family and friends. A cabinet by the wall houses all the caffeine and minibar essentials, so you are never too far away from a drink. Nespresso capsules and Madame Flavour teabags, a local tea brand famous in Australia, provide caffeine options. The usual snacks are displayed on a tray, while the minibar has alcoholic drinks and chilled champagne glasses.
After your meal, head over to the sofa for a relaxing time catching some Australian television. Our favourite show must be Border Security, as it seems to always be playing on the television every time we turn it on.
The bedroom features a King-sized bed that appears small in comparison to the rest of the room. On the side is a lounge chair that faces the bedroom television, although you could also choose to turn around and catch the beautiful Melbourne view.
The bathroom features a bathtub with a built-in shower. The bathroom is adequately sized, which may be surprising considering the spaciousness of the rest of the suite. However, we were fine with the bathroom’s size and had no complaints. Toiletries are provided by Balmain, and wall-mounted containers of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand wash, and body lotion are available.
A tablet is available in each suite, which is great for guests to use. From the tablet, there are many useful things you can do, from checking out the hotel’s restaurants and bars to ordering room service. Indeed, we made full use of the tablet to request a room service dinner during our stay at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins!
Room Service:
After enjoying some ‘light’ snacks at Club Sofitel in the evening, we decided to try their room service. Since we were still full from the light dinner, we decided to share some food. We browsed the menu on the tablet and decided on two main courses and one dessert.
We ordered the Grilled Wagyu Cheese Burger and Pan-fried fish à la Provençale, a popular French dish. We thought a nice balance of American and French food worked well together. As expected, the chefs at Sofitel, a French brand, proved worthy of cooking those dishes. We loved both dishes, and I finished up the entire fish dish.
The Pan fried fish à la Provençale is served with fregola, a type of pasta that I thought tasted like barley. I was none the wiser. It also came with baby octopus, which I thought complemented the dish perfectly. The sundried tomatoes, olives, and basil were all mixed in the buttered carrot velouté, which I felt was the star of the dish. Granted, the fish was cooked to perfection, but the sauce made the dish, and it just had the right balance of sweet and savoury. This is the dish you must try!
The cheeseburger is just what it is: an amazing American cheeseburger. You really cannot go wrong by ordering a cheeseburger, and this version was delicious. If you are an American, chances are you will feel right at home after eating this burger. Don’t hold me to it though! The bun was a classic, while the cheese melted onto the thick beef patty. Pickles are served on the side and are great for cheeseburger lovers. A massive portion of fries was served, and this was the only food we did not finish for our room service meal.
With such heavy mains, we had to wash them down with some beverages. We opted for a classic OJ and a glass of Rosé, which, although some might say is not suitable for the heavy mains, we enjoyed some sweetness in our lives.
For dessert, we ordered the Snickers-inspired Peanut Parfait, a delightful dessert. Served in dulce de leche, also known as caramelised milk, the dessert is coated with chocolate ganache and drizzled with peanuts and berry gel. All in all, a scrumptious and perfect way to end our meal. Ten out of ten for our room service dinner at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins!
Views:
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins boasts some of the best city views. Strategically located in the heart of Melbourne, the tall skyscraper has stunning views of the city. Check out some of our favourite snapshots of the hotel and views of the city!
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. From the time we checked in until the time we drove off to our next destination the next day, everything was perfect. The service standards were top-notch, and we thoroughly enjoyed every interaction we had with the staff members. As a French brand, the hotel brought pride to the Sofitel brand with its fantastic food options. We especially loved our room service meal, and it was just a delight to relive the meal through this article. Its location is another advantage, and guests should love how central the hotel is to most destinations in Melbourne. I hope to return to Melbourne soon for another stay at this excellent hotel!
Click here to find out more about Sofitel Melbourne on Collins and book a stay today!
Cost of Prestige Suite: A$1,010.00 a night - stayed over a weekday in July 2022; valet parking chargeable at A$65.00 a night.
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