THE LANGHAM in Melbourne - Hotel Review with Photos

SD › Melbourne › Best Hotels › Langham Review
Updated: January 5, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Southgate Avenue, connected to the Southbank Shopping Mall.
• Hotel website: langhamhotels.com
• Hotel phone: +61 (0)3 8696 8888
• Check prices for The Langham

The Langham features luxurious rooms and suites with exceptional marble bathrooms, a beautiful pool and hot tub, a sophisticated restaurant and bar, and a fabulous Chinese-inspired spa.

The Langham – Oh-so elegant with a tranquil riverside position amongst endless amenities.

Magnificently positioned alongside the river, just across the bridge from downtown, The Langham oozes the sort of elegance and charm expected at a historical hotel in London. It is virtually attached to a riverside mall packed with sophisticated shopping and dining, almost on the edge of the remarkable Botanic Gardens, and surrounded by theaters. All categories of accommodations are utterly gorgeous, and the suites are arguably the finest in Melbourne. Some suites feature jacuzzis for two, private studies, and fully-equipped kitchens, and all offer some of the city’s premier views. The excellent pool, Chinese-inspired spa, and outdoor lounge area overlooking the Yarra River add further to the appeal.

The Langham – The Location

Area: Fabulous position facing the river, just across a bridge from the city center. Almost attached to an extended collection of riverside shops, cafés, and bars called Southgate which is part of an area generally referred to as Southbank. About 2 blocks from the Crown Casino.
Address: 1 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.
Nearest Transport: Bus – Arts Centre (500m), Tram – Arts Precinct/St Kilda Rd (600m), Metro – Flinders Street Railway Station (500m).
How to Get There: Taxis to/from the airport (26 km) cost around A$80. For about A$20, SkyBus (every 30-60 minutes, 6 am-7 pm daily) drops off and picks up passengers at Eureka Tower (200m). Otherwise, Starbus shuttles (5 am-10 pm daily) travel directly between the airport and hotel door (about A$30).
Handy to: Southgate. Botanic Gardens. Crown Casino.

The Langham – The Basics

Guests: Mostly business people during the week and, often, couples on weekends, especially for romantic getaways.
Pets: Not permitted.
Views: With few buildings of similar height nearby, views are more impressive than those from most rival hotels. Many rooms face the river with the city center in the background, while others overlook the city streets.
Kitchens: The 1-only Kerrie Hess Residence Suite features a fully-equipped kitchen.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: A few suites have large jacuzzis.
Extras: Some guests have access to the exclusive and opulent Langham Club Lounge, which includes additional benefits.
Parking: Valet parking and self-parking available at a nearby public car park, but rates are high.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +61 (0)3 8696 8888
Email: tlmel.info@langhamhotels.com
Website: langhamhotels.com

The Langham – Amenities

Pool: The indoor heated pool is more appealing than those at most other hotels. Drink/food service available poolside and the upper-level views are impressive.
Spa: The pool is attached to the super-classy Chuan Spa. Using its own organic products, the extraordinary range of treatments and therapies are influenced by traditional Chinese medicine.
Fitness Center: Large and well-equipped. Sublime views, steam rooms, sauna, and personal trainers. Also, classes in fitness, yoga, and Pilates.

The Langham – Food and Drink

Restaurant: Melba Restaurant – Award-winning haute cuisine enhanced by silver service, gorgeous river views, and an open-plan kitchen. Popular for its sumptuous afternoon High Tea.
Bar: Aria Bar & Lounge – Sophisticated place for a cocktail or coffee. Also, a tempting menu.
Breakfast: Not included but could be, depending on how the room is booked.
Room Service: Available 24/7.

The Langham – Rooms

Room Types: Superior Rooms • Deluxe River Rooms • Deluxe Corner Rooms • Deluxe Balcony Rooms • Executive Terrace Rooms • Executive Rooms • One Bedroom Suites • Kerrie Hess Residence Suite (one only) • Chairman Suites • List of all Rooms
Smoking Rooms: No smoking is allowed in the rooms or public areas.
Best Room: Fit for royalty, the Chairman Suites are the ultimate in luxury and opulence. Superb views, private study/office, and very spacious living/dining area.
For Families: Not really set up for families. The very expensive suites can easily accommodate a family of 4 or more, but better family-friendly options can be found elsewhere.

The Langham – Local Transport

Walking & Cycling: The riverside paths in both directions are flat, lined with bars, bistros, and boutiques, and ideal for strolling and cycling. Cycle along the paths beside the river and avoid the city center.
Public Transport: Every few minutes, trams shuttle along Flinders Street (and other roads) in the city center, just across the bridge from the hotel. Trams also head to suburban areas like South Yarra, Docklands, and St Kilda Beach. All trams are free within the city center and to Docklands.
Taxis & Ride-shares: Arrange a taxi through reception. Uber and Ola operate all over Melbourne.

The Langham – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

BearBrass – Popular for its arty décor and good-value nightly specials (e.g. ‘steak nights’ and ‘pizza and pint’), as well as Saturday brunch and daily happy hours.
Tutto Bene – On the first floor of the Southgate building, offering unobstructed river views. Happy hours, tapas, and plenty of food/drink specials.

Ponyfish Island – Remarkable location under the pedestrian bridge and, therefore, in the middle of the river. Casual meals, pleasing prices, and extraordinary setting. (150m).
Teatro – Part of the Hamer Hall theater, it specializes in pizza and tapas. Also, plenty of healthy, tempting options influenced by the Italian chef. (400m).
Spirit of Melbourne Cruising Restaurant – Unique, intimate river cruises. Set-price packages include a 4-course dinner and unlimited drinks. Leaves from a terminal in front of Southgate, next to the pedestrian bridge. (400m).

Nearby Shops

Southgate – Plenty of classy shops and fashionable boutiques within the complex almost attached to the hotel. (150m).
Crown Casino – Even more shops are a couple of minutes’ walk further west along the river, all part of this remarkable shopping complex at Southbank. (700m).

Nearby Attractions

Royal Botanic Gardens

Kings Domain

The Langham – The Hotel

The hotel is located by the Yarra River.

Beautifully positioned along the Yarra River, The Langham is the sandy-colored building to the left in the photo.

Part of a luxurious international chain, the hotel looms over the cafés, bars, and shops along the river only meters away.

The incredible opulence and elegance immediately apparent from the lobby continues throughout the hotel.

Incredible marble corridors are throughout the hotel.

Sparkling marble corridors are indicative of the sumptuous design all over the hotel.

Melba restaurant offers a great river view.

The hotel restaurant, Melba, offers exquisite river views.

Melba features a fascinating open-plan kitchen and extensive buffet breakfast (usually not included).

Unique among rival hotels is this outdoor area packed with sunbeds and overlooking the river.

Even the lowest-category rooms are luxurious and elegantly furnished.

Many rooms and suites face the river, but even other views of the city buildings are still notable.

The marble bathrooms in every room and suite are exceptional.

Rooms at the back also offer decent views.

Rooms and suites facing away from the river still offer worthwhile views.

The Langham is above the Southgate precinct.

The Langham (to the right in the photo) towers over the triple-level Southgate precinct of shops, cafés, and bars alongside the river.

The Southgate area at the foot of the hotel offers plenty of classy places to eat, drink, and shop.

The promenade between the Southgate precinct and river is dotted with displays of contemporary sculptures.

Southgate also has an excellent food court.

As well as dozens of stylish cafés and bars, the Southgate complex at the foot of the hotel has an excellent food court.

The riverside path has several lovely eateries.

The path along the river only meters from the hotel is lined with appealing places to eat and drink.

Part of Southgate, just steps from the hotel, BearBrass is popular for its nightly specials including steak and pizza.

On an upper floor of the Southgate building, Tutto Bene is a casual but classy Italian bistro.

Dinner cruises on the Spirit of Melbourne are fun.

For something different, the Spirit of Melbourne hosts intimate dinner cruises each night. The terminal is just in front of Southgate.

The hotel is connected to the city center by a walkway.

This pedestrian bridge across the river quickly connects the hotel with the city center.

Ponyfish Island café is under the bridge.

Underneath the pedestrian bridge to downtown is the remarkable Ponyfish Island café.

The riverside path leads to the botanic gardens.

Strolling along the riverside paths to the east is delightful and soon leads to the amazing botanic gardens.

Close to the hotel, the Southbank precinct (separate to the Southgate area) is popular with cyclists. Bikes can be rented at several spots along the river.

Hamer Hall theater is close to the hotel.

Hamer Hall is one of several theaters within a few minutes’ walk of the hotel.

Part of the Hamer Hall theater, the appropriately-named Teatro bistro specializes in pizza and tapas.

Arts Centre Melbourne is behind Hamer Hall.

Behind Hamer Hall is the iconic Arts Centre Melbourne.

Only a short walk from The Langham is the Crown Casino, part of an extraordinary complex that includes cinemas, games arcades, shopping malls, and 3 hotels.

Federation Square is popular with tourists.

Just over the river from The Langham, Federation Square is a popular spot for tourists.

Trams throughout the city center, just across the river from the hotel, are free.

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

The cheapest way to travel between the airport and hotel is by SkyBus Express.

The Starbus shuttle service offers great airport connectivity.

The Starbus shuttle service also links the hotel with the airport. Check rates and availability: The Langham

The Langham Hotel in Melbourne, Australia

See Also