The Hotel Windsor

We absolutely love the Windsor. My husband and I stayed here the night before and of our wedding, and we've come back for anniversaries as well. It's a stunningly beautiful hotel, historical, and grand. Staff are really friendly, welcoming, and helpful. It feels like home when you're here. Honestly one of our favourites in the world!

I wanted to rate the high tea experience with 5 stars, but the desserts were too sweet that I felt having an instant stroke after a lick, so the rating is now 4/5. The historical hotel locates right opposite to the state parliament building, next to a tram stop and Parliament Railway Station. It is easy to get there by public transport, or in your own car if you know the area well like me. The very old yet exquisite outer and inner decorations offer the stay or dinner the full on authentic vintage ambiance. The door boys are friendly but with no guarantee. There were a couple of them pretentiously unseen customers at the door. They only worth 3/5 rating. The staff at the dinning hall were lovely! Both girls and boys were friendly and nice to talk with. They were gorgeous people and know their work well. Windsor Hotel always offers old fashioned yet high quality food. The sandwich and savoury treats never fail to amaze me. However, the desserts were big no no. This can be due to my subtle Asian palate, any high sugar level food would be a bomb. I almost had an instant stoke after a light lick on the chocolate tart. Overall, this experience was lovely. And Windsor remains as my go to place for special experiences.

After reading reviews we were prepared to be underwhelmed, but we were delighted with our 2 night stay. The Windsor is an aging beauty, she must have been stunning in her prime, but she is still beautiful and captivating. Such an amazing piece of history. Guests must keep in mind that this is a historic building with all the quirks that come with such an older property. We were charmed by her. Rooms felt like we were staying in someone’s beautiful old home. Spotlessly clean and very quiet. We found the staff very welcoming and helpful . Breakfast was also enjoyable. We would be very happy to stay again next time we are in Melbourne. It was a refreshing change from a generic modern hotel.

Stayed at the Hotel Windsor while attending a conference. Loved the atmosphere with the long hallways and the amazing staircases at one end. Everything is so grand, cozy and warm. Nice carpet. My room was comfortable and I enjoyed my stay. I love reading the list of famous people who have stayed there while waiting for the elevator. Close to everything I needed

We had a wonderful experience at the weekend afternoon tea. After some mixed reviews on here, I was not sure what to expect but the food, service and setting were all perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and love how they catered so carefully to different dietary requirements. I would definitely recommend!

Reasonable high tea - certainly not the worst I’ve had. The setting is beautiful. The high tea okay. Overall it enjoyable although I expected it to be a little more polished for the price point. More attention to detail. Not crumpled table cloths, a wobbly table, a slight hesitation of staff to steady the said table, the lack of indication of the types/origin of the cheeses at the cheese station… Things that set apart the nice places from great places. More of a rushed mainstream event catered for the masses rather than an elegant high tea.

I returned to the Windsor after a memorable vacation with my daughter ten years ago. This time is was memorable for all the wrong reasons. On the very first night of seven nights, there was a mouse in my room, in full view, enjoying the 5 star accommodation. The next day I was moved to a different room and a free breakfast given for compensation. Again, I was visited by a mouse; he ran across the room, and secreted himself under the curtains. As I walked towards him he scarpered and ran under the bed. This was at 11 o'clock at night, and although it was very inconvenient to pack up all the clothes that I had unpacked for a second time, I asked to be moved. I was moved into a much smaller room, without a table and chairs, or a separate entry parlour, with a smaller bed. I very much saw this as a temporary arrangement given that it was not the same standard of room that I'd paid for. When I returned from my conference the next day I optimistically believed they would be all ready with an apology and a new room of the type I had paid for. Instead, there was no such recognition, and the Hotel Manager tried to tell me I was in an equivalent room. It was absolute nonsense. I had to make my case until he found me another room. He said, they wished they could get rid of the mice. Clearly, he is battle worn with having to explain them away. Every staff member I spoke to was aware of the problem. One had a theory that they lived in the pipes. The fourth room was of the standard I had paid for. All was quiet on the Western Front that night, but the next night, another mouse. I decided this was futile complaining, and I had to take a different approach and be at one with it. I accepted that I had uninvited guests, and would need to think of it from the mouse's point of view. They were merely surviving in accommodation, that suited their hopes and dreams. Who can blame them? Don't go to this hotel unless you are prepared to partner up with rodents. This was not one mouse, but clearly an infestation that is a health concern. Don't bother using a taxi outside the premises unless you're going to the airport or want to go a long distance as some will refuse you. Use Uber. On the up side, this hotel is in a great location. The gentleman that delivered room service was delightful, the doormen always friendly and attentive, and the breakfast staff efficient and cheerful.

The hotel and the suite are historic. Both the facades and the interior of the hotel are so so beautiful.||We stayed in Dame Nellie Melba Suite, one of the Windsor Suites. The room is full of history and well maintained. The bed, the sofa and the carpet are clean. However, We smell a bit damp inside. Maybe because it’s a listed building, I cannot open the window to get some fresh air. And the built in air conditioner is not working. They provided two portable ones and they’re quite efficient although it can be noisy. But the Victorian style suite itself is just too beautiful. Meanwhile, it has great view of the Parliament House.||The hotel is beautiful. Although apparently it has seen better days and needs some reimbursement. But it still look very grand especially from its lobby and the main stairs.||Staffs are professional and helpful. Especially they are very experienced and skilled in arranging special events.||If you’d like to celebrate something special or just want to have a good tour inside a historic hotel, this is a must visit.

A fantastic high tea. Wonderful, creative flavours in new treats alongside traditional favourites, some with a twist. Would highly recommend.

This hotel has charming and clean rooms with modern bathrooms which met my expectations. What didn't meet my expectations was the service quality. They need more hospitality training for the front desk staff. An obvious sign of a mismanaged hotel is when the staff say your room number out loud at check in. This is not the standard practice in the industry and a safety risk. At first, I brushed off my first negative encounter with the front desk staff. But after seeing poor interactions with other guests and a second negative encounter myself, I felt inclined to write a review. In summary, if you can find a good deal on this hotel and don't come with high service expectations it's fine, otherwise I would recommend looking elsewhere.

The Manager who welcomed us was just delightful. He went out of his way to make our experience feel special for my mums birthday. We had a beautiful table near the window with the sun shinning. The food was superb. The pastries divine. The service was excellent. Everything was perfect. The special touch of a cake with Happy Birthday was such a lovely surprise. We all had a great time. Thank you lara

My experience here was far better than the current yelp reviews. The room was definitely dated decor wise but that's the charm, isn't it? It was updated in terms of outlets, working water and pressure, heating and AC etc. The tv kind of sucks but who comes to Melbourne to watch tv anyway. Bed was comfortable and the hotel is pretty. The service was great. Only complaint is the exceptionally overpriced restaurant. $18 for orange juice, a chai latte, and a tiny pastry. Skip it.

The high tea experience was wonderful and really made our day . The hosts were amazing and very helpful and even though we had restrictions , they still made the afternoon amazing. Thankyou for a wonderful time and I will definitely be doing it again.

Sadly the Guinness happy hour at $10 a pint is over and $13 is too unpalatable so it's the hunt for reasonable Guinness on tap at better prices! Still a good bar to visit for an ale, lots of history good access to public transport!

I love an old hotel. I appreciate that the rooms may be non-standard shapes and odd sizes. I like that there are nooks and crannies. I'm usually at least somewhat astounded by the history. Hotel Windsor has all of that and, to boot, some very kind service. That said, I wasn't blown away by this establishment. This is mostly on account of the rooms. I found that the inside facing rooms felt particularly claustrophobic, despite having natural light. And, while the rooms were visually appealing, the furniture, especially the chairs and the bed, weren't all that comfortable.

Future schmuture, sometimes you just wanna drown yourself in old school glamour. Like an aging Marilyn Monroe, Hotel Windsor is in some ways a shade of her former self, but for chronophiles like me, therein lies the appeal. She's a little faded, a little dusty, but there's no mistaking what a drop-dead knockout she used to be. We're talking a proper, fit-for-a-royal hotel, one that visiting celebrities made a beeline for, one with a colossal, splendiferous lobby, with a concierge in top hat and tails, with brylcreemed bellboys and wall hangings listing the famous people that have bedded down there over the years. And the Cricketers Bar on premises where touring cricket teams used to drink together in the days when professional sport was less professional and more fun. The rooms are gargantuan and spacious, the bathrooms better than my one at home, and there are robes in the cupboard, robes halfway between bristly and soft with just the right amount of stiffness, none of this pussy fabric-softened robe with no backbone to speak of. I loved this place. I cannae wait to go back.

Everyone has seen The Shining, right? Classic Jack Nicholson film set in a creepy hotel in the middle of nowhere, scary twin girls, REDRUM and all that? I am convinced that hotel was based on The Windsor. Having said that, I don't recall there being any elevators filled with blood, but rather an incredibly stunning hotel with a classic, vintage, 'old-world' charm. Gorgeous staircases, decadent rooms and while not every one will get a great view you will be spoiled and feel like you are in New York City circa the 1920's. I love this hotel and it is always my number one pick when treating myself to a staycation and my number one recommendation to inter-state guests.

We arrived at the Hotel Windsor on the night of our wedding, in all our finery, to be told that our room was "unavailable due to plumbing issues". In other words, 'we sold your room to someone who checked in before you arrived.' I made sure we wouldn't have problems checking in late on this special night, as I called days before to be told reception is manned 24 hours. Well, then being siphoned off to a partner hotel around the corner was meant to be the compromise. A corporate, lack-lustre, non remarkable place that if I had known we'd be staying at, I would have opted to stay with my husbands family in the mansion out in Eaglemont they were renting. My husband is from La, and I wanted him to experience the iconic Melbourne landmark of the Hotel Windsor. Instead, he experienced their lousy greed with overselling rooms. Their disgusting customer service of not being able to 'afford' more than 1 complimentary nights stay, and their pitiful public relations of not going out of their way to move MOUNTAINS for us, in the aftermath of ruining our wedding night. Not until we made further complaints, and dealt with 2 different employees, we were given a refund. Though what is the money worth? Absolutely nothing, considering the damage is done, and will NEVER be able to be undone. Thank you, Hotel Windsor, you did ruin our wedding night. Don't ever take it for granted that your room will be available here, even when you PRE-PAY for it, and yes, even on your wedding night. Whoever is involved in making these business/financial decisions for the company, I hope that no one ruins your daughters' wedding night, which I'm sure she will go to lengths to plan and dream of.

5 star... Really? You can't fault the bones of this lovely old hotel. But in many unflattering ways The Windsor is showing its age along with its gradual and nonchalant decline into mediocrity. Customer service was not wonderful but, unlike other elements of The Windsor, I can't really find cause for harsh complaint. Our check in was seamless, swift and friendly. Check out was much the same. We were not asked about our stay and there was no mention of the refunded $50 deposit (though I'm assuming it will show up eventually). The water pressure in the shower was lacking. It was also ridiculously hard to control the temperature (full hot provided tepid water that fluctuated annoyingly). The provided toiletries weren't extensive or impressive. I imagine for most business travellers these big bathroom issues would make for a less than ideal start to the day. I would appreciate differing pillow options as those provided are huge and soft, offering no support. An extra blanket would also have been great as the room temperature was a little chilly for my liking. I had an awful nights sleep due to these issues and the fact that the hotel is extremely creaky (it sounded as though a herd of elephants were partying above us). I didn't particularly appreciate the mismatched decor nor the somewhat tatty furniture. When there are dark marks on the mirror, the bath is worn, the chairs are stained and the linen frayed you are right to question The Windsors supposed five star rating. Our superior room came with free wi-fi, though many other options offer only paid Internet. The television was extremely basic: unless willing to pay your only viewing pleasures consist of Australian free to air channels. The hotel provides a great central location and for people visiting Melbourne it's easily accessible via taxi or public transport. Should you chose to stay I'd strongly recommend requesting a room at the front of the hotel (with parliament facing views). Otherwise you'll be uninspired by the insipid alley scenery. To be frank there are many better accommodation options in Melbourne offering cheaper rooms with better facilities. More importantly The Windsor pales in comparison to other establishment (The Langham immediately springs to mind) that claim five star status. Unless you could get a room here for under $100 a night (which, really, is all it's worth) I'd strongly recommend choosing elsewhere.

One of the most gorgeous looking hotels in Melbourne, I expected to get a fair bit with my stay here and looked forward to relaxing in one of the classiest hotels in town. However, while the lobby was really lavishly decked out (the chairs, the ceiling, the chandeliers!), and the corridors quite luxurious , the rooms themselves were fairly simple and while I paid a discounted corporate rate as I was there for a conference, I still felt that the rooms were incredibly pricey for what they were ($200++ a night). The beds weren't all that comfortable either! I also cannot believe that hotels in Melbourne are still lagging behind the rest of the world and still not offering complimentary wi-fi. I've travelled in many countries and this attitude of using internet as a cash cow is just unbelievable. But I paid for it, slave of the internet that I am. I paid for the extravagant price for internet only to have it stop working in half an hour. It took another 2 hours before it came back online (that's 2 hours on the phone with tech support too, we ended up trading stories of ourselves). To their credit, they decided to waive my cost to make up for the angst. Is it worth the per night cost? I don't think so. But if you want to be seen in the lap of luxury, then go for it. The afternoon high tea is also one of the more expensive ones around. While definitely not the sugar disaster the Langham was (I have that story written up on the blog somewhere if you are interested), it also wasn't that impressive. There are better high teas out there, so I would suggest giving it a skip. Still, if you are staying here, and going here for the high tea for the full package, then why not. Can't hurt to do it once, right?

My boyfriend and I booked a "staycation" at the Windsor and while overall we were fairly happy with the hotel, it just doesn't have that 5-star sparkle you expect from a hotel of this price. The lobby downstairs is intended to look historic but instead looks kind of dated in my opinion. We stayed in a room that is slated for renovation and the room itself was nice, but no stand out. I have stayed in better rooms for cheaper in the States so I was a touch disappointed. On the plus side however, the location is amazingly close to some of Melbourne's best dining and the service at the hotel itself was top-notch. I probably wouldn't stay again but it was a fun once-off.

A private room was booked in March for my mum's special birthday. Our Event Organiser told us there would be no problem catering for 3 FODMAP diets (including my mum). A menu was promised weeks before. Whilst the dessert menu arrived 2 days before the event and was satisfactory, the so-called savoury one arrived less than 24 hours beforehand and it was revolting...cucumber, dill and goat curd sandwiches,pumpkin sandwiches and olive and red pepper sandwiches, followed by a zucchini and goat cheese salad! (So much for the lactose intolerant people!) To avoid my mother being embarrassed at not being able to eat anything savoury, as she had specifically asked for everybody to have more savoury than sweet food in the room, I had option but to self cater for the event. I was up at 7am on the day of the event making sandwiches and getting a professional caterer to make savoury slices and sausage rolls. For $90 a pop (!) there was no compensation or follow-up call after the event to me, who paid for the whole thing in full 4 days before! Disgraceful! If we had been told from the beginning they couldn't do it, or provide us with edible food, we would have gone elsewhere, no questions asked...but this was not the case. They made us a couple of slivers of chicken and salmon sandwiches to try and make it better, but it most certainly didn't. Shame on you!

Some of the rooms are VERY small. Ours , luckily, was a bit larger. The carpet in the lobby is awful and needs to be replaced, Looks like stains from a flood. Old hotel so expect that. The location is good. Cleanliness - BAD ! We had huge amounts of mold in our shower and had to tell the manager who agreed it was "disgusting" when I showed him pictures, but offered nothing other than to "try to clean it". It was very noisy too. Stay elsewhere