Melbourne is a city that rewards looking up. Behind the office towers and tram wires are ornate façades, hidden courtyards, tiny wine bars and laneways that seem to reveal something new every time you turn a corner. InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto puts you right in the middle of that story, inside one of the city's most recognisable historic buildings on Collins Street.
The hotel occupies the former Rialto buildings, where 1890s neo-Gothic architecture meets a more contemporary hotel interior. Original brickwork and ornate windows remain, while a soaring glass atrium brings daylight deep into the centre of the property. It is an interesting contrast, and one that feels very Melbourne: grand old architecture, but with a modern edge.
Why Book InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto?
The location is the obvious starting point, but it is not the whole reason to stay.
This is a hotel for people who like having a city at the front door. Collins Street, Flinders Lane and Melbourne's famous laneways are close enough that you can spend the morning wandering between cafés and galleries, disappear for lunch somewhere small and unassuming, then return to the hotel for a swim or a drink before dinner.
Inside, the atmosphere changes. The huge atrium gives the public spaces a sense of scale, while the rooms and suites are much quieter and more residential.
There is also enough within the hotel itself to make staying in appealing. Alluvial, Ronnie's and Bluestone Wine Lounge cover everything from breakfast to Italian-inspired dinners and late afternoon drinks, while Club InterContinental adds another layer for guests who choose lounge access.
The Location
InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto is at 495 Collins Street, in the western end of Melbourne's CBD.
This is a particularly good part of the city for travellers who prefer exploring on foot. Flinders Lane is nearby, along with the restaurants, cafés and small bars that have helped make Melbourne famous for its food culture. Collins Street brings grand architecture and high-end shopping, while the city's laneways lead you towards galleries, coffee shops and tucked-away cocktail bars.
The hotel is also well placed for Melbourne's bigger attractions. The National Gallery of Victoria, the MCG and Marvel Stadium are all within reach, while the Yarra River and Southbank are easy to work into a day of exploring.
The best way to experience this part of Melbourne is to give yourself permission to wander. You rarely need a complicated itinerary.
First Impressions
The first thing you notice is the building.
There is something satisfying about entering a hotel where the architecture has genuine history rather than a decorative version of it. The original brickwork, ornate windows and neo-Gothic details belong to the building itself, while the enormous glass atrium changes the mood completely.
During the day, light filters through the glass roof and makes the public spaces feel bright and open. At night, the same space becomes more atmospheric, particularly when the restaurants and bars begin to fill.
The design does not try to turn the property into a museum. That is important. The historic elements are allowed to remain part of the hotel's character while contemporary interiors bring it firmly into the present.
Rooms and Suites
The rooms take a quieter approach than the grand public spaces.
There are Classic and Premium Rooms alongside Junior Suites, One Bedroom Suites, Signature Suites and the 123-square-metre Iconic Suite. Depending on the category, views look towards the historic building, Collins Street or the Rialto Towers.
The interiors combine contemporary furnishings with warmer details, while bathrooms feature walk-in rain showers. Rooms also come with practical touches such as pillow menus, coffee-making facilities, workspace, Wi-Fi and room service.
For a special occasion, the Iconic Suite is the one to look at. It has a separate bedroom and living area, and guests receive Club InterContinental access, bringing breakfast, afternoon tea and evening canapés into the stay.
I like that the room categories give you a choice between a more classic hotel stay and something with a little more space and privacy. In a city where you will probably spend much of the day outside, having somewhere comfortable to return to matters.
Dining at InterContinental Melbourne
Food is taken seriously here, and the hotel's different venues each have their own personality.
Alluvial sits beneath the dramatic glass atrium and draws on Victorian produce, with menus influenced by the region's farms, vineyards and coastal waters. The name itself references the alluvial soils shaped by the Yarra River, a fitting nod to Melbourne's landscape and history.
It is particularly appealing when you want to make an occasion of dinner without leaving the hotel. During the day, the atrium also works beautifully for a long lunch or a slower coffee.
Then there is Ronnie's, which takes a more casual approach to Italian cooking. The idea is simple: pasta, shared plates and food designed for lingering rather than rushing through a formal meal.
Bluestone Wine Lounge is where I would head later in the day. It focuses on Australian and Victorian wines alongside French Champagne, with the soaring atrium overhead. There are also smaller bites if you want something with your glass rather than a full dinner.
And for guests who enjoy the old-fashioned pleasure of a hotel afternoon tea, there is that too.
Club InterContinental
Club InterContinental gives the stay a slightly more private rhythm.
Guests with access can use the lounge for daily breakfast, afternoon tea, evening canapés and drinks, as well as refreshments throughout the day. It is an especially good option if you are staying for several nights and want somewhere quiet to begin or finish the day.
Rather than feeling like another restaurant, the lounge works as a pause between the city outside and your room upstairs.
Pool and Wellness
One of the pleasant surprises is the heated indoor pool.
After a day walking Melbourne's streets, visiting galleries or shopping along Collins Street, being able to disappear upstairs for a swim changes the rhythm of the stay. The hotel also has a fitness centre, and the pool area includes a hot tub with city views.
For something more involved, the wider Rialto precinct is home to Botanica Wellness Spa & Clinic, giving guests another option for treatments and relaxation beyond the hotel's own facilities.
Melbourne on Your Doorstep
The beauty of staying here is that you can forget about the car.
Spend the morning following Melbourne's laneways, stopping for coffee whenever somewhere catches your eye. Walk towards Flinders Lane for lunch. Head across to the Yarra in the afternoon, then return to the hotel to change before dinner.
The city also has a wonderfully strong relationship with art and design. The National Gallery of Victoria is an obvious stop, while the streets around Collins and Little Collins reveal some of Melbourne's best historic architecture, including the Block Arcade and Manchester Unity Building.
For sport, the MCG is within reach. For concerts and major events, Marvel Stadium is another straightforward trip.
But honestly, some of the best moments may come from doing very little. Find a café. Sit outside. Watch the trams. Follow a laneway simply because it looks interesting.
That is Melbourne.
What Sets InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto Apart?
It is the relationship between the building and the city.
There are plenty of polished five-star hotels in Melbourne, but the Rialto has something that cannot be recreated through decoration. The original architecture gives the hotel a sense of place before you have even checked in.
Then there is the contrast. Outside, you have one of Melbourne's grandest streets and a network of lively laneways. Inside, there is the quiet of the rooms, the light-filled atrium, the pool and the wine lounge.
The hotel does not need to compete with Melbourne. It gives you a comfortable place from which to experience it.
nterContinental Melbourne The Rialto understands what makes Melbourne interesting.
It is not simply the old architecture, although that certainly helps. It is the fact that the hotel puts you within easy reach of the city's best habits: excellent coffee, good food, art, shopping, hidden bars and aimless wandering.
Come for the grand Collins Street address and the 1890s details. Stay for the food, the pool and the ease of having Melbourne unfold just outside the door.
And make time to stand beneath the glass atrium in the evening. It is one of those hotel spaces that reminds you why historic buildings are worth keeping.
Official website: InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto