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Style
Made in Melbourne
Setting
Scenic South Melbourne
Explore
Forget gold, we prefer copper and Coppersmith, where the food is delicious, the drinks are just how you like them and everyone knows your name. This pub with poise puts the city at your fingertips: it’s tucked away in scenic South Melbourne, just a short hop from the CBD.
Get this when you book through us:
A delicious dessert each in Coppersmith's restaurant
15, including one suite.
11am. Check-in, 2pm. Reception is open until 10pm, after which time you'll need the access code.
Double rooms from $121.25 (AU$177), excluding tax at 10 per cent.
Rates usually exclude breakfast but include WiFi.
Rooftop deck, free WiFi throughout. In rooms: TV, iPod dock, GHD hair straighteners (on request), Nespresso coffee machine, customised minibar, Appelles Black Label bath products.
We love Queen Room Nine, whose tiny balcony edges onto the original parapet wall. Room One is a beauty, thanks to its generous views of Clarendon Street; Corner Room Two is the hotel's one and only King Suite, it has four big windows, so has lashings of light.
Bring a thirst and some tall tales for the locals and gregarious owner George at the bar.
The hotel has two disabled-access rooms.
Little Smiths are very welcome, though rooms are set up for couples. Babysitting can be arranged with 12 hours’ notice ($30 an hour; a three-hour minimum applies); and baby cots or extra beds (for under-12s) can be added to parents' rooms for free.
Stake out the round copper table in the bar and sink a few bottles of champagne into its centre.
Pay tribute to local designers: Life with Bird and Gorman for the ladies; Incu or Claude Maus for the chaps.
Unpretentious but utterly delicious dishes that showcase seasonal local produce and traditional techniques (plus some modern tricks, too) are whipped up by head chef Andrea Papapostolou, who previously charmed Melburnian diners at the popular Italian restaurant, Cicciolina. At Coppersmith, he has devised one of those playful menus that tempt you with every choice. We’re talking John Dee gold scotch fillet, braised pork cheek with caramlised cauliflower puree and pickled florets, and barramundi with saffron gallette, scallops, radish and a baby cucumber salad. Don’t dismiss the braised lamb shoulder to share either, but do remember to save room for the Valrhona dark chocolate and mint truffl – it's rather splendid.
It’s not hard to see you’re in a liquor-loving establishment: just look at the decorative displays of glittering bottles of Belvedere, Chandon and Veuve Clicquot that line the walls and the boozy reads – Barfly, Winestate and so on. There are 18 craft beer taps showcasing brews from Victoria and beyond; wine-lovers can work through the mainly Australian labels (with notable European inclusions). There's always a white and red wine on tap, too – a Saint Hallett's shiraz or zesty New Zealand sauvignon blanc, perhaps – or ask drinks manager Ben Easton about the wine of the month. Brits are well catered for, thanks to top-notch cider and exemplary G&Ts. On a hot day or balmy night, take your drink to the rooftop deck, with its living wall and pretty fairy lights.
Drink until around midnight (unless there’s a lock-in while you’re here); eat until 9pm in the restaurant.
Don’t want to leave your room? You don’t have to – meals and snacks can be brought to you. You can also tailor your minibar to three options: ‘green, leafy and well-behaved’, ‘salty, tangy and well-brewed’ or ‘classic, staple and well-made’.
Coppersmith enjoys a prime location: it’s a short tram ride from the CBD but tucked away in peaceful South Melbourne, at the ‘Paris’ end of Clarendon Street (the prettiest, quietest bit, with the best boutiques, bars and restaurants).
It takes about 30–40 minutes to get to the hotel from Tullamarine Airport (melbourneairport.com.au); a taxi will cost you around AU$55, or you can hop on the Skybus to Southern Cross station and get the 112 tram towards St Kilda.
Forget trains, make like a Melburnian and get the tram instead. You’ll need to get a Myki card first, though (ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki).
Melbourne’s public transport system is excellent (it’s also a city suited to pedestrians) but if you want to bring wheels, there’s plenty of public parking within a two-block radius of the hotel. Ticketed parking is available in the Albert Road service lane.
Just minutes away from the picturesque Albert Park Lake (definitely worth promenading around on a sunny day, perhaps with a picnic hamper in hand), Coppersmith is perfectly placed to explore the best of Melbourne. Motor mavens can walk (or drive) around the racetrack of the Australian Grand Prix; if you're staying in March, watch the professionals carve up the track. Paddock-to-plate is the main mantra at South Melbourne Market, where local produce is king. Stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables, seafood, meat and antipasti before stopping by Padre Coffee for beans by the bag and fresh blooms for your room. Mrs Smiths with a fondness for fashion should try Bali-based boutique Mister Zimi for 70s-inspired garments featuring pretty prints and polished patterns. You’ll find all your wardrobe staples at Filly’s Stable including the perfect white tee, summer scarfs and flirty knickers. Mr Smith, we haven't forgotten you; if you're in need of a new suit, look no further than P.Johnson, a 15-minute drive from the hotel at 29 Thomas Street, Windsor. On Friday nights, head to the Coppersmith's rooftop bar and watch the firework displays in the Docklands. Helpful staff will recommend a trusted hairdresser or local yoga studio if you want to perfect your barnet or downward dog.
South Melbourne is a melting pot of cultures, boasting a slew of top-notch restaurants, all within easy reach. Locals might not thank us for spilling the beans on their top secrets, but Andrew’s Hamburgers (+61 (0)3 9690 2126) is an unassuming burger joint producing some of Melbourne’s best meat treats. Play safe with a traditional burger or veer off for a FiveO Hawaiian or Sanchez Mexican. Tempura Hajime (+61 (0)3 9696 0051) is a one-hat 12-seat tempura restaurant offering refined Japanese food in an intimate setting. For tasty Thai treats, mosey on over to Sugarcane (+61 (0)3 9699 3637), open for dinner seven nights a week.
Coffee connoisseurs: make a beeline to St Ali (+61 (0)3 9686 2990), one of the original bean roasters taking Melbourne, and then the world, by storm. Stop for a breakfast platter and a specialty blend or visit later in the day for an accomplished lunch. Stop by The Kettle Black (+61 (0)3 9088 0721) on your way to the city for coffee and doughnuts, or try something a little heartier. Expect critic-pleasing combinations, even on the breakfast menu – Flinders Island wallaby, house-fermented yoghurt and King Island crayfish, for example.
We’re sweet on Honey Bar (+61 (0)3 9696 3311), which has a designer bar and a balcony with sweeping city views. The extensive list of wines, beers and cocktails - plus a pretty impressive food menu – will have you parked there for most of the night. A stalwart of South Melbourne, The Railway (+61 (0)3 9690 5092) has been intoxicating locals for as long as anyone can remember. Drop by for a pint and porterhouse (a snip at $15) on Wednesday nights. Hercules Morse (+61 (0)3 9690 9402) is the place for drinks with all the trimmings: try Nanna Morse’s Cuppa, a dainty teacup filled with a mix of gin, lemon juice, Frangelico, gingerbread syrup and a sherbety dash of egg white.
After staying in the CBD for a few days, moving to the Coppersmith in South Melbourne feels like swapping the big city for the ‘burbs. During our Uber ride across town, we counted eleven boutique stores, a craft beer shop and a specialist pet wellness centre. It’s the kind of neighbourhood that appeals to hipsters and families, as famous for its farmers’ market as it is its endless dining options, artisanal coffee shops and trendy galleries. With architecture porn aplenty in the form of sprawling Victorian colonial-style properties with raised porches and fenced balconies, plus well-watered front lawns and palm trees lining the street, it’s definitely the sort of place you would aspire to live in.
A two-storey white building with al fresco dining tables and umbrellas out front, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Coppersmith was a pub, bar or restaurant, and not a hotel at all. But you’d be wrong. Walking inside, we were distracted by two things: the imposing wrap-around bar with its potion-like liquor bottles, and the prominence of copper. As its name suggests, the hotel has a magpie’s eye when it comes to the millennial’s preferred metal, with it making up the maitre d’s desk, bar shelves and lampshades. It could be the jetlag talking, but even the lighting *felt* copper. Woken from our décor-induced stupor by the receptionist, we were told that we could leave our bags and check-in officially at 2pm. If she wasn’t around, the receptionist told us, then any of the bar staff would be able to help us instead. So that’s what we did.
Whenever we’re on holiday, Mr Smith likes to acclimatise by ‘walking’. Often, this ends up with one of us resorting to data roaming and Google Maps, but with so many shops to potter about in, a foodie market to explore, plus countless restaurants to have lunch in, we found we didn’t need to plan our route after all. Suddenly buying in to the local hippie aesthetic, I found myself returning to the hotel with crystal agate slices, a Full Moon bath soak, and candles by local brands Studio Alchimia and Gascoigne and King, not to mention a newly developed golden latte habit. Had we decided to venture further afield, the hotel does provide MYKI cards for the local trams, of which there are three that stop nearby.
Arriving back to Coppersmith around 6pm, we were greeted by a very different scene: the bar was now buzzy and busy with well-heeled locals and tourists alike. As a FOMO sufferer, I insisted that we join the revelry as soon as possible, but ended up somewhat distracted by our new digs, particularly the white-tiled, Instagram-friendly bathroom, with its triple threat combo of Appelles toiletries, rainforest shower and fluffy white towels; and the inclusion of Netflix on the flat-screen TV (though I don’t think anyone should be allowed to watch Orange is the New Black on holiday). The very definition of space-efficient, the queen-sized room has made storage something of an art form, with the ironing board kept under the bed, breakfast-to-go stashed alongside the Nespresso coffee machine and tea-making facilities on a desk underneath the TV. Thinking how we could improve the space in our relatively cramped London abode, we took notes and headed back down for dinner.
Australia’s second city prides itself on its considerable food options. We were pleased to discover that Coppersmith is no different. Living up to its appearance, its menu is full of pub-grub classics. Classics, that is, if your local served pan-seared duck breast, pork belly with sweet potato Parisienne or Wagyu chateaubriand fillets. We started our dinner with freshly shucked oysters but, being the kind of people who don’t usually order oysters, we were totally unprepared when it came to deciding whether we’d prefer natural or champagne granita, so we opted for one of each. Both slipped down easily, and we now have an oyster habit to match our golden latte addiction. Later, we were defeated by the lamb backstrap with aubergine and the scotch fillet…but not so conquered that we couldn’t at least make an attack on the truffle-mac-and-cheese side. Suffice to say, we were asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow, dreaming of the next day’s breakfast. Spoiler (and cliché) alert: the avocado on toast totally lived up to expectations.
Thé design and details which made the Coppersmith look and feel so chic and restful. The bed was super comfy, the room well equipped and the whole place was really clean. The staff were really helpful and friendly and treated us so well. Thé location was great and an easy tram ride into the city.
A spa or gym.
Great location. Simple but just what we needed.
The clean well appointed room with high ceilings.
Concierge.
The hotel was in a great location, in South Melbourne. Tram stop right in front, and still a close walking distance to the market, good cafes and restaurants. South Melbourne beach is also nearby. The hotel has a really minimalist feel to it, which we really liked.
Good views. Also, the air-conditioning was very loud, so on hot nights was annoying. The rooftop bar was closed for an event which was annoying as that's one of the features of the hotel.
We loved the lively gastropub downstairs, the large room and the seamless check-in and check-out.
Much in the way of hotel facilities beyond the rooms (lounge areas etc).
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