With its chilled bobo vibe and seaside setting, it’s surprising that Melbourne’s St Kilda does not have more chic urban hotels. For now, at least, the 38-room Prince Hotel is a timely reminder of the quarter’s potential.
Constructed in 1936, the four-storey building on Acland Street is a local landmark, though local studio Meme Design have refused to be cowed by the pedigree. With great warmth and imagination, it has segued the building’s art deco façade into an interior that mixes fresh Nordic elements with a light maritime vibe by way of the Hamptons and Miami.
And so, handmade oak chairs, tufted rugs and brass pendants are paired with concrete tables, pale candy colours and judicious lashings of white marble. The ground floor bistro and wine-bar is headlined by chef Dan Hawkins, whose mod Australian menu of produce sourced from local community gardens is the perfect accompaniment to the unfolding views of Port Phillip Bay.
