Overview
The team behind recently refurbed The Royce purchased The Lyall back in 2021 and immediately started planning its makeover. The vision was to make it feel less like your usual hotel in Melbourne and more like a series of townhouses or Parisian-style apartments all connected to one another.
And they seem to have done a pretty bang-up job, achieving just that.
Sat on the leafy Murphy Street just off Toorak Road, you could easily mistake it for yet another luxury home in South Yarra. It doesn't scream 'hotel'. This flows throughout the new space, designed by the DKO team, who've also worked on Archer's Restaurant at Marriott Hotel Docklands and Pullman Melbourne on the Park.
The lobby feels more like a luxe living room than hotel, decked out with a marble fireplace, plush seating and views through to the Japanese Maple Garden. The 49 rooms and suites are clearly hotel accommodations — there's no getting past that — but the views over either the quiet street lined by homes or the internal garden do help it feel more like a mini apartment.
Guests can choose from balcony rooms, a collection of suites that vary in size, and a lavish penthouse suite with two fireplaces and an expansive outdoor terrace. Each is decked out with dark-stained Tasmanian oak furniture, grey marble bathrooms and plenty of luxury amenities. Some even have deep bathtubs looking out over the street.
Director of Interiors at DKO Michael Drescher notes how "the inspiration for this transformation is drawn from the idea of a European pied-à-terre, combining Australian and European furniture to create a blend of comfort and style. The approach exudes quiet luxury, emphasising high-quality, minimalist pieces that possess timeless appeal."
This is further reflected in the hotel's restaurant and wine bar, which will be open to the public. Here, contemporary Australian cuisine will be served from breakfast through to dinner, accompanied by an extensive international wine list.
Everything at The Lyall is fairly understated but clearly luxurious.
The Lyall will welcome its first guests on Thursday, March 14 and can be found at 16 Murphy Street, South Yarra. For more information, head to the hotel's website.