Crown Metropol Hotel in Melbourne, Australia

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Updated: January 5, 2022

Essentials
• Location: On the corner of Clarendon and Whiteman streets.
• Hotel website: crownhotels.com.au
• Hotel phone: +61 (0)3 9292 6211
• Check prices for Crown Metropol

Review of Hotel Crown Metropol Melbourne.

Victoria’s largest hotel, Crown Metropol features modern and spacious family-friendly accommodations, some with full kitchens, and an amazing pool on a high floor next to the casino.

Crown Metropol – Central, functional, good-value, and better than most for families.

The state’s largest hotel is just one of three within the incredibly vast Crown complex that also includes a casino and seemingly endless places to eat, drink, and shop. Also part of it are games arcades, bowling alleys, and cinemas – all in a building next to the Metropol, so this is a fabulous option for families. All categories of rooms are spacious and feature an unfussy, contemporary décor, while views from the floor-to-ceiling windows are certainly more appealing than at most rival hotels. Facing a surprisingly quiet street with an abundance of amenities along the river and in the city center just across the bridge, for many, the main selling point is simply the proximity to Melbourne’s biggest casino.

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Crown Metropol – The Location

    (Not to be confused with the associated and nearby Crown Towers and Crown Promenade hotels, or the separate Crowne Plaza hotel just across the river.)

  • Area: Lovely area facing the river, with water-side bistros and bars in both directions. Walkable to the city’s amenities and attractions and, of course, the casino.
  • Address: 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank. Across the road from the main Crown Casino building. In an area called Southbank, a couple of minutes’ walk across the Yarra River from the city center.
  • Nearest Transport: Bus – Clarendon St (250m), Tram – Clarendon St/Whiteman St & City Rd/Clarendon St (150m).
  • How to Get There: Taxis to/from the airport (25 km) cost around A$80. For about A$20, SkyBus Docklands Express (every 30-60 minutes, 5.30 am-7 pm daily) drops off/picks up airport passengers right across the road from the hotel. Otherwise, Starbus shuttles (5 am-10 pm daily) travel directly between the airport and the hotel (about A$30).
  • Handy to: Crown Casino (see below).

Crown Metropol – The Basics

  • Guests: Of the 3 hotels in the Crown Casino complex, this hotel is the most focused towards families. Also attracts business people and those interested in the casino.
  • Pets: Not allowed.
  • Views: All accommodations feature full-length windows. Being on a corner, views are extensive but mostly of inner-city streets rather than the river.
  • Kitchen: The Apartments have full-sized kitchens.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: None but probably not expected at this sort of inner-city hotel either.
  • Parking: Valet parking available for a high rate. Guests can also self-park in the Crown Casino car park. Parking is included in some hotel rates.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: +61 (0)3 9292 6211
  • Email: reservations.mcm@crownhotels.com.au
  • Website: crownhotels.com.au

Crown Metropol – Amenities

  • Pool: One of the country’s largest hotel pools. Indoors and particularly inviting, it’s the best of the 3 Crown hotels and the views are excellent.
  • Spa: The Crown Spa claims to be ‘undeniably Australia’s most exclusive and sophisticated’ spa. Certainly opulent and world-class, offering a superb range of treatments and amenities. In the separate Crown Towers hotel.
  • Fitness Center: Fully-equipped although not overly big.
  • For Families: Of the 3 Crown hotels, this is most suited to families. Bowling alleys, a cinema complex, and a massive games arcades in an adjoining building. Special package deals including breakfast for children available.

Crown Metropol – Food and Drink

  • Restaurant & Bar: The only restaurant in the actual hotel building (rather than the extensive Crown Casino complex) is Mr Hive Kitchen & Bar. Offers a buffet breakfast (usually for an extra charge) as well shared platters and unique cocktails. Also popular for sandwiches, salads, and cakes.
  • Breakfast: Normally not included but can be, depending on the room and how it was booked.
  • Room Service: Available 24 hours a day.

Crown Metropol – Rooms

  • Room Types: Luxe King/Twin • City Luxe • Urban Luxe • Ultra Luxe • Loft • The Apartment • List of all Rooms
  • Smoking Rooms: Not generally advertised but a few smoking rooms are available.
  • Best Room: Despite the simple name, The Apartments are loaded with extras like kitchens and living/dining rooms. Rates also include breakfast, parking, and champagne.
  • For Families: The Apartments (described above) are ideal. Designed for families, the Ultra Luxe Rooms have 2 bedrooms and bathrooms and a private entry. Otherwise, book a room with connecting doors or, if with a small child, convert the sofa into an extra single bed.

Crown Metropol – Local Transport

  • Walking & Cycling: Just 4 minutes (250m) from the hotel, riverside paths head in both directions. The paths are flat, lined with bars, bistros, and boutiques, and ideal for strolling and cycling. Stay on the riverside paths and avoid the city center.
  • Public Transport: Every few minutes, trams shuttle along Clarendon Street (and other roads), which turns into Spencer Street as it crosses the bridge into the city center. Trams also head to suburban areas like South Yarra, Docklands, and St Kilda Beach. All trams are free within the city center (i.e. just over the bridge) and to Docklands.
  • Taxis & Ride-shares: Arrange a taxi through reception or find one along the streets. Uber and Ola operate all over Melbourne.

Crown Metropol – What’s Nearby?

Seemingly endless facilities are along the southern edge of the Yarra River. Almost all nearby shops, bars, and cafés are clustered in areas given confusingly-similar names: South Wharf, Southbank, and Southgate. All the places listed below are along a riverside path.

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

    In South Wharf, west of the bridge are:

  • The Boatbuilders Yard – Plenty of wooden tables inside and out. Wins awards for its nautical-style setting and good-value meals. (600m).
  • Akachochin – Award-winning, contemporary Japanese cuisine and classy service. Famous for its marble bar and popular for set-price lunch menus. (700m).
    Southbank, east of the bridge, is part of the massive Crown Casino complex. Among numerous choices here are:

  • 400 Gradi at Crown – With a swish setting and foliage offering privacy, it’s won international awards for pizza. Also on the menu are plenty of other Italian dishes. (300m).
  • Rockpool Bar & Grill Melbourne – World-famous steakhouse run by celebrity chef Neil Perry. Expect chic décor, excellent service, and hefty prices. Also, open-plan kitchen and impressive wine list. (600m).
    In Southgate, about 800m east of the bridge, are:

  • BearBrass – Popular for its arty décor and Saturday brunch, daily happy hours, and good-value nightly specials (e.g. ‘steak nights’ and ‘pizza and pint’). (1 km).
  • Teatro – Part of the Hamer Hall theater, it specializes in pizza and tapas. Also, plenty of other healthy and tempting options influenced by the Italian chef. (1 km).

Nearby Shops

    So many options in all directions – at South Wharf, Southbank, and Southgate – as mentioned above. Also, in the city center just across one of several bridges.

Nearby Attractions

    The Vegas-like Crown Casino complex features oodles of places to eat, drink, and shop, as well as games arcades, bowling alleys, and cinemas. For many, however, it’s really all about the casino. (200m).

Crown Metropol – The Hotel

The hotel is in the Crown Casino complex.

The Metropol is one of three associated hotels within the extraordinary Crown Casino complex in the inner-city area of Southbank.

The hotel has the most rooms in the city.

It has the largest number of rooms of any hotel in the state.

The hotel has a contemporary design.

The overall design of the hotel is contemporary but not overly chic.

The pool is one of the largest in Australia.

The pool is one of the largest at any hotel in Australia and better than those in the other 2 Crown hotels.

The gym is well-equipped.

The fitness center is decent enough and the views are intriguing.

Mr Hive Kitchen & Bar is within the hotel.

Mr Hive Kitchen & Bar is the only restaurant within the hotel, although there are many more in the extended Crown Casino complex.

The hotel offers a huge variety of rooms.

The variety of accommodations offered by the Metropol is more impressive than at most rival hotels.

Rooms are spacious and colorful.

All accommodations are spacious and beautifully furnished.

Hotel views are decent.

The hotel is in a built-up area so some views are obstructed, but overall they are more appealing than at most hotels.

All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows.

Even the standard rooms feature maximum floor-to-ceiling windows.

Top-end rooms have TVs in the bathrooms.

There is an extra TV in the top-end categories of rooms.

Corner rooms offer more windows.

Rooms in the corners offer twice the windows and double the views.

The Crown Casino complex is huge.

The Metropol is part of the massive Crown Casino complex that incorporates the Southbank precinct of shops, restaurants, and bars.

Cycling is very popular in the area.

Cycling is a popular way to explore the endless facilities along the southern edge of the Yarra River which includes the Southbank precinct.

Crown Towers hotel is part of the Casino complex.

Part of the Crown Casino complex is the high-rise Crown Towers hotel.

South Wharf has several bistros and bars.

A few minutes west along the river from the Metropol is South Wharf, another area packed with bistros and bars.

The Boatbuilders Yard is a great bar and café.

Along South Wharf, just down the riverside path from the hotel, is The Boatbuilders Yard bar and café.

Akachochin is an award-winning Japanese restaurant.

Also recommended along South Wharf is the award-winning Japanese restaurant, Akachochin.

Rockpool Bar & Grill is in the Crown Casino complex.

Part of the Crown Casino complex at Southbank is the world-renowned Rockpool Bar & Grill.

The Gradi at Crown is renowned for its pizza.

The Gradi at Crown café at Southbank has won international awards for its pizza.

Teatro cafe is very elegant.

Further along the river is the elegant Teatro café.

BearBrass is known for its pizzas.

Also at Southgate, another precinct of shops and cafés near the hotel, is BearBrass.

Guests prefer the proximity to the casino.

For many hotel guests, the main attraction is the proximity to the Crown Casino.

There are several games arcades in the complex.

In a building next to the hotel, and part of the enormous Crown Casino complex, are numerous games arcades.

There are many fashionable boutiques here.

The Metropol is part of the Crown Casino complex that includes several levels of fashionable boutiques.

The restaurants inside the complex are not as great as those by the river.

The Crown Casino complex also offers numerous places to eat inside but these are not as appealing as those alongside the river nearby.

The express SkyBus is the best way to and from the airport.

The cheapest way between the airport and hotel is by SkyBus Express which stops across the road from the hotel.

The Starbus shuttle service offers great airport connectivity.

Only a little more expensive is the Starbus shuttle service which directly links the hotel and airport. Check rates and availability: Crown Metropol

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