The StandardX, Melbourne hotel review

Even before Hyatt acquired the Standard International hotel group — a collection of “lifestyle” hotels comprising a few different brands, including Bunkhouse Hotels and The Manner — in 2024, Standard had already announced plans to launch what it termed a “rebellious younger sibling” to The Standard brand dubbed StandardX.

The point was to incorporate The Standard’s much-loved cultural panache — think larger-than-life art installations and design-forward decor — but at a wallet-friendlier price point and with pared-down amenities in up-and-coming neighborhoods.

Those plans proceeded apace, even as Standard was integrated with Hyatt, and the first StandardX outpost opened in Melbourne, Australia, in August 2024.

On a recent visit there, I got the chance to check in to Melbourne’s StandardX to see what the brand was really all about. And just as X marks the spot, the StandardX hit the mark.

The StandardX, Melbourne’s location couldn’t be cooler

You’ll find many of Melbourne’s hottest hotels in the city’s central business district or in its bustling Southbank corridor bordering the Yarra River waterfront. By contrast, The StandardX, Melbourne takes up residence in Melbourne’s funkier Fitzroy neighborhood just north of the CBD (and easily walkable or accessible by tram).

Although the area has been gentrifying for years and fields some of the city’s most sought-after restaurants and primly refurbed rowhouses, you’ll still note the minutest layer of grit along some of its busier thoroughfares. Case in point: Come over a weekend to peruse the locally produced wares at the Rose Street Market just next door to the hotel, then wander kitty-corner to the flea market that takes place in the hollowed-out, charmingly graffitied former Fitzroy Mills … and the folks who check you in will be more than happy to give you tips on which stalls to visit for the best finds.

The new hotel fits right into that mixed-use melange with a dramatic, rusty-looking, weathered-steel facade designed by Australian firm Woods Bagot, complete with a candy-apple-red revolving door.

Checking in

Inside the terrazzo-tiled reception area, you’ll find unique seating vignettes, including a caterpillarlike connecting Big Talk armchair by designer Adam Goodrum, columns swaddled in macrame produced by local artist Sarah Parkes, vintage leather sofas and armchairs, and even a cozy fireplace for cold nights.

Plenty of art books and plants line the shelves, and there’s a living room-style space adjacent to the ground-floor bistro. The vibe is like a Soho artist’s loft from the early ’80s crossed with a contemporary coworking space.

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Check-in couldn’t have felt more welcoming, complete with noting my Hyatt Discoverist status and asking if I needed a late checkout, though there were no complimentary bottles of water.

The rooms

The StandardX, Melbourne has a mere 125 rooms. I booked a 226-square-foot standard king in the lowest category, but was upgraded to a slightly larger (and with a bigger window) deluxe king that was 247 square feet.

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

It was on the third floor just down the hall from the elevator, so I could hear when other guests came or went due to the foot traffic and accessibility tones when the elevator arrived.

Similar to many other rooms at hotel brands targeting budget-conscious travelers who still want some eye-catching design features, the room followed what I term the three C’s: cute, compact and colorful.

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

There was plenty of light from the single window, and the blue-and-white striped carpet gave the space a cheery look, as did the white-sheeted bed with its slim-profile fabric headboard.

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Everything seemed to have been placed with an eye for space efficiency, from an exposed single-rod closet to a desk that folded out from the wall with a single pink pouf to sit on, as well as the 50-inch wall-mounted flat-screen television across from the bed.

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

But some of the space-conscious elements were playful, too, including a colorful steel fixture hiding the minibar, complete with an incongruous chrome foot. Speaking of the minibar, there was a Smeg water kettle for making the provided tea or instant coffee and an empty fridge you could stock with your own provisions.

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Likewise compact, the diminutive bathroom was walled off from the rest of the room by reeded glass panels and a sliding door, making it clear that streamlining, rather than privacy, was the watchword here.

White tiling with unusual blue grouting completed the clean look. The hotel stocked a few Davines amenities, but the hair and body wash products in the shower had the Davines branding scratched off.

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

I’ll add two more C’s to the aforementioned three — the room was cozy and comfortable, at least for a single person. Couples might find it a little cramped (I guess that’s another C).

Dining

When the hotel opened, its ground floor was home to a Thai-skewing bistro called Bang. During my recent stay, though, the restaurant was simply called Bistro X and was a pop-up concept featuring seasonal fare and regional specialties, and this remains the main dining outlet.

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Over a leisurely dinner one evening, I tucked into cured ocean trout with creme fraiche and chives on rye flatbread rounds ($21) and luscious bites of yellowfin tuna with Asian herbs on crunchy potato rosti ($8). For my mains, I had hearty mussels in a creamy Gascony butter sauce ($27) and summery zucchini and mint linguine ($25), accompanied by glasses of Australian wines. There were also plenty of specialty cocktails like the Cloud Cover with apricot brandy, Aperol, Lillet Blanc, ginger and lemon ($18).

Breakfast was also served here and included specialties like chia pudding with apricot and macadamia nuts ($14) and scrambled eggs with chiles, pickled shallots and sourdough toast ($14). My rate, which included breakfast for a mere 9 Australian dollars ($6) more than the regular member rate, seemed well worth it when you considered that it included a hot beverage of choice, a selection of juices, a main dish and a side (I ordered avocado that would have cost $5 more).

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Melbourne is known for its rooftop bars (and its alleyway bars and hidden bars and … well, you get the idea), but the one on the seventh floor feels special in its own right. That’s partly thanks to the fact that it’s only open to hotel guests, so it’s never too crowded, and the views of the CBD’s skyscrapers to one side and the mountains of the Dandenong Ranges to the other are pretty spectacular.

The drinks list here is compact, with a few specialty cocktails, natural wines and some small bar bites, too. DJs spin on the weekends, so plan to while away an hour or two under the fringed umbrellas or by the open fireplace.

Amenities and service

• There’s no on-site gym, but guests can get passes to Snap Fitness nearby and enjoy a free fitness class at Upstate Studios.
• The hotel has a cute boutique-cum-sundry-store called The Box adjacent to reception peddling everything from local wines and cheeses to art books, ceramics and scents.
• Service is laid-back but proficient — check-in and checkout are both a breeze, and breakfast service is both friendly and fast.

Location and logistics

The StandardX, Melbourne is near the corner of Rose and Brunswick streets in the heart of Fitzroy. Amble down Brunswick and take your pick of international eateries, ranging from Vietnamese and Italian to Mexican and even Afghan. The fancier boutiques and eateries of Gertrude Street, including several from well-known Melbourne-based chef Andrew McConnell, are just a 15-minute stroll south, and a few minutes past that will put you in the heart of the CBD. Of course, you can also take one of the city’s famous trams from two nearby stops if you’re in a hurry.

Driving to or from Melbourne Airport (MEL) takes about 30-45 minutes depending on the time of day, and Uber rides start at around AU$45 ($32).

What it costs

Rates that include breakfast start at AU$250 ($176) per night. The hotel is in World of Hyatt Category 3, so award rates currently range from 9,000-15,000 points per night, though that might change to 8,000-20,000 points per night once Hyatt’s award chart changes go into effect.

To make the most of your stay, consider the World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees) or World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (see rates and fees), both of which offer lucrative welcome bonuses, automatic elite status and elevated earning rates at Hyatt properties.

Alternatively, you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points earned on cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) directly to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio, which may put an award stay within reach.

Accessibility

The StandardX, Melbourne has a single accessible Studio Suite. The accommodation includes lowered light switches and a thermostat, wide doorways, and a wheelchair-accessible bathroom with a roll-in shower and grab bars. The hotel’s public areas are accessible via step-free entrances and elevators.

Bottom line

Conceived not quite as a directional shift from the main Standard brand, but rather as a slightly lower-key variation, this particular StandardX still managed to feel elevated yet approachable. You might not find nightlife that attracts glitterati or a restaurant that’s a dining destination in its own right, for instance, but you will definitely pause to consider an art piece or two on your way to sip a glass of artisanal wine at the laid-back rooftop bar. The small rooms might be better suited to solo traveling creatives rather than couples or companions, but if you’re looking to explore a less-touristy part of Melbourne, the StandardX might just be the right place to book — especially thanks to its budget-friendly paid and points prices.

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