The Larwill Studio is art heaven! Just a stone’s throw away from the heart of Melbourne, this quirky little hotel is nestled between Royal Park and The Royal Children’s Hospital. The added bonus is, it has a tram stop right out front, less than a 10 minute ride into the CBD.
It was an absolute pleasure to be able to return to the outskirts of my old ‘hood’. The inner northern-suburbs of Melbourne have a funky style of their own and The Larwill Studio certainly expressed this funk. I don’t call myself a creative (ask my Graphic Designer and she will suggest that you avoid putting me and the word ‘creative’ in the same sentence), but walking into this hotel is certainly inspiring and will surely get the creative juices flowing of even the most ‘un-creative’ gal.
Everywhere you look, the artwork of Australian artist David Larwill, is displayed beautifully throughout the entire hotel. The lobby is bright and spacious, offering a lovely space consisting of a long table and chairs and a separate couch area; a place where you can let your imagination run wild.
After arriving in a calm manner (as the boyfie drove and there were no altercations with taxi drivers and I didn’t manage to get us lost… much), we checked in and headed up to our ‘workspace’ for a night of leisure and some much needed rest.
Our room was just as bright and quirky as the lobby. What made this room so unique was the artwork displayed throughout and a carefully positioned table and chair by the window, which looked out onto the park – a place where people can dream, think, write… or have hot cuppa like I did.
The Art of Wellbeing has recently been introduced to The Larwill Studio. Facilities at the hotel are aimed at helping you maintain or achieve optimal health, while you are away from home. Each room has a yoga mat and yoga channel, where you can let your inner yogi loose, in the comfort of your own room.
Naturally, we headed to the gym first and I must say, we were impressed! Decked out in state of the art equipment (scuse the pun) and they even offered futness classes! A rare find for a hotel gym. With the park being next door, for those looking for a bit more scenery, Royal Park is luscious and green and spans all the way to the outskirts of Brunswick – ideal for those who love a long walk.
Unfortunately, Melbourne shed a few too many raindrops during our stay, so we were unable to hire one of Larwill’s burnt orange bikes and venture out. None-the-less, the beauty of being on the fringe of the city, we were able to poncho-it-up and catch a tram into the CBD, to grab a bite to eat at Elizabeth Street’s newest Vietnamese addition; Moo Moo Pho. For those looking for a night in, there is a restaurant next door, Smith + Singleton, which offers a variety of European, Asian and Middle Eastern dishes.
If you are looking for a place to stay in Melbourne for a weekend away, or perhaps you are looking for some time-out where you can nuture your well-being and get creative, then check out The Larwill Studio in Flemington.
