In the know
- Our favourite rooms
- We love the enormous Room 4, a doctors’ surgery in the hotel’s previous incarnation. It comes with polished Kauri Pine floorboards and a queen-size bed that’s covered in a brightly coloured throw. A tall mirror with a heavy wooden frame leans against one wall and a large comfy couch sits in one corner; and the little outside courtyard, complete with table and chairs, is the ideal spot to enjoy a morning coffee.
- Packing tips
- Bring an empty suitcase. Villa Donati is at the heart of Melbourne’s interior-design district, and you’re bound to be tempted to buy something. Also, make sure you’ve got your driving licence – the nearby Ferrari showroom offers self-drive day trips.
- Also
- Apartment 401, Villa Donati's separate one-bedroom flat in the middle of Melbourne, is perfectly located on one of the city's coolest laneways. It offers an abundance of shops, restaurants, theatres and the National Gallery on the doorstep – ie, everything you need for that perfect city break. From A$230 a night.
Current offers
- Smith card offer
- A bottle of Australian wine
More photos
Villa Donati
Melbourne, Australia[view map]
- Style
- Opulent private residence
- Setting
- Leafy Richmond
A grand Victorian terrace with an imposing Italianate façade, Villa Donati in Melbourne has to be one of south-eastern Australia’s most decadent stays. Previously both an archbishop’s residence and a massage parlour, it exudes style from its European café-esque breakfast room to the ornate marble-and-iron fireplaces in its luxurious bedrooms. Filled with beautiful furniture, artwork and decorative items collected by the owners over many years of travelling, this opulent B&B is clearly a labour of love.
Need to know
- Rooms
- There are four rooms in the hotel, plus a one-bedroom apartment situated in Melbourne’s city centre.
- Rates
- AU$215–AU$255, including breakfast and taxes.
- Check-out
- 11am; earliest check-in, 1pm.
- Facilities
- Library, free WiFi, on-street parking (permits provided). In rooms: queen-size beds, flatscreen TVs, minibar, video/DVD player, underfloor heating, air-conditioning (in three rooms), Pure Herbs toiletries.
- Poolside
- There’s no pool at the hotel, but there is a sunny balcony off the upstairs lounge, with French café-style tables and chairs and a lovely view of the Melbourne skyline. It’s a great spot for a glass of wine in the evening.
- Also
- No pets are allowed at Villa Donati.
Food & drink
- Hotel restaurant
- There is no restaurant at Villa Donati, but you’re not going to go hungry – the hotel is just a short walk from some of Melbourne’s finest eateries. A lovely breakfast of fruit juice, cereals, yoghurt and fruit, followed by a seasonal hot dish such as pancetta tart and home-made chutney, is taken in the elegant café-style breakfast room. This space, filled with antique French chairs and tables, overlooks the street.
- Dress code
- Anything goes – though a Breton top (for him) or a jauntily angled beret (for her) wouldn’t go amiss in the breakfast room.
- Top table
- Get up early and bag one of the tables near the window.
- Last orders
- Breakfast is served 8am–9am during the week, and from 8.30am–9.30am at weekends. All dietary needs are catered for.
- Room service
- Just help yourself from the fridge.
- Hotel bar
- The hotel doesn’t have a bar, but drinks can be taken in the upstairs lounge or out on the balcony. The fridge next to the breakfast room has a ready supply of complimentary beer and mineral water.
Also worth knowing
- Children
- This hotel is better suited to couples - leave the children at home!
Smith Members offer
A bottle of Australian wine
If you're a member of Mr & Mrs Smith, you can get special privileges at every Smith hotel you book through us. Just show your Smith card at check-in to claim the offer featured on every hotel page (like the one above).
Click here to become a Mr & Mrs Smith member
Book this hotel
To book this hotel please click here, or contact our travel team on 1 866 610 3867.
Villa Donati
377 Church Street
Richmond
3121
