PULLMAN ALBERT PARK in Melbourne - Hotel Review with Photos

SD › Melbourne › Best Hotels › Pullman Albert Park Review
Updated: January 5, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Queens Road, Albert Park, facing the lake.
• Hotel website: pullmanalbertpark.com.au
• Hotel phone: +61 (0)3 9529 4300
• Check prices for Pullman Albert Park

The stylish and modern Pullman Albert Park hotel features luxurious rooms for business travelers and families, a heated indoor pool, and multiple dining options.

Pullman Albert Park – Classy business-oriented hotel facing a park and lake conveniently between the city and beach.

The office-block exterior belies a stylish lobby and sophisticated design that immediately impresses. The chic rooms feature contemporary art, dangling lamps, and glass desks, as well as all the latest gadgets. Although mainly a business hotel, some rooms are also ideal for families, and those facing the front are booked months ahead for pit-stop views of the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix when the excellent soundproofing will not be adequate. The notable facilities include a heated pool (often not featured at fancier downtown hotels). Just across the road from an extensive lake and park that is ideal for strolling, jogging, and cycling, with abundant, secure, and reasonably-priced on-site parking. Only a few tram stops from the city center and St Kilda Beach.

Pullman Albert Park – The Location

Mercure Albert Park

Area: Overlooks a scenic park and lake, which is somehow transformed into a Formula 1 racetrack in March each year. Easy tram trip to the city center and inner-city beach at St Kilda (2 km), which is great for a pleasant walk or ride by rented bicycle (see below).
Address: 65 Queens Road, Albert Park (sometimes called South Melbourne). Faces Albert Park and a lake in the inner southeast suburbs less than 5 km from the city center.
Nearest Transport: Bus – Wesley College (500m), Tram – High Street/St Kilda Rd (400m), Metro – South Yarra Station (300m).
How to Get There: Taxis to/from the airport (30 km) cost around A$80. The handy SkyBus that links the airport to many parts of the city center and inner suburbs does not stop in this area. For about A$30, Starbus shuttles (5 am-10 pm daily) pick up and drop off passengers directly at the hotel door.
Handy to: Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix (see below).

Pullman Albert Park – The Basics

Guests: Mainly business people, a few families, and car-racing fanatics (in March).
Pets: Not allowed.
Views: Many rooms facing the front overlook the park, lake, and busy road, and are well-soundproofed. Others face neighboring buildings and suburban streets, though views are generally more appealing than many hotels in the city center.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Not expected (or provided) at this sort of suburban business hotel.
Parking: Valet and self-parking available in a secure area underneath the hotel building. Well-priced.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +61 (0)3 9529 4300
Email: H8788@accor.com
Website: pullmanalbertpark.com.au

Pullman Albert Park – Amenities

Pool: The indoor heated pool is a decent size.
Spa: None, but not provided at most business-oriented hotels in Melbourne either.
Fitness Center: The large Fit Lounge is well-equipped and features a sauna.
For Families: Baby-sitting.
Other Facilities: Dry-cleaning. Money exchange. Business center. Hertz car rental office.

Pullman Albert Park – Food and Drink

Restaurants: Windows Restaurant – Offers buffet or a la carte breakfast (usually for an extra cost) and an extended menu for dinner. Overlooks the lake and specializes in contemporary Australian cuisine. Regular seafood buffets and ‘steak nights’. • Café – Simply named for sandwiches, salads, pastries, coffee, and tea.
Bar: Atrium Bar and Lounge – Sociable meeting place for local workers. Exotic cocktails, extensive wine list, appealing happy hours, and tasty snacks.
Breakfast: Not included but can be discounted when booking. Otherwise, pay on the day.
Room Service: Available 24 hours.

Pullman Albert Park – Rooms

Room Types: Pullman Classic Twin Rooms • Pullman Classic King Rooms • Pullman Deluxe Lakeview Rooms • List of all Rooms
Smoking Rooms: No smoking allowed in the rooms or public areas; only allowed in a dedicated area outside.

Pullman Albert Park – Local Transport

Walking & Cycling: The 5 km path around the lake in the park across the road is perfect for strolling, jogging, and cycling.
Public Transport: Plenty of trams travel up and down St Kilda Road, which is one block east of the hotel. Trams only take about 10 minutes to the city center and the beach and amenities at St Kilda.
Taxis, Ride-shares, & Car Rental: Ask the concierge to arrange a taxi. An office for Hertz car rental is on the ground floor of the adjoining Mercure hotel building. Uber and Ola operate all over Melbourne.

Pullman Albert Park – What’s Nearby?

The limited range of amenities in the immediate area includes some daytime cafés in front of offices along St Kilda Road, one block to the east. Otherwise, take a tram to St Kilda (2 km).

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

Leo’s Spaghetti Bar – Casual, affordable, and often busy with locals. Well-loved for over 50 years. (1.5 km).
The Prince (Prince of Wales) Hotel – Long-term favorite for affordable meals, elevated sea views, and quality bands on most nights. (1.5 km).

Hotel Esplanade – Renowned across the city for its huge bars, street-side tables, and live bands. (2 km).
Republica St Kilda Beach – Summertime hangout alongside the beach (but open all year). Hugely popular at sunset and for daily food and drink specials. Ideal for families. (2 km).

Vineyard Restaurant – Lovely corner position. Contemporary Australian cuisine, outdoor tables, and live music. (2 km).
Abbey Road Café – Funky setting, fab service, and daily specials. Plenty of seats inside and along the sidewalk. (2.5 km).

Nearby Shops

A few minimarts along St Kilda Road, 1 block east of the hotel (300m). Great selection of shops in a compact area along Acland Street (2 km) which finishes as a pedestrian plaza. St Kilda is easily accessible by tram, as is the city center with all its arcades, malls, and markets.

Nearby Attractions

Albert Park Golf Course

Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre

Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix

Pullman Albert Park – The Hotel

The Pullman shares the property with Mercure.

The Pullman Albert Park hotel shares an extended building with the associated Mercure hotel.

The Pullman and adjoining Mercure hotel are in Albert Park, an inner southeast suburb less than 5 km from the city center.

The main entrance of this business-oriented hotel is welcoming.

The layout and design of the Pullman are immediately impressive.

The lobby area is surprisingly spacious and features a chic, contemporary décor.

There is plenty of room in the lobby area for guests to relax.

Near the lobby is a business center and meeting room which all guests can use.

The heated indoor pool is a decent size. (In fact, some hotels in the city center costing much more have no pool.)

The Fit Lounge offers lots of space and plenty of equipment.

Breakfast is served in Windows Restaurant.

At ground level in the Pullman hotel, the Windows Restaurant offers a buffet breakfast for guests (usually for an extra charge).

The restaurant has a contemporary decor.

The furnishings and décor in the Windows Restaurant are contemporary.

Appropriately named, the hotel restaurant features plenty of windows facing the park and lake across the road.

Also at the lobby level, Café is popular for coffee, tea, sandwiches, and salads.

All categories of rooms feature a modern design and trendy furnishings.

Some of the larger rooms already have an extra single bed set up, so they’re ideal for families.

Lake-facing rooms are ideal for F1 fans.

Rooms facing the lake and park across the road offer the finest views for car-racing enthusiasts.

As expected of a business-oriented hotel, there is a desk, and fitting in with the contemporary design, it’s made of glass.

Front-facing rooms overlook Albert Park.

Rooms facing the front overlook Albert Park, where the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is held each year.

The lake across the road is popular with local residents and workers, as well as swans.

The park and lake are popular with locals.

The well-maintained lake and park are ideal to relax from the traffic elsewhere.

There is a small playground in the park.

Also within the park in front of the hotel is a playground.

A track for cycling, walking, and jogging extends around the lake for 5 km.

The road in front of the hotel is part of the F1 circuit.

The road through Albert Park across from the hotel is part of the circuit for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel is the Albert Park Golf Course.

The Pullman and adjoining Mercure hotel are along Queens Road, an area of offices and apartments within an inner-city suburb.

Regular trams connect the hotel to the city center.

Only a block east of the hotel is St Kilda Road. Along it, trams frequently head to the city center and beach area at St Kilda.

The St Kilda board is great for walking and cycling.

St Kilda is only a few minutes by tram from the hotel. It offers boardwalks for cycling and plenty of bars and cafés, though the beach is not that great for swimming.