Opens: September 2016

QT MELBOURNE, opening today (Monday September 5), is causing a stir in the Victorian capital  - and not just because of the opening night party. Inspired by the rag traders of the early 1900s in nearby Flinders Lane, and the French fashion influence on the ‘Paris end’ of Collins Street this 11-storey steel and stone hotel is QT’s first property built from the ground up. The modernist building has risen on the site of the old Greater Union cinema and it is pretty exciting to see what the innovative and design-savvy QT Hotels & Resorts can do with a property they’ve created from the get go. Sydney-based architect Angelo Candalepas has designed the 188 guest rooms, with public spaces by QT's favourite, Nic Graham and There is plenty of light and airy city views from large windows in rooms and public spaces. 

QT lobbies always have a flamboyant style, after all first impressions count (we love you QT Sydney doorpersons). The new Melbourne hotel doesn’t disappoint with a high-ceiling lobby, an electric blue carpeted stairway to the upper floor and  and a brass reception desk, etched with Collins Street scenes. There's a ground-floor café and aperitivo bar called The Cake Shop (Robuchon-trained pâtissier), a rooftop bar and a whole floor dedicated to Pascale, the hotel's signature bar and grill (think open kitchen, glassed-in wine rooms, upholstered banquettes…). Pacale’s menus are designed by QT creative food director Robert Marchetti and brought to life by executive chef Paul Easson (ex-Melbourne's Rockpool Bar & Grill).  However what we like best is the Japanese-Korean laneway bar, Hot Sauce, and the shop that sells handcrafted Japanese knives next door. Cutting edge even...

There is some pretty impressive artwork too starting in the lobby with ‘Double horizon’ an installation by Clare Healy and Sean Cordeiro made up of thousands of ‘airport’ paperbacks stacked in loft towers.

As for staff , we expect them to be quirky. After all when the hotel was recruiting it asked potential employees to strike a pose and said "man-buns, tattoos, big personalities and creative talent all welcome".

Guest rooms have an industrial-chic feel with oak floors, leather furniture and large baths or spacious bathrooms screened by sliding doors of glass and black metal. The rooms aren’t as quirky as say the hip QT Sydney or the beachy QT Gold Coast but there is an element of elegance that suits Melbourne.  Free WiFi, a fully stocked minibar , coffee pods, Tipperty tea and free new release movies complete the package.

Getting in the lift at a QT hotel always bring surprises. In Sydney it is the songs themed for the number of people in the lift – ‘Just the two of us…’. In Queensland on the Gold Coast it is life-sized bathing belle pictures to pose with. In QT Melbourne we get interactive lifts, with female voices calling out in various accents-  French, Russian, English - as guests exit. 

So press the button to your chosen floor and have a stylish stay.