Best Western Melbourne City

Rooms and decor

Best Western Melbourne City is a 5-floor building on Spencer Street with roughly 114 rooms. What stands out is the warm, informal feel — this isn't a luxury hotel, but it's well looked after and reads more like staying with relatives than a big chain property. Every room comes with air-con, a TV and the basic amenities, and the front-desk staff are friendly and genuinely helpful.

Food and amenities

Facilities here are deliberately simple. There's a reception desk and a lift, plus the basic services you'd expect, but no pool and no gym — this is a value stay, not a resort. The trade-off is the price: rooms start around $59 a night, which is hard to argue with for a central CBD address.

Location and getting there

The location is the real draw. The hotel sits inside the Free Tram Zone, with a free tram stopping right at the door — you can ride around the CBD without paying a fare. It's under 10 minutes on foot to Southern Cross Station, which makes catching the SkyBus to Melbourne Airport straightforward, and both the Yarra River and Crown Casino are a short walk away. The rarest perk in the CBD: it's pet-friendly, and anyone who travels with a dog or cat knows how much that's worth.

Things to know before booking

This is a small hotel with basic facilities, so set expectations accordingly — there's no pool or gym. Paying by credit card adds a 1.5% surcharge, so factor that in. And if you're bringing a pet, call ahead to confirm rather than assuming a room will be ready for them.

Our take

Best Western Melbourne City suits value-focused travelers and anyone who needs to bring a pet along. If you want a central address and a solid score in the low-hundreds-of-dollars range, this is one we'd recommend without hesitation. Real guests back that up: 8.8/10 across 450+ reviews on Trip.com.