The Voco Melbourne Central: New laneway hotel makes the most of its location

Melbourne's city centre has a new hotel and it is, fittingly, in a laneway. The Voco Melbourne Central is the first new-build Voco in Australia for the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), a smart property designed and run with a sustainable ethic.

Set in the new 380 Melbourne skyscraper on Lonsdale Street – though entry is via lifts on Timothy Lane, in keeping with the Victorian capital's laneway aesthetic – the Voco has 252 rooms that begin on the Sky Lobby on level six of the building, in a hotel that IHG says is designed to blend into the fabric of the city and its surrounds.

Of course, you're going to want to hear about those sustainability bona fides, because anyone can say they're green these days. Start with the Voco's 252 guestrooms. Each bed is made with 100 per cent recycled materials (mostly plastic bottles, more than half a million of which have been repurposed into surprisingly plush, comfortable bedding across the Voco range), plus linen produced from sustainably farmed cotton.

All of the rooms have windows that can be opened, reducing reliance on air-conditioning, plus the restaurant and bar has a rooftop garden, and sources its ingredients and equipment locally.

Most of these sustainability measures, however, happen behind the scenes, and won't be immediately noticeable to Voco guests. What they will be aware of is the design and fit-out, which is in keeping with IHG's idea of Voco as an upscale but relaxed brand, with individual characteristics in each property, and a comfortable atmosphere.

There's an avian theme running through Voco Melbourne Central, which was designed by local Melbourne outfit Suede Interior Design, with help from fellow Melburnian architects Elenberg Fraser. You'll spot bird motifs throughout the hotel, from stylised wood blocks on the check-in desks to line drawings in the hallways to major works of art throughout. It's the sort of thing that could be too much, but here it works.

Of course, this is Melbourne, so you want to eat, and you want to eat well. There are plenty of great options in this part of the CBD – try Hardware Lane for breakfasts, Serai for high-end Filipino cuisine, Osteria Ilaria for Italian, Mamak for Malaysian street food, or myriad options at the nearby Emporium shopping complex, though there's also on-site dining at the impressive Blacksmith Brasserie & Bar, in a light-filled room and rooftop terrace with spectacular views.

The menu is modern, designed by Korean chef Ian Lee, and the atmosphere is relaxed but sophisticated. The perfect addition to laneway life.

vocohotels.com/melbourne

The writer stayed as a guest of Voco Melbourne Central.