Melbourne is now the location for the world’s first Ink Hotel, a personality-focused brand from Singapore-based Next Story Group, best known for their elegant NEXT Hotels and forward-thinking ‘Members Only’ club Kafnu. Ink adds another distinctive element to the group, focusing on lifestyle hotels that shape their own social scenes and provide a comfortable guest experience.
Ink Hotel Melbourne Southbank takes up a new-build at 167 City Road, almost directly in the heart of the city’s trendy waterfront hub with easy access to various restaurants, bars, the iconic National Gallery of Victoria, and historic Flinders Street station.
Curated along the idea that “life is better when we colour outside the lines”, the hotel has been designed to host, connect and inspire the new generation of travellers. It’s inclusive, big on casual and speedy service, and has several local partnerships which solidify the hotel’s sense of place.
While the 15-storey, 162-room hotel will encourage guests to explore Melbourne’s eclectic culture, there’s plenty offered inside the building the make it the ideal base for any type of traveller. The reception area is seamlessly blended into the bar and lounge with a strong connection to the city’s famous street art scene, hinged on striking and colourful artwork created by locals Blender Studio. This includes bright and cartoonish murals along with a feature wall made up of torn music posters. The guest rooms also have walls adorned with art, designed and customised by New York-based Australia artist Brolga.
Led by socially conscious collaborations and environmentally friendly amenities, Ink forges a strong bond with the modern, socially-conscious adventurer. Australian-made Metis bathroom amenities include refillable pump bottles instead of single-use toiletries; sparking and will water dispensers in public spaces are there so guests can fill up reusable bottles; and there’s even a bottomless coffee offering at the bar for hotel guests, serving brews from local social enterprise Streat Coffee.
When it comes to other food and drink, local is the focus. Guests staying at the hotel can enjoy Victorian wines, beers and nibbles from a Grab & Go selection that’s available 24/7. The bar, doubling as the hotel’s resident kitchen, also serves food and cocktails made with local brands.
The hotel helps distinguish Ink as a forward-thinking brand that’ll largely appeal to the Gen-Z mindset and millennial travellers, while also providing enough comfort and value where it counts. It’s trendy pops of colour and vibrant personality should easily put the Ink brand on track for more openings around the world, including the already-planned Ink in Singapore which will be opening in 2021.
To celebrate the opening of Ink Hotel Melbourne Southbank, guests can enjoy a special opening rate from AUD$119 (USD$84) for bookings made between now and 31 January 2020 for stays until 30 June 2020.
Address: 167 City Road, Melbourne
Website: inkhotels.com
