When I first touched down in Melbourne, Australia, back on December 28th, 2008, I was excited, to say the least. In fact, I just couldn’t wait to get into the city, and dip my proverbial toes into the metropolis of Melbourne. And my cab ride into the city had me on pins and needles. That’s when I was dropped off in front of my first hotel in Australia, the Mantra on Russell Street.
Situated in downtown Melbourne, near the Chinatown neighborhood, the Mantra was a wonderful hotel, in a very lovely location. It sits just a short walk from Chinatown; access to some of the best Chinese food this side of Hong Kong is not a problem when there are plenty of great noodle houses and restaurants to choose from. But if you are looking for more diverse choices, you are just less than a five-minute walk from the QV centre, where you can find a food court represented by some of the best tastes in Southeastern Asia and Australia.
Mantra on Russell offers 221 studios and apartment-style rooms all featuring kitchenette or full kitchen amenities. Most apartments also have a private balcony where you can relax at the end of the day and soak up the cosmopolitan Melbourne vibe. On-site leisure facilities include a heated swimming pool and spa, plus a fully-equipped gymnasium. Up One Restaurant & Bar is located within the hotel for guest convenience and provides an ambient and stylish choice for breakfast and dinner.
The rooms are incredibly spacious and comfortable. I slept wonderfully in their rather enormous beds, snuggled underneath the Southern sky of Australia’s second largest city. When I stayed here, it was practically the first week of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Since Melbourne is so far south, it did not get completely dark until after 10:30 pm! It was nice to see a hint of twilight even as I was getting ready for bed. Actually, it made me want to stay up even longer to watch the sun disappear under the Melbourne sky! Next time you head to the capital of Australia’s Victoria state, make your stay at the Mantra!
MANTRA ON RUSSELL
222 Russell Street Melbourne VIC 3000
T: 03 9915 2500, F: 03 9915 2599
Freecall (Australia): 1300 139 323
E: russell.res@mantra.com.au
Reservations 1300 987 604
New Zealand 0800 448 891
International +61 7 5665 4416
