Sofitel Melbourne on Collins

We are Accor Platinum members. We try to book Accor hotels when we can but this time thought carefully about if we should go back to the Sofitel since our last stay in the last 2 years was not the best. We recall standing in line most days to enter the Milliesme Club Lounge and then the service was lacking to say the least. The offerings in terms of Breakfast and evening canapes and drinks left one wanting and that time I was a paying guest at the lounge access room. What a turn around in June 2026. We arrived at around 5 pm on Friday and the check in was smooth. polite and efficient. We were upgraded to a 45th floor corner room with excellent views over Parliament House to 4515. We wondered down to the Lounge at around 5.30 and were greeted and shown a table by Lace. The previous table service of hot food has been replaced by a small buffet of hot and cold foods. While the hot food was nice I guess it would be better if there was not so many deep fried options. The cold canapes buffet was constantly replaced and the quality of the produce was obvious. The Drinks menu is also extensive and generous. While I dont like to rate Sofitel Hotels in Australia, ( naturally it is unfair to compare with South East Asia) I must say that having stayed at Sofitel Darling Harbor , the Sofitel Wentworth , Brisbane Central and now Sofitel Melbourne this year, I would place Sofitel melboune on Collins second next to the Wentworth Sydney in terms of offerings ambience and Service. I would like to congratulate, Kiara, Sienna, Luella and Souyong at Breakfast, Reuben who has amazing conversational skills, Mia Gita and finally Lace who hosted us at drinks and Breakfast on several days, for their service with a smile, attentiveness and unobtrusive care during our stay. It was really good to have 2 sittings on the long weekend when it was expected to be busy since it did not leave people standing and waiting. Some changes for the better. This naturally demonstrates dynamic management by the management team. Our Room was quiet and well appointed and had every thing we needed. It would have been good to be asked what wine we would enjoy. We has a bottle of Sauv Blanc in the room on ice, but we are mostly red wine drinkers ! No big deal. Thanks for restoring our faith with such good service at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins

Had a two night weekend stay. Let the hotel know it was to celebrate a significant birthday. This hotel would presumably have many, many Accor guests with status, as a platinum I don’t expect a lot, but was really disappointed. Completely ignored by concierge when we arrived in the evening via car drop off, so missed signage and wasn’t sure where to find the lobby. No acknowledgment of being Accor member at check-in, no welcome gift, certainly no birthday wishes even verbally. This was a first in several years to not receive any acknowledgment whatsoever. On day two I mentioned at the Exec lounge that I was surprised there was no welcome gift, and was this usual? They didn’t really directly apologise but did say they would send a bottle to my room and asked would I like a red or white wine. I appreciated them asking and a bottle was delivered. Still no note or anything accompanying it. I imagine lots of people go to Sofitel for special occasions so gifting each time may be excessive. I didn’t really even want a gift, but I did want to feel special and hotel staff did not deliver. Alerting them in advance in effect was a waste of time at our end it felt like the hotel is disinterested in leisure travellers. For all the times we passed through the main lobby no one said hello nor look us in the eye once. Lounge afternoon tea and canapés were lovely when we had them. This was a redeeming feature of the hotel. Breakfast was delicious as expected. We ate at the lounge as the restaurant was quite busy so we skipped that. Room was beautifully clean and spacious but I thought needed a bit more lighting on a dark moody weather day or during an evening. Next time I visit Melbourne I’ll try a different hotel. Still enjoyed myself, fair pricing but underperforming on the hospitality.

After some deliberation between the Sofitel and the Pullman, I’m pleased I chose the Sofitel Melbourne. It has firmly set the benchmark among the Australian Sofitel properties I’ve visited. As a Accor Platinum member, we were upgraded to a Luxury King Corner room on the 37th floor, with beautiful views across the Treasury and Fitzroy Gardens. The room was spacious and well-appointed, the bed was excellent, and I particularly appreciated the bathroom being well separated from the sleeping area — a small detail that makes a real difference. Club Sofitel was the centrepiece of the stay. Afternoon tea featured a lovely selection of sweets that varied each day, breakfast was consistently strong with a solid à la carte menu, and the evening canapés were excellent — varied and interesting across both nights. The French sparkling from the Loire Valley was a fine choice and very easy to work through, and the Negronis were well made. The staff deserve particular recognition. Reuben and Sarah in the lounge were outstanding — warm, attentive, and exactly the kind of hosts that elevate a stay from good to memorable. On the second evening, with a couple of team members unwell, those remaining were clearly stretched but managed the situation with great professionalism. That said, there are a few areas that warrant attention. The lounge seating is genuinely uncomfortable (lacking any support and hard on your buttocks) and in need of replacement. For a space where guests are encouraged to linger over drinks and canapés for a couple of hours each evening, this is not a minor issue. The televisions propped around the lounge, cycling through fishing programs and cooking shows, add nothing to the experience and detract considerably from the atmosphere. The lounge simply doesn’t need them. The coffee was a disappointment — appearing to come from an automated machine given the speed of service. For a Sofitel in Melbourne, widely regarded as Australia’s coffee capital, this is a gap worth closing. Finally, dress code enforcement remains an issue. The smart casual policy is clearly communicated both at the entrance and in the welcome letter, yet active wear and flip flops were visible throughout. On one occasion a guest was observed helping themselves to the drinks fridge and reacted poorly when advised that service is table-side. Consistent enforcement would go a long way toward maintaining the standard that most guests come here expecting. The location is superb — we walked to dinner each evening without any difficulty and found excellent options nearby. With canapés and cocktails well accounted for, a light meal at a local Japanese restaurant suited us perfectly on both nights. Having now stayed at every Sofitel in Australia with the exception of Adelaide, Melbourne stands clearly above the rest. I will be returning.