"First impressions? The late, great artist Adam Cullen courted controversy and wasn't afraid to splash bold colors. Fitting, then, that the Art Series hotel named in his honor is one of the funkiest in the collection. It's located in cosmopolitan Prahran, about 20 minutes from the city centre. What’s the crowd like? Art aficionados; bohemians who could have stepped out of a Cullen canvas. How are the rooms? Black carpets and white walls in the guest rooms put the focus squarely on the arresting Cullen wall prints, while large mirrors create a sense of spaciousness. All rooms include kitchenettes—useful if you're planning to visit Prahran Market across the road. How about the little things? Rooms either have windows that open or balconies—rarities in Melbourne. Like all Art Series hotels, the Wi-Fi here is fast and free. Room service and food: Worth it? At street level, Gramercy Social and HuTong Dumpling Bar offer upscale diner food and mod-Chinese, respectively, but neither offers room service. Breakfast at Gramercy Social runs until 3 p.m. on weekends. What about the immediate neighborhood. The Cullen is not Melbourne's most centrally located hotel, but you can hire multiple forms of transportation on site, including Lekker bicycles, eco cars, and even prams. Bottom line. Mind-boggling art, two fun restaurants, and an un-touristy location give The Cullen an undeniable cool factor." - Dan F. Stapleton
