We Decide Melbourne's Ovolo Is Okay Overall

January 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM | by jetflyboy | Comments (0)

Last we talked about Ovolo Hotels it was all about the first Hong Kong expat property in Melbourne. Out from behind the curtain of obscurity, the hotel decided to branch out internationally and pick the cultural capital of Australia as their first outpost.

At first glance, the nondescript building in the middle of the city could have been any other office building, but little did we know what little treasures we would find inside. For a small hotel, Ovolo Melbourne sure packs a punch...in a good way.

The small lobby proved to be a tight fit with anymore than 2 different guests checking in, but a welcome espresso made the experience a bit more bearable. With a limited, but super cool design, our imagination went into overdrive for what we would experience in the room. After an efficient check-in, we were in the elevator to our one-bed room suite.

Passing a few highly lacquered colored doors, we slip our room key into Room 103 and entered a split level suit. Although, it was perfect for some an inner-city hotel. Ash-hued hard wood floors acted as a palette for the monochromatic decor with a splash of lime green to pay homage to the iconic Melbourne grafitti-ed laneways.

What we loved:
· Malin+Goetz products in the bathroom
· Free minibar - everything in it is restocked daily including wine and beer
· Loot Bag as a welcome gift filled with snacks; perfect after a long flight
· Free local calls
· GREAT location — close to public transport and the majority of the central city
· Apple TV and free, fast WiFi in the room
· Double showerheads, adjustable and rain options
· Simple, yet thoughtful bathroom design
· Complimentary Grab 'n Go pastry and danish plate in the morning and wine and beer happy hour in the evening
· Fantastic staff that is warm, but not overbearing

What we loathed:
· Inner-city noise. We were on the 1st floor (2nd story in the US) and heard all of the local restaurant noise and then garbage pick-up in the morning
· Lack of instruction manual for the thermostat
· Small and congested lobby if there is more than a few people

As you can see, the good outweighs the bad, but the noise is a huge bad. So we give 2 thumbs up to this well done hotel that isn't overdone and trying too hard to be ironic. Comfortable living space and included amenities will set Ovolo apart from any boutique hotels in the city.

[Photos: Rayme Gorniak for HotelChatter]

HotelChatter

Select a Destination:

Hotel Reviews / Ovolo Hotels / Melbourne Hotels / Australia Hotels / Photo Gallery / → All Tags