LUMIRA Stays | Hotel Chadstone, Melbourne, Australia
When your neighbours include Bottega Veneta, Celine and Saint Laurent, there’s no room for half-measures. That’s the guiding premise behind the new Hotel Chadstone, which opened late last year adjacent to one of Melbourne’s most renowned shopping precincts.
Twelve storeys high and with a curvaceous gold facade, it makes an immediate first impression. Inside, a palette of rose pink, dove grey and brass lends the rooms a warm but sophisticated aesthetic. The connection to fashion subtly permeates the entire building, from the art and design library tucked into a corner of the lobby to the undercover walkway that conveniently connects the hotel to its neighbouring shopping centre (a thoughtful touch, given Melbourne’s notoriously unpredictable weather).
Ascend to the hotel’s top floor and you’ll be greeted with a choice. Through one door lies Altus, the in-house cocktail bar and restaurant with sweeping views across to the Dandenong Ranges and velvet seating so plush you’ll never want to leave. Its high tea has already become a drawcard but a flute of champagne is equally appealing. Through door number two lies the swimming pool, its curved edges pressing up against the floor-to-ceiling glass windows while sleek sunlounges are strategically positioned to take in the view.
There’s also a yoga room, nine holistic treatment rooms and an LED light lounge on site in the Holism day spa. The Hotel Chadstone may be located only 30 minutes from the Melbourne CBD, but there’s really no need to leave.
Shop
When you can go from suite to boutique in under five minutes, it’s easy to see that shopping is the preferred recreational activity around these parts. As well as luxury’s heavy-hitters – Gucci, Hermès and Balenciaga among them – we recommend visiting David Jones Chadstone to discover your favourite LUMIRA fragrance.
Eat
Led by chef Scott Pickett, Pastore restaurant marries an Italian menu with woodfire cooking. From small plates to more substantial fare, there’s a relaxed feel to the food and ambience that’s belied by an impressive attention to detail.
See
If you’re tempted to venture slightly further afield, a visit to the National Gallery of Victoria will complete a fashion-focused trip to Melbourne. Its Collecting Comme exhibition is an ode to legendary designer Rei Kawakubo and her protégés at Comme des Garçons, as shown through pieces donated to the gallery by Australian collector Takamasa Takahaski.
