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This newly opened cozy boutique hotel in Melbourne is the perfect place for a staycation in the city to be enjoyed by everyone. Kids will enjoy the FREE arcade games room and amazing pool, and couples will love the cool interior, trendy rooms and bar! This is my Dorsett Melbourne Review.

_{This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!}

Dorsett Car — At the Entrance of the Hotel

Things to love about Dorsett Melbourne

State of the art fitness facilities like a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room
Central city location in Melbourne, only an easy walk to restaurants and the main shopping district
FREE Arcade Games in the lobby! Try your luck at winning the Dorsett Teddies on the claw skill tester or have a game of old school pinball

To check out Prices and Availability For Dorsett Melbourne, click HERE

Dorsett Melbourne Entry — Hotel Entrance

Rooms – Dorsett Melbourne Review

Room types at the Dorsett Melbourne

Rooms at the Dorsett Melbourne cater for everyone! There are 316 rooms and they range from Standard Dorsett rooms up to Suites. Rooms with Balcony, Accessible rooms and Pet Friendly Rooms are also available.

Lift Lobby Dorsett Melbourne — Lift Lobby

Dorsett King or Twin Room (27 sqm)
Deluxe King or Twin Room (30 sqm)
Deluxe Room with Balcony (35 sqm)
Accessible Room (42 sqm) – fully accessible with roll in shower
Dog Friendly Room with Balcony (35 sqm) – 1 king bed and up to 1 pet (up to 20 kg)
Executive Rooms (from 29 sqm) and Suites – with access to the Club Lounge

Deluxe Twin room

We stayed in a Deluxe Twin Room, which is set up with 2 double beds.

The room felt pretty spacious, the beds were plush and comfortable! The room is modern with Melbourne artwork. A small table with one chair are in the room too.

Storage wise there is just some hanging space and a small luggage compartment, not much cupboard space, making this hotel more suitable for shorter stays (1-2 nights).

High speed wi-fi and a 50 inch TV with Chromecast is super handy to stream all your favourite shows!

A pod espresso machine is also provided in the room with capsules. A small safe is located under one of the bedside tables and a small bar fridge (empty) is in the room too.

The stylish bathroom is compact, but is fitted with a large walk in rain shower. There is no bathtub in the room, this is only available in some of the larger suites.

Bathroom and shower Dorsett Melbourne — Bathroom & shower

Celebrating special occasions at Dorsett Melbourne

The Hotel was so accommodating when we mentioned that we were staying to celebrate a birthday. When we arrived, the room had an amazing set up with helium balloons, a card signed by all the front desk staff, treats and a hotel teddy. It was a wonderful surprise!

To check out Prices and Availability For Dorsett Melbourne, click HERE

Birthday set up Dorsett Melbourne — Birthday set up

Environmentally conscious initiatives at Dorsett Melbourne

Environmentally conscious with reduced use of paper with a QR compendium — Keycard and QR compendium

The hotel the Compendium is accessible via QR code. There are NO plastic water bottles provided in the room, and no toiletries bottles, only soap dispensers.

Hotel Facilities – Dorsett Melbourne Review

Pool & Fitness centre

One of the highlights of the hotel is the amazing indoor pool and spa. Plenty of pool towels, loungers and chairs are available to chill. During peak times (mid morning or afternoon) it can although get quite busy.

A unisex Steam Room and Sauna are also next to the pool.

On the upper level above the pool there is also a large gymnasium.

FREE Arcade Games Room

A drawcard for us coming to the hotel was the games room. Although not that big, it really was more than enough to keep the kids busy for ages!

Free Arcade Games at Dorsett Melbourne — Games Arcade

Located in the lobby next to the reception desks, the arcade room included a PacMan machine, 2 Pinball machines and a claw game to win the fluffy hotel teddies.

Teddys to be won at the claw skill tester at Dorsett Melbourne — Dorsett Teddies

Parking at Dorsett Melbourne

The hotel has only limited parking so they offer a Valet Service where they will park the car for you overnight at 65 AUD per night. It’s a fantastic service and it was so easy to have the car ready for checkout the next morning!

Reception

Friendly and helpful staff was also a standout at the hotel! Self checkout kiosks are also available for speedy checkout.

Bar & Dining

Jin Bar is the Dorsett Melbourne Bar, located on the ground floor as you enter the hotel to the left. The bar is gorgeous, with velvet interiors and comfy chairs. The hotel serves up cocktails, mocktails as well as food that can be enjoyed there too. Happy Hour also runs with discounted drinks 5-7pm from Sunday to Thursdays.

In Room Dining is also available and can be ordered from the QR code in your room.

View from Dining room balcony — Balcony at Port Bistro

Breakfast Buffet at Dorsett Melbourne

Entry to dining area — Entrance to the Port Bistro

Who does not love a good buffet breakfast?? It was indeed worth having as part of the room for our stay!

Breakfast at the Dorsett Melbourne is served at the Port Bistro on level 2. The dining room is spacious, airy and has a beautiful wrap around balcony that looks over the surrounding buildings.

continental buffett — Continental Buffet

The cold buffet included, mixed Danishes, croissants, toast and bread assortment. A variety of yogurts, fruit and condiments, honey, jam and toppings.

The hot buffet included sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns, mushrooms, baked beans, as well as mini dim sum, and congee with lots of toppings.

What I loved about the breakfast also is that at the table there is a QR code to scan where you can order via to choose a serve of eggs your way (included in the breakfast price). That included poached, scrambled, sunny side or made-to-order Omelettes with added options like ham, onion, mushrooms etc.

Drinks and Coffee station — Breakfast Drinks and Coffee Machine

For drinks, there is a section with Juice dispensers (3) as well as a modern coffee machine for coffee. Barista made coffee can be ordered from the coffee counter at an at additional charge.

Breakfast can be added prior to check in for 25 AUD per person instead of 39 AUD per person! Free breakfast for kids under 5 years old and at a reduced rate 5 to 12 yrs (15 AUD).

Family Friendly Facilities at Dorsett Melbourne

This hotel ticks all the boxes in term of being a relaxed, family friendly environment. Free arcade games, pool, buffet breakfast and a kid friendly bar are always a winner with families!

During Australian school Holiday Periods, a variety of family friendly activities are run like kids treats buffet, free choc tops and movie screenings. Check with the hotel directly for all the details!

Location of Dorsett Melbourne

Melbourne Southbank Area — Melbourne – Southbank

Located on Little Lonsdale Street, it’s only a 5 min walk from Southern Cross train station and a 15 minutes walk from Melbourne Central and the main shopping district in Melbourne.

BOOK Dorsett Melbourne

Hope you enjoyed reading this Dorsett Melbourne Review.

To check out Prices and Availability For Dorsett Melbourne, click HERE

Still looking for Melbourne Hotels?

Still looking for a hotel? Check out all the hotels in Melbourne on Expedia HERE.

You can also read Check out my other review on Melbourne Marriott Docklands HERE.

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LEGO® brick lovers, this place is for you! A must-see if you (or your kids) are fans of the humble brick. This amazing CNN exhibit has toured all over the world and is unlike any other I have seen before. Colourful LED displays and immersive projections that make the larger than life sculptures come to life. This is my Art of the Brick Melbourne Review.

_{This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!}

What is Art of the Brick Exhibition?

The Art of the Brick Exhibition is an immersive art exhibit of all sort of sculptures made solely of LEGO® pieces. The artist, Nathan Sawaya is an award winning artist (and ex- lawyer) that has displayed his realistic, and in most instances, life sized sculptures all over the world.

The Art of the Brick Exhibit is currently displayed in Melbourne (till June 2024), London, Paris, Miami & Philadelphia. The exhibit moves to different cities so keep an eye on their site to check the dates and locations. More than 100 sculptures are on display in Melbourne and over a million LEGO® pieces have been used. Mind-blowing when you see the scale of some of the sculptures.

This is the second time that Art of the Brick has come to Melbourne (in 2011) and this time the show is bigger and better!

***EXHIBIT IS ENDING ON 1 SEPTEMBER 2024***

Things to love about the Art of the Brick Exhibition

Immersive displays with projections, lights and sounds that make you feel like the room and sculptures come to life
Suitable for all ages of LEGO® brick lovers! Kids and adults alike will appreciate the work and imagination that has been put into this colourful display
Each display is individually explained with how many brick pieces have been used for the build as well as the meaning to the artist on why he created each sculpture

Art of the Brick Review

As you enter the exhibit there are 11 Sections to explore. At the ticket desk before you walk in – don’t forget to look closely at the yellow walls, which are filled with thousands of minifigure heads!

Sections 1 / 2 – Introduction of Exhibition

As you enter there is a LED self-portrait of the artist Nathan Sawaya. The portrait is the largest ever LEGO® built installation!

In the room to the side of the portrait, you watch a short 2-minute intro video where Nathan explains how he came about to become an artist by creating sculptures entirely made of LEGO® bricks, one of his favourite childhood toys.

Sections 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 – Brick Sculptures

Sections 3 to 6 are all galleries of brick sculptures. You start with the impressive Yellow (and many more smaller colourful versions of it). This huge sculpture of a man opening up his chest with LEGO® spilling out, represents how the artist opened up to the world with his work, and his true ‘inside’, Bricks!

You then move onto the Infinity Rainbow, where 7 figures are standing connected all in different colours. A bright floating umbrella and clouds make this room perfect for a photo (or many), insta-worthy shots.

Across to a smaller room you then see this huge bright fluro yellow replica of Lando Norris helmet (the F1 star driver). This impressive piece took over 80 hours to complete!

Humanity is the next section. All the sculptures represent emotions, and states of mind and are visual representations of being human. I love how Nathan can portray these so vividly with grey bricks for the outside of the sculptures but with coloured LEGO® for the inside.

Section 6, Masks, is a cool gallery with colourful 7 shimmering skull masks hanging on the walls.

Section 7 – Interactive display, Kinetic Skulls

This interactive gallery is called Kinetic Skulls. More than 250 floating LEGO® skulls are in a room of mirrors that move to sound and light. The mirrors give the illusion that the room is endless. Incredible display!

Section 8 – Immersive Display, Larger than life

The first of the 2 immersive galleries, Larger than life has floating sculptures and a giant ‘Big Swimmer’ made of only blue LEGO® pieces that is almost 10 metres long, and made with over 110,000 bricks.

It’s well and truly a labour of love, and no doubt, a lot of time. This huge gallery also has projections all over the walls of colourful bricks falling and floating!

Section 9 – Immersive Display, Perniciem

The second large immersive gallery is my favourite. Perniciem displays 19 rare and endangered animals across a huge room. In the middle, sheer curtains surround a display of water animals.

The projections all around the room go from a forest to an underwater wonderland, making the shimmering curtains shine like waves and almost trick your eyes making you think the sculptures come alive.

Bean bags are scattered around the room where you can relax and enjoy this amazing display.

Section 10 – Brick Sculptures

The final sculpture room focuses on the endangered white rhinos, which 4 representations of the animal in various stages.

Section 11 – Merchandise, Gift Shop and Children’s Play Area

This is the final room where kids can play with LEGO® and larger bricks and do some other LEGO®-themed activities (more details below in the FAQ section).

Don’t miss the full size Pac-Man arcade game, entirely made of LEGO® which totally looked like the real thing. The only thing that gave it away was the big DO NOT TOUCH sign at the top!

There is merchandise from the exhibit here as well as LEGO® sets to purchase in this area before you head for the exit.

FAQ

How long does it take to Visit the Art of the Brick?

It took us around 45 minutes to move through all the displays but you can stay as long as you want. We spent around d 15-20 mins in the last section where the kids could play.

How much does entry Cost to Art of the Brick?

Prices starting from AUD 33.90 per Adult & AUD 23.90 per Child. Kids under 4 are FREE and do not require a ticket.

Where can I get tickets for Art of the Brick?

Tickets can be purchased online on the Art of the Brick website via Fever.

Where is the Art of the Brick exhibit?

Art of the Brick in Melbourne is currently on display at the Melbourne Showgrounds (Epsom Road, Ascot Vale). Enter via Gate 5, on Langs Road. Paid parking is available onsite.

When does Art of the Brick exhibit close?

Art of the Brick Melbourne is ending on September 1, 2024.

Who is Art of the Brick best suited for?

All LEGO® lovers, of any age will appreciate the incredible sculptures, as well as the exhibition’s immersive displays with lights and sounds.

Is Art of the Brick Suitable for young children?

Yes! This exhibit is suitable for all ages to enjoy. Entry is Free for children under 4. Please note that the displays in the galleries cannot be touched. There are although plenty of LEGO® bricks to play with in the final room.

Alongside the merchandise shop, there is a (small) play area with lots of LEGO® and larger bricks to play with. There is also a colouring area to scan to the wall and make the drawing appear in the ‘art gallery’ and LEGO®-themed videogames that you can play with.

Plenty of merchandise from the exhibit and LEGO® sets also for sale (although a bit pricey) here too.

Is Art of the Brick worth a visit?

My answer is a resounding YES! Having seen some of the LEGO® exhibits that have come to Melbourne in recent years (Jurassic World by Brickman, Bricktionary & Relics: A New World Rises) this is the most impressive because of the immersive galleries and the sheer size of some of the displays.

Relics: A New World Rises Exhibit in 2023

Want to read more?

Thank you for reading my Art of the Brick Melbourne Review! More review posts coming soon on things to do in Melbourne with kids!

Disclaimer: LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site

Check out some other Activities to do in Melbourne

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