United Places Botanic Gardens
Design-forward, serene, apartment-style luxury. Brutalist architecture meets curated interiors — feels more like staying in an art collector's private building than a hotel.
Book a Garden Suite for the north-facing Botanic Gardens views — Urban Suites face the rooftops of South Yarra, which are more private but less dramatic
Why It Matters
Winner of Best Hospitality Design at the Australian Interior Design Awards 2019. A first-time hotelier partnered with designer CARR and chef Scott Pickett to produce one of Melbourne's most architecturally striking small hotels. Only 12 suites, all with private balconies, full kitchens, and laundry. The building was purpose-built from the ground up — not a conversion.
Twelve suites above a wood-fired restaurant, right across the road from the Royal Botanic Gardens in South Yarra. Designed by CARR — the firm behind Jackalope on the Mornington Peninsula — the building is a confident brutalist statement: sandblasted concrete, blackened steel blades and bronze trim, sitting in sharp contrast to the leafy, genteel streetscape outside. Inside, it's just as considered: plum velvet drapes, sunken stone bathtubs set into one-way window alcoves, Patricia Urquiola furniture, Le Labo bath products. No pool, no gym, no sprawling lobby. That's the point.
Where You'll Stay
3 room types available
Garden Suite One Bedroom
These 67 sqm suites face north directly over the Royal Botanic Gardens. An emerald colour palette indoors echoes the garden view beyond the terrace. Handmade lamps, Patricia Urquiola furniture, and refined detailing throughout. Same full kitchen and laundry setup as the Urban Suite, plus a rainfall shower with glazed glass that lets you look out over the gardens from inside the shower. The better pick for those who want to wake up to green.
King · 67 sqm
Garden Suite Two Bedroom
The flagship suite: 86 sqm, north-facing with 180-degree views of the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne CBD skyline beyond. The deep terrace balcony is where you'll spend most of your time. But the real showpiece is the large black enamel bathtub set into a one-way window alcove on the terrace — you soak in it while looking straight out over Domain Road and the treetops. Reviewed by the AFR's Design Editor as suites where 'deep-set balconies package the scenery into perfect boxes'. Sleeping configuration is king bed in the main bedroom, plus a second bedroom set as king or king-split twin.
King + King or Twin (second bedroom) · 86 sqm
Urban Suite One Bedroom
Private and secluded, these 66–72 sqm suites look out over the rooftops and laneways of South Yarra. Muted pink tones nod to the red-brick warehouses of Melbourne's inner south. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a private terrace and a sculptural mirrored ensuite pod. The kitchenette has an oven, microwave, dishwasher, sink, washing machine, kettle and coffee machine. Rain shower with glazed glass offering garden views. Good choice if you prefer privacy over a view, or just find the rooftop panorama more interesting.
King · 69 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Weekly Saturday run club at 6am, meeting at Gilson restaurant nearby. Runs along The Tan — Melbourne's iconic 3.8km track around the Royal Botanic Gardens. Choose 1, 2 or 3 laps.
The concierge team can organise a private picnic in the gardens across the road — one of the more popular bespoke experiences for couples and families.
Private yoga session arranged by the concierge, held on your suite's private terrace.
Guided walk through the 36-hectare Royal Botanic Gardens directly across the road. Small lakes, rare flora, water reservoirs, tropical plants and reflective ponds. The concierge can arrange bespoke guided versions.
High-end Technogym kit delivered to your suite in a design bag. Comes with a full virtual training video library. Available on request — ask for it to be in the room on arrival.
Hotel-branded Tokyobikes available from reception. Follow the Yarra River paths or explore the neighbourhood trails. Adventure types can head to Yarra Bend Park for bushland riding.
The concierge can arrange winery day trips to the Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula wine regions, both within easy driving distance of South Yarra.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Daily continental breakfast delivered to your suite — fresh bread, pastries, gluten-free granola, custom coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, and milk of choice. Arrives between 7:30am and 10am.
Every suite has a full kitchenette (oven, microwave, dishwasher, sink, kettle, coffee machine, grill) and a washing machine and dryer.
Curated minibar stocked with wine, beer, spirits and cocktails.
Suites are stocked with Sans[ceuticals] products (updated from original Le Labo Santal 33 at launch). High-end, locally conscious formulations.
Listed as a Virtuoso Preferred property, unlocking additional benefits for Virtuoso travel advisor clients.
Valet-only property — no self-parking on site. Daily fee applies. Allow 30 minutes for vehicle retrieval. Concierge can also arrange nearby parking.
Available prior to arrival. Front desk open 7am–11pm daily; no after-hours check-in available.
Around-the-clock concierge for bespoke experiences, restaurant reservations, transport, winery trips and more.
Food and drink from Matilda 159 can be ordered to the suite at any hour via the front desk.
BUILD YOUR UNITED PLACES BOTANIC GARDENS PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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