Best Live Entertainment Stays in Melbourne

Tyrian Serviced Apartments Fitzroy are self-catering apartments that make family stays easy: a fully equipped kitchen, a dining setting, a lounge area and a balcony give children room and parents control over meals. Melbourne Museum is 900 metres away, a good first outing with young children, and the Regent Theatre is 1.4 kilometres away. Free on-site parking helps families travelling by car. There is no pool listed. A 9.3 rating across 1,388 reviews is excellent.

Lanson Place Parliament Gardens is a calm 5-star choice for families: the indoor swimming pool and hot tub work in any Melbourne weather, and private check-in and check-out spare children a wait at the desk. The restaurant serves Australian cuisine with vegetarian options, and the concierge and tour desk can help plan days out. Full-day security and a 24-hour front desk add peace of mind. The bar and fitness centre are for adults. A 9.3 rating over 1,571 reviews is excellent.

Quest Collingwood is an aparthotel that suits families well: the family rooms come with a kitchenette, a balcony and air-conditioning, and the barbecue facilities and outdoor seating make easy evening meals. Melbourne Museum, the Princess Theatre and the Melbourne Cricket Ground are all within two kilometres, which keeps days out short for younger legs. The fitness centre and terrace give parents some time to themselves. A 9.3 rating over 1,744 reviews supports that choice.

The StandardX Melbourne is more of an adult hangout than a family hotel, with an outdoor fireplace and evening entertainment setting the tone. Still, it can work with older children: the rooms have balconies, and the restaurant's local and European menu covers vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free needs at lunch and dinner. There is no pool listed, so I would plan daytime activities in the city. A 9.2 rating over 1,906 reviews shows guests rate it highly.

The Motley Hotel Melbourne makes a good case for families: family rooms come with balconies and air-conditioning, and the family-friendly restaurant serves breakfast, brunch and dinner, with traditional settings for families and romantic ones for couples. The à la carte breakfast with champagne is a treat for the parents. The Melbourne Cricket Ground is 18 minutes away, useful for a match day. There is no pool listed, so I would plan outdoor time in the city. A 9.1 rating over 1,331 reviews is excellent.

Pullman East Melbourne suits families who come for sport or shows: it overlooks the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Fitzroy Gardens, Jolimont Station is a two-minute walk, and Rod Laver Arena, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Princess Theatre are all under three kilometres away. The modern suites give families more room than a standard double. A 9.0 rating over 2,729 reviews supports that choice.

Park Hyatt Melbourne is a 5-star hotel that suits couples more naturally than families, and I would say so plainly. Its strengths are adult ones: an award-winning restaurant, spa facilities and Art Deco and Ottoman-inspired rooms with Italian marble bathrooms. For a family, the location is the useful part: Collins Street is a four-minute walk and the Princess Theatre five minutes away, handy for a family show. There is no pool listed. A 9.0 rating over 1,413 reviews confirms the quality.