Savvy Melbourne

Cosmopolitan Collins Street

If you are visiting Melbourne, you are sure to spend time in the city’s central business district, or ‘CBD’, as it is colloquially known. However, the CBD is also home to Melbourne’s premier restaurants, theatres and shopping venues, making it a particularly attractive location for the city’s many visitors. In fact, a significant proportion of these attractions are located on Collins Street, an exclusive one-mile stretch in the heart of Melbourne.

For centuries, Collins Street has been one of the most exclusive addresses in all of Australia. It is easy to see why, as options abound on this prestigious boulevard; from culture to history to high-end couture, you are sure to find it here. By day, Collins Street provides chic boutiques to suit all tastes, whilst those in search of a little local history should head to The City Museum at the Old Treasury, located the top of the street. Architecture buffs are in for a treat, too, as quite a few of Melbourne’s best Victorian-era buildings are here, including the Old Stock Exchange, designed by William Pitt in a Venetian Gothic style. Should your feet grow weary from exploring all that the CBD has to offer, Collins Street also boasts a vast array of beautiful cafés.

Sipping cocktails in Collins Street

As you might expect from one of Melbourne’s most glamorous areas, the action doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Both Collins and Little Collins Street (which runs parallel to its bigger brother) are brimming with bars serving some of the city’s best cocktails. For the trend-conscious, the Hairy Canary on Little Collins is a great place to kick off the evening, and is also known to have some celebrity patrons. Those looking for a more relaxed ambience after a busy day can sip cocktails at The Martini Bar on Collins Street, which also plays host to some of the most spectacular views in the CBD.

For the more discerning drinker, the RU-CO bar at the Hyatt hotel is renowned for its impressive spirit and wine lists, both in quality and quantity. With a sophisticated fireplace and courtyard serving as the ideal companions to the drinks on offer, there are few better places to unwind in Melbourne. In fact, the Grand Hyatt Melbourne is situated in a prime location at the top of Collins Street, and guests at the hotel have spa treatments, an exclusive restaurant and designer boutiques at their disposal. Whether in Melbourne for business, pleasure, or a mixture of the two, this hotel is in the perfect position to give you a flavour of ‘Marvellous Melbourne’.

American Express credit card holders are entitled to a Welcome Credit when staying at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne for two nights or more. This Welcome Credit is worth between 50-100 AUD, depending on the length of the stay, and can be used on a range of local amenities and activities. Furthermore, guests who pay with American Express credit cards can earn 2,500 Hyatt Gold Passport bonus points.

Note: this post was brought to you by American Express.