Mantra on Little Bourke Melbourne

We wouldn’t stay again. The building’s individually owned apartments are leased back to MANTRA, and the lack of care in the corridors and shared areas shows: they need paint, new carpet and general decorating. The huge apartments also need refreshed kitchens, paint, carpet, newer TVs and cleaner sofas. Cleaning seems limited by the time staff are given, so things may be tidy without being spotless, which isn’t good enough in a kitchen. There’s no apartment servicing, which is unacceptable, and reception has to deal with the resulting questions. The washer-dryer was unusable for us. We looked up the manual, and the cycles take hours. Fire alarms went off during our stay, as several other reviews have mentioned. We’ve seen hotels and apartments explain that careless or improper kitchen use leading to an alarm can mean the guest pays for the fire brigade and a fine. Repeated evacuations need to be managed differently. There are good points: the CBD is within walking distance, and the lift was very fast, with waits under three seconds. Reception staff worked hard and did an excellent job. The restaurant served a fresh, tasty, carefully chosen buffet of the same high-quality food each day, in a comfortable atmosphere where you could watch people passing by. Restaurant staff were excellent too, and I enjoyed the daily newspaper. The apartments have loads of room to unpack, and the bathrobes were appreciated.

The room was spacious, among the best I’ve stayed in, with good lighting and a separate place to work, which mattered to me. There were thoughtful little extras too, including mini F1 chocolates. I was welcomed warmly, and the service felt personal and friendly. Thank you.

We spent four nights in a one-bedroom apartment while visiting Melbourne for the Australian Open tennis. It was very clean and spacious, with a large fridge and a kitchen for guests who want to cook. The hotel is just minutes from shops and restaurants. Downtown Melbourne, Southbank, The Crown Casino and the theatre were about a 20-minute walk away. Reception service was friendly, courteous and professional. We’d definitely return and highly recommend it.

There was plenty of room in the apartment, with the bedroom separate from the kitchen and lounge, and its own bathroom. The gym was great too. We stayed during the Australian Open and found public transport, restaurants and bars close by. I’d definitely stay again.