The Adelphi

Sydney, as the capital, may get the bulk of the world’s attention, but Melbourne is Australia’s cool city, its artistic center, the city that gave to the world just about any Aussie actor or musician you can name, from Cate Blanchett to Hugh Jackman, from Kylie Minogue to Nick Cave—and we’ll take interesting company over landmark bridges and opera houses any day.

The Adelphi is the kind of small and stylish hotel that would seem too precious in (relatively) staid Sydney—but it’s a perfect match for this creative, fashion-forward town. This converted warehouse building by Australian firm Denton Corker Marshall is a favorite amongst architects, a fine example of what the modern minimal hotel can be, and the sort of place that shames the imitators. Many hotels make far less from the same palette of blonde wood and matte metal, and though road-sign yellow may be a daring choice for interiors in what is supposed to be a restful environment, there’s no question that they’ve made it work.

The hotel is perhaps best known for one of its most daring architectural flourishes: the rooftop lap pool, the transparent bottom of which extends out over the street below—fine for watching the pedestrians as you swim, as long as you’re comfortable with them watching you. But it’s the more traditional charms that make the Adelphi worth returning to; the guest rooms are exceedingly well put together, with striking modern furniture—yes, some of it yellow—and the views from the rooftop bar are extraordinary. It’s a hike from hip St Kilda, but close to all the high street shops, with all the conveniences of a city center hotel, like 24-hour room service and Ezard, a buzzing Modern Australian restaurant.