The Olsen Melbourne - Art Series

The reception staff were lovely and friendly, and the room itself was spacious, with a great view. There was a comfortable chair and table, a small desk and chair, and a large wall mounted TV. The kitchenette had a coffee machine, kettle, enough dishes and cutlery for two, plus a bar fridge. The bathroom was ample, with a good shower head and wall dispensers for body wash, shampoo and conditioner. All five stars from me. I only had breakfast once, a small bowl of fruit and yogurt with a blended juice. Parking costs $40 a night, or there’s street parking if you get lucky. There’s 1/2P by the front door and 2P around the corner, but watch out for tow away zones.

For its age, the hotel is well kept, and it was clean. The people we spoke to were lovely and helpful. Since we were celebrating my partner’s birthday, they even gave us a bottle of Prosecco. The room was small but had what we needed, and would suit one person for a longer stay, or maybe three nights at most if sharing. Our bed was two singles zipped together, and the dip in the middle made for an uncomfortable night’s sleep. We stayed one night because it was near where we were going out. There’s some ordinary wear and tear, which isn’t surprising for a hotel that’s been popular since opening.

We spent our 37th wedding anniversary at The Olsen and were delighted with the stay. We were upgraded and found complimentary gifts waiting in our room. The staff were friendly throughout and all wished us well. They clearly take pride in going the extra mile. Special thanks to Dylan, Pin and Jess. Do yourself a favour and stay at The Olsen, we were so happy we did. Maureen & Michael Buck

The restaurant was great, the staff were friendly, and we had a good stay at this lovely hotel. Still, I wouldn’t call it five star, especially for the price compared with other five star places in the city. Our bed was a queen and wasn’t very comfortable, and we could hear everything from the hallway in our room. The shower needed a proper spray and clean, not just the wipe it seemed to have had. There were other small details that need attention before it feels five star. If you want a hotel in South Yarra, this is a good option, but for room luxury and attention to detail, I’d spend the money elsewhere.