A stay in genteel surrounds

Melbourne’s inner-city suburb of Carlton is famous for its Italian heritage, symbolised by the long stretch of Italian restaurants along Lygon Street. It’s also a repository of Victorian-era architecture, its quiet residential streets lined by prosperous-looking facades decorated with ‘iron lace’.

In the midst of these genteel surrounds is Rydges on Swanston, bordering the attractive greenery of Lincoln Square. The hotel can’t make any great claims to external architectural charm itself – it’s a concrete building typical of the postwar era – but it’s pleasantly appointed within.

Our room on the third floor is sizeable, with natural light coming from an internal courtyard. The room has been decorated in contemporary fashion in tasteful earthy colours, and there’s a comfortable reading chair along with a desk, a TV and a DVD player. The bathroom is showing its age, but the rest of the room seems fresh and attractive.

The in-house restaurant, Blues, is a cut above our expectations, with tasty contemporary dishes and efficient service.

The restaurant overlooks the square and there’s a tram stop out front, from which trams head straight into the nearby city centre. Within walking distance are such attractions as Melbourne Museum, the Royal Exhibition Building, the Museo Italiano and the famed La Mama theatre, which stages sparky new works.

The info
Rydges on Swanston
701 Swanston St, Carlton, Vic 3053
Phone: 03 9347 7811
Web: www.rydges.com
Rates: Double rooms from $179 per night.