OTHER COUNTRIES: MELBOURNE (CBD) WHERE TO STAY WITH KIDS

I have many friends and blog readers ask me where I recommend staying in the centre of Melbourne (especially the CBD area.)*Central Business District.
Most people who ask have enjoyed my Japan with kids recommendations and also want some additional hand-holding while holidaying in Melbourne. 

Please note that I only speak of hotels we have enjoyed AND hotels we have tried personally.
This is a list that I am constantly adding to. (either as I stay at new places or just as  I get time to add my personal write up and my photos.)

PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Needing an esim while in Melbourne? Use my Holafly link here and use the code TOKYOCHAPTER for a 5% discount.

Scroll to the bottom of this post if you would like to see the areas I DON’T recommend staying in Melbourne with kids if you are coming for a short holiday.

These hotels are those I recommend those who are travelling to Melbourne from interstate or overseas (more than just a nice stay-cay.)   
The reason? I am taking in convenience and ease of getting around as well as being comfortable as a family in Melbourne- not just a nice hotel in a random spot that isn’t accessible for new visitors who need access to public transport. 

Side note: Melbourne is a city full of events and shows.  Before arriving in Melbourne, I recommend looking on What’s On Melbourne   orTimeout Melbourne. I especially think it’s worth seeing what is on at the National Gallery of Victoria (they have many kid-friendly events- often free) as well as seeing which musicals are in town (this includes shows at the National Theatre in St Kilda and at Chapel Off Chapel.)   During summer months, I recommend seeing a movie in the Botanical Gardens at the Moonlight Cinema. 

Go Boat Rental
I also recommend packing a picnic and renting a putt-putt Goboat to drive along the Yarra as a family. 
You pick up your GoBoat from Banana Alley (along the river behind the far end of Flinders Street Station and not too far from Afloat.) It’s possible to rent a boat for 1 or 2 hours.

 

PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 

Crown Metropol Melbourne
We have stayed here a few times. The customer service here is fabulous.  The pool is an indoor pool but still makes a weekend in the city feel a bit more special.
There is all the room service and restaurants you need (in the hotel and you’re also connected to all 24 hour options at the casino- fancy and food court options.)   There is also an IGA supermarket just across the road from the hotel entrance.  
There is an indoor pool in the hotel (busy on hot days and weekends.) 

Pullman Melbourne City Centre
This hotel is a great deal for families. Most room rates include a buffet breakfast (some include an a la carte meal on top of that) and a complimentary drink in the evening per person (which is great as the Blossoms Rooftop Bar is also kid-friendly and has a great view.)
Checkout is at 1pm! It’s in the middle of Melbourne in Chinatown, in fact. Parking is also complimentary with most room rates (the carpark is 5 mins walk from the hotel but it’s very easy to get to.)
This hotel is close to Vapiano Bourke St Mall (3 mins walk and I speak more about it here), Hardware Lane (5 mins walk,) the Regent Theatre (7 mins walk), Melbourne Central (7 mins walk), The Tea Rooms 1892 (8 mins walk – I speak about it more here), Spaghetti Tree (9 mins walk- I speak more about it here), Princess Theatre (10 mins walk), the Old Melbourne Gaol (10 mins walk- I speak more about it here), ACMI (11 mins walk – I speak more about it here) and Chin Chin (12 mins walk).

Adina Apartments Melbourne
If you’d like to stay in the centre of the CBD but have some space, I recommend Adina Apartments Melbourne.   You are right in the business district so it’s easy to get to the theatres etc or general sightseeing on the Yarra.  The rooms are big and there is an indoor swimming pool.    

Voco Melbourne Central by IHG
This hotel is just 4 mins walk from Melbourne Central (shopping mall) and 3 mins walk from Hardware Lane. Rooms only sleep 1-2 people so you’ll need multiple rooms for families. There is a gym and an outdoor heated swimming pool. Guests are given access to Albert Park Golf course. There is one on-site restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Hardware Lane (3 mins walk from Voco Melbourne Central by IHG)
Some of the restaurants here are good and others are a bit touch and go. If here in the morning, I recommend parents heading to Maker (open from 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends) for coffee (be really “Melbourne” and order “a Magic“) and kids can try a famous treat ” a lamington” (a sponge cake covered in chocolate and coconut – and this cafe does a special caramel raspberry cream filling version.)

Needing an esim while in Melbourne? Use my Holafly link here and use the code TOKYOCHAPTER for a 5% discount.

And if you’re on Hardware Lane from midday onwards, go to Piccolina Gelateria for the most incredible gelato. Card only transactions here.

Melbourne Central (shopping and dining complex) – 5 mins walk from Voco Melbourne Central by IHG
Melbourne Central Lion Hotel
I find the Melbourne Central food courts to be way too chaotic with kids (and hard when everyone wants to eat something different.)   It’s not a super fancy recommendation and I wouldn’t make a trip to the city for it but if you’re at Melbourne Central already – it’s a good option. I prefer to eat at the English style pub on the upper floor over the messy and busy food courts (take the escalators up from the shot tower to find it – it’s up near the bowling and movies.)  The food is pub food – but hearty portions and very kid friendly.  I’ve never found this restaurant to be too crowded and have only ever just walked in.  It’s near the bowling alley and the cinema.  You can see the Melbourne Central Lion Hotel menu here.   We like to eat here before or after an even at the State Library of Victoria (it’s super close) or after a movie at Melbourne Central or after we’ve been to meet Santa at Myer in the city centre. 

The Pancake Parlour
There is also a Pancake Parlour up here on this level of Melbourne Central.
The Pancake Parlour has a kids menu as well as a full vegan menu and a gluten free menu.

When doing Melbourne Central with kids…
My two love the Lego Store and seeing the big clock (under the shot tower) as it has the Aussie animals appear on the hour every hour (take the escalator up afterwards to see the koalas on the back.)

After Melbourne Central…
Go across the road to the State Library. It’s so beautiful and they also have storytimes etc for kids.
The Old Melbourne Gaol is also 7 mins walk from Melbourne Central. I’ve written about it in detail here.

Emporium Food Court
I find the Emporium Food Court to be slightly less intense and more spacious than the Melbourne Central food court.   Especially first thing in the morning and after 3pm.  It’s def not a MUST to eat here but definitely better than the Melbourne Central food court.

Quest on Dorcas
These apartments mean you’ll have your own kitchenette and, being on St Kilda Road, it means that you will be just a short tram ride (less than 10 mins) into the centre of town.   This is a great option for a longer term stay or if you have kids who need homemade food or baby food.  The rooms here are lovely and keen and it’s to have your own mini apartment instead of a hotel room. 
2 mins walk to the Shrine of Remembrance and the Botanic Gardens (so much green space for play and wriggles) 
7 mins walk to breakfast stop Kettle Black
13 mins walk to the National Gallery of Victoria (they have lots of free exhibitions for children) 
10 mins drive to Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit
12 mins drive to Rod Laver Arena

W Melbourne
We have stayed here as a family for a staycation. The rooms are quite dark but the pool area here is so so lovely. 

 

Vibe Melbourne
A good cost effective inner city hotel is Vibe Melbourne.  It’s on Queen St and many of the rooms have a view over the Southbank.  The Yarra Riverview Family Room King and Twin sleeps up to 5 people.  There is an in-house restaurant and also a rooftop bar.  There is also an indoor swimming pool here. 

 

Marriot Docklands 
This is not technically in the CBD but it is in Docklands. I love staying here for a special staycation with my children in Melbourne. 
This hotel is within the Docklands Complex – which means that you have a supermarket, cinema, restaurants, games arcade and ice-skating rink just outside of the hotel door.  
The rooms here are more spacious than many city centre hotels. We also love the rooftop pool and jacuzzi here.
These guys also do an adorable welcome mini-pack for kids.

I love the Spudbar (baked potato) shop at Docklands just a few mins walk from the hotel. Upstairs there is also an okonomiyaki and a korean barbeque restaurant.   The Urban Alley Brew Pub is also super family-friendly. 

The top floor of the Docklands has a kids cafe and playcentre called Chipmunks.  Kids up til 11 years old are welcome to play here (must be supervised at all times.) 

 

Vibe Hotel Docklands
This is also part of the Docklands. I really like this area for shopping and easy access to the city – without being in the city centre (which can often be busy in the mornings and evenings  and I find, since covid, the amount of weirdos/scary people in the city is on the up and the clean, family-friendly spots and restaurants going down.) 
As with the Marriott Docklands, Hoyts Cinema, the shopping mall, the restaurants etc are right on the hotel door step – as is the tram to the city.   There is also the Docklands iceskating rink “O’Brien Icehouse” just a few 1oo metres away. 
The restaurants in this area all close around 8-9pm so don’t plan on eating late.

The Vibe Hotel has a decent 24 hour room service menu. The room tvs also have local tv but also a Google Chromecast option to connect your own streaming apps to the telly. 
This hotel has a gym, steam room, pool, spa and bar. 
Room types are for 2,3 or 4 people .  For larger families, you can also ask about connecting rooms. 

Many airlines use this hotel for their cabin crew while in Melbourne. 

Did you know that even when you’re not a guest at this hotel you can still use the pool during Summer ? Buy a day pass to use the pool at Vibe Dockands here. $25 for Adults and $15 for kids. And you can order food straight to your sun bed.

As well as District Docklands across the road, there is also a convenience store Xpress (that also specializes in American Candy)  Open 10am-10:30pm. 

Just across the road from Vibe Hotel is my favourite shop to buy Melbourne souvenirs.  It’s called Souvenirs Direct, Docklands. They sell puzzles, toys, boardgames, aussie made honey etc. 

PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 

Although it is not in the CBD, if you wanted to stay out bayside in the Brighton area, I recommend Caroline Serviced Apartments, Brighton. We stayed here for many weeks while relocating to Melbourne from Tokyo and we LOVED it’s just off Church St for all the shops and cafes – it’s a great spot. You can also walk to the Brighton Beach Boxes from here. I have more details and pictures of places we like to dine at and visit in this area with kids in my article on Melbourne with kids here (There is now a whole section on our favourite restaurants in Brighton )

For something fun to do with kids and teens, drive 10 mins from Brighton to Southland shopping mall and go to Zone Bowling & Timezone Game Arcade. They have great arcade and bowling and food packages for kids in the school holidays.

There is also a big Village Cinema here.

 

So which areas do I NOT recommend staying if you are in Melbourne on a short holiday?
This is me speaking from experience and personal preference. I don’t recommend staying in:
–most locations in St Kilda -many tourists are sold on St Kilda because of it’s proximity to the beach but this area is also one of the least desirable for walking around with children. I try and avoid walking around the Fitzroy St or Inkerman St area with children (and I don’t like to walk around there at all once it gets dark.) There are some nice restaurants in this area – so I always drive and park close when I dine at these options.
–on or near King St or Spencer St (including near Spencer St Station) in the CBD – King Street is well known as the “gentleman’s entertainment” street so it’s not the best option for families. I also find Spencer St (near the Aquarium end) to not be my favourite place to stay – fine to walk around or explore during the day but I wouldn’t be choosing a hotel here, personally.

Since I’m talking about Australia here – let me share our Tim Tam Slice recipe here.

Needing an esim while in Melbourne? Use my Holafly link here and use the code TOKYOCHAPTER for a 5% discount.