Sheraton Melbourne Hotel, review: A blue-chip location in the heart of Melbourne

The location

Returning to Melbourne after a nine-year absence, The Sheraton has snared a blue-chip location in the heart of Melbourne, wedged between the Windsor Hotel and the Melbourne Club. Neighbours don't come much posher. Flinders Lane, ground zero for Melbourne gastronomy, is two shortish blocks away. Bring your best appetite.

The place

The hotel has only been open five weeks when Good Weekend visits and it is still shiny and a bit sterile. Hopefully it will relax into itself with time but for now Melbourne's newest five-star hotel has 174 tastefully decorated guest rooms including 11 suites, some with balconies. Guest rooms occupy floors 3-14 of a 31-storey apartment building with an indoor pool, gym, sauna, bistro and terrace bar for guest use.

The experience

Rooms are art deco-inspired - black, white and shades of grey with metallic accents and wood-grain panelling. It's hardly a destination hotel but if guests choose to spend downtime here they can avail themselves of the five-roomed spa where treatments run to Germaine De Capuccini potions and a 90-minute Better Than Botox facial. See the concierge for jogging maps and wine, art or shopping tours. Tech-wise, iPod docks are standard but you'll pay for internet access in the cheaper rooms.

Don't miss

A stroll by the Yarra River to admire Birrarung Marr, Melbourne's newest urban parkland and the Federation Bells is time well spent. Continue towards Princes Bridge, stop for a drink at Riverland, then head back into the city's laneways and stumble across somewhere fabulous to eat.

Need to know