A peaceful pleasant surprise”

Having recently stayed at the Art Series Hotel The Cullen in South Yarra, I was very interested to experience The Olsen. While the former seems to be experiencing some new hotel service challenges, The Olsen seems to have hit the ground running. The service was very professional and guest focussed. In particular, the front desk was very helpful in finding me a room with a bath in a time of limited availability. (Only 1 staff member needed to go to attitude rehab which is not a bad hit rate overall. Still, a reminder to the Gen Y front desk that haughtiness has no place in a hotel - and that guests can and do choose to stay elsewhere because of poor attitude - wouldn't go astray.) The room itself was a very comfortable home away from home for 3 days. The deluxe room with bath provided plenty of floor space (more than enough to do a yoga routine), a supremely comfortable bed with quality linens and great pillows (which I was very grateful for when being confined to bed for a day due to illness), a lounge from which to watch the flat screen TV (when not viewing from bed), atmospheric floor to ceiling views up Chapel Street, a dining table and an adequate work desk. On top of this the kitchenette has good facilities for those who prefer to eat simply rather than having dining out all the time. Having said that, the one room-service meal I had was very tasty and generously proportioned. Another great feature of the room and the hotel generally is the art of John Olsen which is simultaneously stimulating and relaxing. Also, the colour palette used throughout the hotel is very complementary to Olsen's work and makes for a soothing stay. And love the aquarium channel! A fantastic feature of The Olsen is the spa Norbu which is located on the mezzanine floor. They fitted me in for some much needed massage and therapeutic treatments without much notice and then, with professionalism and relaxed good humour, proceeded to deal very skilfully with the nasty knots that

A great place to stay in Sth Yarra”

My husband and I stayed at the Olsen for 2 nights in July 13. It was a pleasant room if a little small. There were tea/coffee making facilities and a full mini bar plus dishwasher. The bed was extremely comfortable and I slept really well. Also plenty of art books if you were interested. The bathroom was quite large and the shower good. My one and only complaint was the lighting in the bathroom. I found it impossible to put my makeup on and ended up having to do it in the bedroom next to the bed where the lighting was a little better.We didn't use the pool but it looked quite inviting. We also didn't eat at the hotel so can't comment. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Its a great central location and Chapel street is full of great boutiques and cafes. Great Italian restaurants also in that area. Also close to the Yarra River if you feel like a walk. I would stay at the Olsen again but hope they will have done something about the bathroom lighting.

Quality you can count on at any Art Series Hotel”

We always love staying at the Art Series hotels, this was our first time at the Olsen but it lived up to our expectations perfectly. Valet parking is $40, or self parking is $38. We chose the option with the breakfast package included and this was good. Breakfast at the Blackman was better though. The beds and pillows at this hotel are SO comfortable and entertainment options on the in room TV’s are great. It’s a very convenient location to lots of bars and restaurants and they gave us drinks vouchers on arrival which was a lovely touch. Staff were friendly and efficient. Only one little thing was the shower was pretty filthy in the grout, very stained and looked like it needed a good scrub. Everything else was so clean so it didn’t tarnish our stay.

Quick trip home”

Came home for a friend's wedding, got a really great deal through Agoda for the Olsen. Room is spacious with a small balcony and a kitchenette. Good sized shower with great water pressure and nice toiletries. Bed is incredibly comfortable. I'll definately be back, though may try another Art Series hotel next time.

Comfy rooms, lovely service, great location.”

My husband and I stayed at The Olsen for a long weekend in July, in a Studio Suite. The location was perfect for us; right on Chapel Street, at the start of the main shopping strip. The service was lovely from check-in to check-out, and our room was lovely, although a little small. The bed was comfy, although queen size (we would have preferred king), and the room had all the amenities you need for a short or long stay in Melbourne; neat bathroom, small kitchenette with stove top, sink and fridge. The only negative about the room, other that the slightly too small size, was that the curtains didn't shut all the way to cover the windows which butted right up to the wall, so light would peek through early in the morning. And a light at the back of the TV flashed all night (although faint, I am a light sleeper so small thing like that tent to affect me). We ate at the attached restaurant, Spoonbill, a few times, as well as ordering room service, and found the quality of the food great! Breakfast at Spoonbill was also lovely, and morning coffee in a cosy atmosphere was a must! We hired a car, but it wouldn't be necessary as the hotel is in perfect location to jump on a tram or train to St Kilda or the CBD. There are also lots of restaurants close by, either on Toorak Rd or Chapel Street, so really a stroll is all you need to do for a good eat.

Christmas stay”

I have stayed at The Olsen a few times now and every time it seems the staff go out of their way to make your stay everything you had hoped for. On this occasion over Christmas, our deluxe two-bedroom suite with balcony (booked and paid for) had been mistakenly sold to someone else. The front office managers/staff worked quickly and effortlessly to find us other rooms, gave us complimentary breakfast, valet and a bottle of champagne, and then upgraded us on the second night to one of the Penthouses. Totally unexpected. It was an amazing penthouse overlooking Melbourne. With the hotel totally booked over the Christmas week they managed to keep everyone happy. It's a credit to the staff training program, the professional attitude of the staff on the ground and excellent brand management.

Unique "art" Hotel”

The Olsen was delightful. Being a fan of the artist helped. But the inclusion of art books and use of the artist's motifs in various areas (eg the bathroom "screens") made it far more interesting visual experience than simply a few pictures on the walls. Sometimes a little more "function" rather than "art" might have helped however: for example a few hooks in the bathroom to hang a towel or bathrobe would not have gone amiss.The staff were friendly and efficient. We had asked for a vase to put some flowers in. When the Front Desk found they didn't have one available (all in use apparently) the staff member had a vase bought of the appropriate size and had it delivered to the room. Impressive.

Alternative, Arty, Avantguarde”

Stayed at the Olsen for 3 days while working in Melbourne. I was very pleasantly surprised by the very friendly staff (could be just a Melbourne phenomenon), commodious room and comfortable king bed with quality linen. They have underground parking which is a little tight for a big car but was no problem for my little Hyundai. Breakfast starts a 6.30am which is good for business people. I liked their signature outdoor pool with a perspex bottom looking down on Chappel Street. I would like to stay there again, which is a ringing endorsement since I'm very picky

great location”

the olsen has a great position being between the yarra river and some of the best shopping and dining-that melbourne has to offer. great Coffee shops, very good restaurants ,japanese italian chinese all top notch the hotel is very esthetic the rooms have all that one needs touch on the small side but adequate small jndoor pool and gym 10 minutes to city

Great location, lovely atmosphere”

We enjoyed the stay. Melbourne is where we are from originally and we lived in Prahran prior to leaving Melbourne, From Windsor, to Prahran, to South Yarra, the Olsen Hotel embeds the things you come to love about inner city Melbourne, nice finishes, arty feel, comfort, friendly staff - we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. And good value for money.

Cool and funky hotel for first time Melbourners”

We had a great stay at The Olsen having picked the hotel for its location on Chapel Street that you can just stroll or take the tram down the road to all of the shops and restaurants. The cafe / bar in the hotel had a paella deal on which was awesome and the whole area is packes with good restaurants. In fact, right next door you should hit up Mama Baba restaurant from George from Aussie Masterchef - great value and cracking food. It's the first hotel from Art Series that we've been too and would definitel go again.

Leisure”

Excellent. I travel to Melbourne for work quite often and I've stayed at the Olsen twice before. It is definitely my favourite Hotel in Melbourne, perhaps Australia. It's right in the middle of Chapel St - an easy walk to shops and bars, the beds are incredibly comfy and the place feels really homely, yet chic and modern.

Short Trip To Melbourne”

Arriving at the Olsen, we were warmly greeted by friendly reception staff who checked us in promptly and gave us a good summary of the local area, including personal recommendations for places to eat and details around transport links - the hotel is very close to trains and trams into the City and to other areas such as St. Kilda. Furthermore, the Hotel itself is close to the shops and nightlife on Chapel St, which was an attraction to us. The hotel has a very modern and trendy feel, both in terms of decor and the mood music playing in the common areas. Our room (and bathroom) was a little small but not restrictively so, with the same funky feel. My only real gripe would be that Wi-Fi is not complimentary in the room, although there was free wi-fi in the reception area. Overall, I would recommend the Olsen for a short city break.

Reliable stay but needing a lift”

I always stay at The Olsen and still enjoy my stay but on this occasion started to notice that the hotel was appearing to be a "little tired" in some aspects. The never changing room service menu and mini bar options, the same dinner menu in The Spoonbill as my last stay some months back......time to inject some more variety into what has been a lovely hotel stay. Also, the fabulous beds are getting older and the making of the bed each morning was simply a "tidy up" and not a fresh remake. All small things but collectively they tell me that The Olsen needs to lift its game just a little.

Stylish, original hotel in a trendy neighborhood”

we enjoyed the art series concept and were impressed with the john olsen art that could be seen in the lobby and common areas. we arrived late morning and it did take a long time for the room to be ready for us to check in. however the excellent brunch items at the in-hotel blue bottle restaurant helped to pass the time.

Melbourne stay”

Hadn't been to Melbourne in several years and I was disappointed on how grubby it is looking compared on how it used to. So much graffiti and starting to resemble Singapore with regards to the amount of high rises going up :/ Chapel Street is looking quite shabby, not the street it used to be. As for hotel, staff were very good but the hotel itself is probably heading for a refurb? a nice addition to a hotel like this would be similar to what they do at The Ampersand in London where they give you 3 free glass bottles of water (two flat and one sparkling) a day in your fridge along with an apple/orange juice, bottle of coke and diet coke and a little carton of "fresh" milk instead of UHT caps. It wouldn't cost much for the hotel I wouldn't think as most people wouldn't probably use all of it but we did find the water and fresh milk helpful. Such a lovely idea, the attention to detail is amazing there so I was expecting the same from The Olsen. Of course there are other items you can purchase in the mini bar separate to those. It's all in the details and being an "art" hotel, similar to The Ampersand, this would translate very well to The Olsen. Worth considering?

Beautiful hotel, conveniently located”

The hotel is designed around the art of John Olsen. The paintings, colours and design of the hotel and rooms make the experience very different from other hotels. The rooms are extremely spacious and feel very modern. The staff are friendly and very helpful.

The Olsen - Art Series Melbourne”

The Olsen Art Series is a fabulous contemporary hotel located in the heart of Chapel St. It is ideal for short stays and bursting with character. For an extra $40 per night you can upgrade to a room with a balcony which gives a distinct sense of extra space. There is a greek taverna which is on the same side of the road towards the high street which you must try.

Great hotel in excellent location”

Last month I stayed at The Olsen for three weeks and it is now my go-to hotel when visiting Melbourne. The staff, in particular, are exceptional and the rooms and amenities are as those you'd expect of a 5 star hotel!

Great Space for an Event”

This is the second time i've stayed at the Olsen and I must commend the venue for being a great spot to celebrate an occasion. Booked a 2 bedroom suite for this trip as was hosting an event. I was able to drop off bottles of drinks the day before and got a friend to set up the suite for us. Staff were very accommodating and even provided us with an extra bottle. Rooms are spacious and there is a large balcony for entertaining. Throughly recommend this hotel. Friendly professional staff and great location