As soon as we stepped out of the lift a big window gives a view toward Port Melbourne and the bustling highway traffic going to and from the city. The corridor was quite wide, but a low ceiling height, yet the jazzy geometric carpet design gave some life to what is usually a very dull space.
Our 68sqm Panoramic Suite was located at the end of one corridor. As we opened to door to home for the next few days, the first impression is a lot of wood panelling and once you get your bearings you realize that the whole suite is a sort of triangular design in the round.
There are floor to ceiling windows that wrap around the Panoramic Suite offering unparalleled views of the Yarra River together with the mesmerizing city skyline and beyond. Gazing at the majestic view from such high up vantage point, day and night, the city is illuminated with an alluring vibe. Everything said, the Panoramic Suite is all about the views and had it in spades!
The entrance looks into the lounge area and bathroom all at once – when you enter you can walk through the lounge/sitting area to the bedroom which segues into the open plan bathroom and then back to the lounge area.
The interior design has a nod to Scandinavia with a lot of muted tones – wood panelling, beige lounge furniture and carpet, a wooden dining table with a sleek designer hanging light above and wooden TV cabinet, ochre coloured textured wallpaper in the bedroom and a few contemporary abstract artworks in complimentary tones.
The open plan bathroom is incredibly spacious with a double vanity, large walk-in shower accessible at either end and a separate bathtub, but lacks a vibe and comes across as a very cold, clinical space that has no warmth or soft edges for the eye. It can be shut off from the lounge and suite entrance with a sliding door.
The main living area can be shut off to the bedroom and bathroom, but the bedroom cannot be shut off from the bathroom on the other end, which is not a deal breaker especially when you wish to have a bath in privacy. A separate toilet is always a bonus. While the toilet is away from the bathroom and bedroom this is a plus for an open plan suite with less interruption to your partner in the middle of the night. The walk-in wardrobe and toilet are off to the right in a separate part of the suite, which is a sensible design. The walk-in robe is huge and simple in design with a large floor-to-ceiling mirror for that outfit check, so as soon as you enter you can deposit all your bags and they are completely out of sight.
Despite the Panoramic Suite feeling dated in parts, showing some tiredness in some of the furnishings and the bathroom needs a glam up, the amenities are well done. The supply of Jo Loves brand feeling very elevated with some wonderful olfactory experience with the citrus vibes, a good choice of all the other essential toiletries supply with a sustainability angle is rather a thoughtful gesture and the bathrobes are some of the plushest and most comfortable we have come across lately that immediately make you feel home away from home.
The king bed was super comfortable and spacious and positioned to take in all the views. The mini bar is replenished daily with a selection of complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, and the TWG tea bags and Vittoria coffee amenities were as good as it gets.
Overall the Panoramic Suite is very spacious and a great use of space. The dazzling views are second to none and you could easily spend hours cocooned in this suite admiring the views and watching the world go by, or maybe a plethora of hot air balloons early in the morning, which looked pretty spectacular from our viewpoint in bed on both mornings.
Upgrade yourself to this spectacular Panoramic Suite and you won’t be sorry.
The Panoramic Suite also allows you to have the Pacific Club Lounge access on level 4 which is adjacent to the fitness centre that exceeded our expectations. It not only serves a full breakfast buffet, but light refreshments throughout the day and cocktails and canapés in the evening.
From the moment you enter you are quite taken by the modern contemporary interior design, hardwood floors which then segue into sections of carpet with a zig zag geometric pattern in black, beige and blue which is very striking and eye-catching, adding a chic touch to the entire ambience.
As the entrance doesn’t give you the full sense of the length and breadth, the further you walk in, the more space you will discover. The main area is also sensibly broken up into sections with wooden screens, panelling and floor to ceiling display units. A central computer desk area serves as a micro business centre and separates the tea and coffee making facilities counter and the mix of sofas, lounge and easy chairs together with low end tables setting and seating.
The use of indoor pots with large green plants adds a residential feel and some softness to the space, but mainly lots of windows to let natural light flood in and open the lounge to the different views of Melbourne with an outdoor terrace access.
The views are spectacular especially on a blue sunny cloudless day, from the bustling highway that heads to and from the Westgate Bridge, extended to the sweeping views of Docklands, Port Melbourne and then up the Yarra River to the CBD, across to Southbank with Crown Casino and beyond.The 270 degree sweeping views that are simply mesmerizing, particularly for first timer to Melbourne, very special!
The food and beverage in the Pacific Club Lounge is pretty good especially during the cocktail hours that starts from 5pm-7pm. There are five reds and five whites (plus one option for zero alcohol wine) and a French Sparkling brut, assorted beers and selected liqueurs to make your preferred cocktail which was more than enough.
The canapés were varied and well done plus the hot dishes selection were a hotel dinner standard – we loved the chicken risotto and scaloppini which were better than expected. The cocktail hour punches above its weight.
The breakfast could have been better, at least a few premium items to be added to the selection and one or two items differ from the daily supply and you don’t have the choice by choosing how you want you eggs done to your preference.
Alternatively, you also have access to the main full breakfast buffet in Dock 37 Bar & Kitchen on the ground floor with a fraction more options from its bigger spread, otherwise similar which doesn’t give that extended perks by having breakfast in the Pacific Club Lounge. The pasties are not elevated either and a bit basic on the taste front and rather industrial for both the Club breakfast and Dock 37 Bar & Kitchen.
Breakfast at Dock 37 Bar & Kitchen also lacked that 5 star elevation. The layout is huge and well thought through without any congestion and a plus was that all the salads, fruits and cheeses were placed in a refrigeration unit along the back wall, which meant that nothing became too warm and every salad leaf looked so fresh and no wilting. You can create your own booster juices for a really healthy start to the day, which we loved. The only downfall is the selection overall was nothing special, but covered very basic Asian and classic Western tastes without much luxury touches as a 5-star hotel standard when it comes to the food quality selection, nor having a significant dish to admire or item that change daily.
Service won our hearts with quite a sensible approach and a brief introduction of the spread and whereabout is very much appreciated. The staff were super switched on and very attentive – Vivian and Jennifer were a highlight for us. Apart from breakfast, dinner is available here serving steak and wine with a touch of Italian flavours.
A luxury high tea at the Pacific Club Lounge on the weekend is another indulgence and a fine repast that offers an escape from your afternoon to indulge in some delectable bites which can be elevated with a glass of Veuve Cliquot French champagne which is rather befitting such an elegant affair. The high tea set is carefully paired with their curated selection of premium TWG teas. To create a special sense of occasion, premium quality cutlery and chinaware are used and only presented for this high tea, as well as a signature logo three-tiered cake stand in gold metal which is extremely eye-catching and instagrammable. The luxury high tea menu harmoniously blends the bold flavours of native Australian cuisine with the vibrant aromas of Singaporean and Southeast Asian ingredients. Each tier of the stand houses desserts at the top, cold savoury bites in the middle and hot savoury bites on the bottom. The hot savouries were all delicious, but the standouts for us were the cauliflower and Sebago potato petite pie and the slow-cooked pork belly bao. The cold savouries were uniformly tasty and we particularly enjoyed the lobster rolls, smoked salmon with dessert lime and caviar and the egg and black truffle tartlets. The scones were tasty but a bit too floury in texture for our liking and the patisseries were all a hit. The highlight on the beverage front was upgrading to the champagne, which was worth the extra spend.
Our two night stay seemed to fly and as needs must the time came for us to check out and bid Pan Pacific Melbourne au revoir. The hotel has quite a few pluses - most notably the views from our Panoramic Suite - and a little more attention to detail could go a long way to elevating the whole experience, such as refreshed furnishings and a little more detail on the housekeeping front. The consistent thread was that all our staff interactions were uniformly excellent, from arrival and throughout our stay. The most important observation was that staff listened to feedback and acted on it where they could. Should you need any concierge service, you must take in Mark’s advise on what and how to explore this energetic city - the local way, his knowledge and gracious approach won’t disappoint. With the perfect location and prompt service, this staycation was quite delightful from a brand expectation and we would now look further afield to other Pan Pacific properties in our future travels.
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