The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne Club redefines the luxury hotel experience

The views from The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne are like no other in the city. The hotel is perched 80 storeys above the bustling CBD (Lonsdale Street to be exact). On clear days you are treated to uninterrupted views of the city’s skyline and the glittering Port Phillip Bay. Launched in 2023, the property has brightened Melbourne’s landscape with its gleaming façade. It’s quickly become a landmark in the city. The hotel has 257 elegant rooms and suites, a sprawling restaurant (Atria), holistic wellness spaces and infinity pool, among other luxe amenities. But what is truly remarkable is The Ritz-Carlton Club which redefines the luxury hotel experience and has been described as ‘a hotel within a hotel’.

Located on the hotel’s 79th Floor, the Club Lounge is a sanctuary with 180-degree views of Melbourne and the bay. There are plush spaces for guests to dine, work and relax while soaking in the changing colours of the day. Sunset is particularly beautiful as the orange pink yellow hues are splashed across the southern skies. Watch the sun set while you sip champagne. Soon the glorious colours will transform into an inky blue night sky like the colour of your new pair of jeans.

The venue is overseen by the highly intuitive and knowledgeable manager Lucas Barrow whose team is always ready to bring exceptional levels of personalised service and give full attention to every detail.

Aside from top notch service, you will get to enjoy a host of unique experiences during your stay. For instance, you might get to meet Melbourne coffee experts from Code Black, a specialty coffee roastery that source and roast single origins and blends. The award-winning baristas will show you different coffee techniques while you savour their unique wattleseed blend and other brews.

To calm down, sip some of the finest tea blends by local producers Love Tea, which offers certified organic loose leaf teas using ethically sourced ingredients. A must is the fragrant Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne Signature blend. In the evenings, you might get to participate in a caviar appreciation session by Yarra Valley Caviar.

Gourmands can expect five complimentary culinary offerings available throughout the day: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, hors d’oeuvres, and cordials.The menus are individually curated by Executive Chef Michael Greenlaw, and will change frequently based on seasonal ingredients.

Chef Michael has worked at the renowned Vue de Monde and other top hotels restaurants abroad prior to joining the hotel. The hobby spearfisher and free diver, also has a passion for sourcing lesser-known fish and seafood. He prefers to eschew over-fished species and serve more unusual ones like longsnout boarfish, silver trevally and grass whiting. The chef regularly meets up with fishermen to find out what’s good and sustainable to include in the menu at the Club or at Atria on the 80th floor.

Start the day with a wholesome breakfast. Tuck into hearty creations like: Reuben Bagel with beef brisket, Emmental cheese and sauerkraut; omelette with Jamón & Delice de Bourgogne brie with thyme oil; or French Toast with Bacchus Marsh 5 spice apple, Gippsland Jersey sour cream and dark caramel macadamia.

After exploring the nearby laneways or shopping at local designer stores, head back to the Club for lunch. Mid-day creations may include roasted chicken spatchcock with hazelnut dressing, poached prawn sandwich with Oakleaf lettuce, trout roe, and avocado, or one of the fish specialties by the chef.

Afternoon Tea is a stunning affair of petit cakes, tempting confectionery and savoury bites. You’ll also get handmade local charcuterie of the day with mustard, cornichons. A stand out is the Club sandwich filled with poached chicken, comté cheese, beef tomato, oakleaf lettuce, Ortiz mayonnaise, smoked ham, tarragon egg.

In the evening, the Club Lounge draws you back for Hors D’oeuvres. The counters are laden with a slew of canapes. Start with freshly shucked oyster brightened with lemon, mignonette and tabasco, followed by classic prawn cocktail with trout roe and paprika. More substantial dishes may include steamed barramundi with wok tossed Asian greens, Sangiovese braised Cape Grim beef cheek with chargrilled broccolini.

Later in the evening, guests can return for ‘Cordials’. A decadent selection of pastries and desserts are rolled out during this time. Think: berry financier, passionfruit macarons, cherry and chocolate cake, chocolate covered madeleines. The signature moment for Cordials is the local ‘Madam marmalade’ orange liqueur, from Bass and Flinders distillery, to accompany the dessert selection.

In 2024, The Ritz-Carlton Club has a calendar of weekly experiential events planned. The focus is to immerse guests in the Melbourne culture in a very unique, premium way. Different local suppliers are invited to the Club to showcase signature cheese, oysters, and local wineries. The hotel also has plans for local historians to share the secrets behind the city’s history. The theme will change weekly, however it is always connected to locality and about Melbourne.

Finally, those who reserve a Club Room or Suite have access to an array of complimentary services from laundry pressing to elevated turndown and concierge services. The moment you arrive till you leave, the top-notch team will ensure that you enjoy an unmatched luxurious experience.

Text by: Amy Van | Images: The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne and Amy Van