Family accommodation in Melbourne for a fun and friendly city break

Nestled between Flagstaff Gardens and the bustling Queen Victoria Markets, Pegasus Apart’Hotel is jumping distance to some of Melbourne’s finest treasures. Before a day wandering the city’s markets, parks or trendy laneways, you can start downstairs in the Pegasus dining room for a buffet breakfast. Feast on hot, tasty bacon, eggs and toast so you’re fully charged for a day at the action-packed Lego Learning Centre. Before sunset, head to the Eureka Skydeck for the best views of Melbourne’s twinkling city lights.

Book into a family suite if you feel like communal cook-ups right in your in-room kitchenette. If you’d rather wine and dine at a top CBD eatery, the hotel offers childcare services so you can enjoy a romantic lunch fuss-free. For dining out closer to home, sit the family down at the Pegasus restaurant and savour juicy, crumbly chicken parmigiana—a Victorian staple—as the city’s nightlife starts to awaken. The kids will be eager for bedtime in their own themed rooms stocked with video games, bean bags and colourful wallpaper. They might never want to leave!

Located just 10 minutes by foot from Federation Square, the Adina Apartment Hotel is right in the middle of Melbourne’s vibrant business district. At the hotel’s own restaurant, kids can tuck into crispy fish and chips while you treat yourself to a soothing glass of Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir. Post lunch, flick on a TV program in your spacious apartment for the little ones so you can squeeze in an afternoon sweat session at the on-site gym and sauna.

For a family day out, you can hop on a nearby sightseeing boat and gently drift down the famous river beneath gleaming skyscrapers and graceful bridges. After taking in Melbourne’s inner-city scenery, jump off at the SEA LIFE Aquarium to spend the afternoon marvelling at marine creatures big and small. When you troop back to your bright rooms hung with colourful artwork, order in a spot of room service and settle in on the couch for a family movie night.

A stay at the lavish Langham means waking up to views over the banks of the Yarra. After dropping your bags in your room, you can head to the on-site health club for some family exercise. If you’re more of the mood for some downtime, throw on a relaxing playlist on the in-room MP3 player and grab a tasty nibble from your personal fridge.

When you’re ready to start exploring, catch a tram to Lonsdale street and munch on warm dumplings and noodles in one of the dozens of Chinatown restaurants. The quick walk back to the hotel is a delightful sensory overload as Chinese lanterns and lights sway overhead.

If a quiet night in is what you’re after, stop in at in-house restaurant Melba for a buffet meal of saucy plates of pasta, rich cheeses and Australian meats grilled to perfection. Before bed, you’ll want to take the family down to the heated indoor pool for an evening swim so everyone can go to bed fresh and relaxed.

You’ll be just outside of the hustle and bustle of Melbourne central at the trendy Space Hotel. Mere minutes from the Carlton Gardens and IMAX Melbourne, the whole family can enjoy picnics or blockbusters whenever the mood strikes. For an authentic Australian-Italian night out, take a walk down nearby Lygon street to sample the best pasta, pizza and calzones the city has to offer. Otherwise, you can whip up dinner with your room’s own kitchen facilities—make sure to take your family feast onto the hotel’s “space deck” for photo-worthy views over the glittering city.

Rooms here offer simple, clean and generous spaces that the whole family can enjoy after a busy day. Pick up a book at the hotel library and spend the evening delving into a story as the kids cuddle close on the in-room sofa. Once they’re tucked into bed, you’ll want to pop down for a frothy espresso martini at the hotel’s own Blue Moon Bar and belt out a few tunes karaoke-style.

At Imagine Marco, you can take in the city skyline from the outdoor infinity pool one minute, then stroll to the nearby promenade the next. In your airy two-bedroom suite, cook up a storm in a kitchen stocked with full appliances before settling in on your private balcony to drink in panoramic city views—all without leaving your room. If you run out of sparkling wine, not to worry; hotel staff can send groceries right to your door.

For a night out that everyone will enjoy, walk mere minutes down the road to the waterfront precinct of Southbank. Here you will find cuisines ranging from French, Chinese and modern Australian to good old pub grub—even Neil Perry has a spot here.

On warmer evenings, grab a lounger on the hotel’s popular sun terrace and watch the sunset over the city south of the Yarra. End the night with a bang by screening the kids’ favourite movie in the hotel’s own fully-loaded cinema room.

At Travelodge Southbank, you get location, family-friendly facilities and comfy beds without the hefty price tag that usually comes on the bankside. In your neatly appointed rooms, sleep easy in spacious, comfy beds dressed in crisp, fresh bedding. With free Wi-Fi, you can snuggle under a fluffy merino wool blanket and catch up on Netflix while your first cup of the morning brews in-room.

You can stock up for the day at the daily breakfast spread in the dining room, where the kids will choose from cereals, eggs, bacon or tasty toasts with jam. Suitably fuelled, don your walking shoes for a stroll down nearby Flinders Street.

It’s also a short walk to Melbourne’s Southgate, Southbank’s most popular shopping district, where you can browse the boutiques and clothing shops for something to bring home. After taking in the sunset from the riverwalk, you can look forward to coming home to a freshly serviced room.

With staggering views through floor-to-ceiling windows, staying at the Mantra St Kilda can feel more like a swanky condo than a family hotel in Melbourne. Equal distance to the beach and the CBD, you can choose between a spot of shopping or splashing in the surf.

Spend the afternoon wandering the old Prahran markets and let the kids choose from sticky chocolate waffles, lollies or Turkish treats. If you prefer to eat close to your room, browse the menu of mouthwatering, house-made Italian dishes at the Mantra’s own restaurant, Bistro Bakini. You’ll feast on pasta drenched in authentic, zesty sauces and wash it all down with a glass of Yarra Valley Merlot.

Come evening, head to your private balcony overlooking either the city or Port Phillip Bay—you may even get a glimpse of a roller coaster zooming around Luna Park. Once night falls, you’ll want to get cosy on luxe velvet furnishings while your playlist of choice fills the room from the iPod dock. Should you partake in one too many icy tipples from your minibar, you can energise the next morning with an early visit to the on-site gym.

The Docklands is fast becoming one of Melbourne’s hippest scenes, and staying at the Four Points by Sheraton lets you embrace the cool, easy-going feel of this rejuvenated location. Check into your room, styled in chic whites, greys and blues and take in an epic view of the Ferris Wheel through wall-length windows. Once you’re settled in, you can spend the afternoon getting your heart rate up in the fitness room overlooking the water, or watch the kids cannonball into the sun-drenched pool while you kick back on a shaded lounger.

Fuel up for a busy day at the hotel’s breakfast buffet that caters to children and parents alike. After a chilled out morning, you’ll want to make the most of the new eateries and breweries practically on your doorstep. For a family-friendly option, head to Cargo restaurant for cold bevvies and golden, fluffy potato wedges in the lively beer garden.

You can catch the sunset back at the hotel’s glass-walled patio, then put the kids to bed so you can sip craft pints at the on-site lounge bar. Alternatively, the standalone bath in choice studio rooms can make the perfect sudsy end to your evening.