If you have searched for the Swanston Hotel Melbourne Grand Mercure, you may have found conflicting names and details. That is because this central Melbourne property has been marketed under multiple identities — as The Swanston Hotel, Grand Mercure, and now as Pullman Melbourne City Centre — depending on the platform and time of listing. We sorted through the confusion to give you a clear, sourced breakdown of what to expect for breakfast, amenities, and the celebrity connections that make this hotel a recurring search target.

Last checked: 2026-10-05

Property Names: The Swanston Hotel / Grand Mercure / Pullman Melbourne City Centre · Address: 265 Little Bourke Street / 195 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Victoria · Star Rating & Classification: 5-star property within the Accor Hotellerie (ALL) portfolio · Key Amenities: Indoor pool, spa therapy, fitness suite, valet parking, knowledgeable concierge

Snapshot of the Swanston / Pullman Property

1 Star Rating & Classification

• Classified as a 5-star property with 4.5-star average reviews on travel platforms (Only Melbourne)

2 Breakfast Policy

• Fresh breakfast served on-site; inclusion in the nightly rate depends on the booking channel (Hotels.com)

3 Celebrity Ties

• One of the most searched Melbourne hotels for Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift accommodations (aggregated search data)

4 Location

• Positioned at the corner of Swanston and Little Bourke Streets, in the absolute heart of the CBD (Only Melbourne)

Key Facts

Attribute	Detail
Property Names	The Swanston Hotel / Grand Mercure / Pullman Melbourne City Centre
Address	265 Little Bourke Street / 195 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Victoria
Star Rating & Classification	5-star property within the Accor Hotellerie (ALL) portfolio
Key Amenities	Indoor pool, spa therapy, fitness suite, valet parking, knowledgeable concierge
On-site Dining (historical)	The Louden Kitchen & Grill, Eva’s Restaurant & Bar, On15 Restaurant, Soul Cafe, Cocoon Bar
Celebrity Associations	Linked to stays by Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift
Neighbourhood	Melbourne CBD, near Bourke Street Mall, Chinatown, theatre district

Which Hotel Did Lady Gaga Stay in Melbourne?

One of the most persistent questions around this property is whether Lady Gaga stayed here. According to multiple travel forums and search trends, the answer points to The Swanston Hotel (now Pullman Melbourne City Centre). While no official booking record is publicly confirmed, the hotel is frequently named in roundups of celebrity stays in the city centre. A review on The AU Review from 2016 mentions a “Superior King Room” but makes no celebrity claim — the association appears to come from aggregated fan research and local speculation.

Similarly, Taylor Swift is often linked to this hotel during her Melbourne visits, though the evidence is anecdotal. The property’s location at 195 Swanston Street places it within walking distance of the Rod Laver Arena and other major concert venues, which likely fuels the celebrity connection.

Where Taylor Swift Stays in Melbourne

Taylor Swift has been linked to several luxury hotels in Melbourne, with Pullman Melbourne City Centre appearing in several “celebrity hotel” lists. A 2025 search trends report places this property among the most searched for both artists. The implication: the hotel’s location and upscale reputation make it a natural candidate, but no direct source confirms a stay.

What this means: The celebrity association adds a layer of intrigue but is not a booking guarantee. The hotel remains a popular choice for concert-goers due to its central position.

Does Mercure Welcome Melbourne Offer Breakfast?

The question “Does Mercure Welcome Melbourne offer breakfast?” reflects the earlier branding of this property. The current operator, Pullman Melbourne City Centre, does serve breakfast on-site. Hotels.com lists Eva’s Restaurant & Bar as the breakfast venue, serving local cuisine with cooked-to-order options available for an extra charge. Breakfast hours are 7:00–10:30 a.m. weekdays and 7:00–11:00 a.m. weekends.

The legacy breakfast venue, The Louden Kitchen & Grill, appears on Only Melbourne with earlier hours (6:30–10:30 a.m. daily) and a buffet featuring seasonal fruit, yoghurt, cereals, hot dishes, and eggs to order. It is unclear whether The Louden and Eva’s are the same space rebranded or two alternate venues.

Breakfast at Mercure Welcome Melbourne (Historical)

A 2019 HolidayCheck review described a “self-service hot-and-cold buffet” with some à la carte ordering and room service availability. The breakfast format appears to have shifted over time. Current listings on Trip.com mention a combination of buffet and à la carte, with dietary choices including Western, American, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian.

Breakfast Inclusion Across Mercure Hotels

Whether breakfast is included in the room rate varies by booking channel. Agoda warns that food and beverage options “may be limited or unavailable during some periods” and advises contacting the property directly. The pattern: breakfast is offered but not always bundled, so check before booking.

The bottom line: Breakfast is available seven days a week, but the format (buffet vs à la carte) and inclusion depend on when you book and which restaurant is operating. Verify at check-in.

What Is the Most Luxurious Hotel in Melbourne?

When travellers ask “What is the most luxurious hotel in Melbourne?”, this property — now Pullman Melbourne City Centre — is frequently mentioned in the conversation, but it competes with higher-tier hotels. The Park Hyatt Melbourne and The Langham Melbourne are traditionally considered more luxurious, offering greater opulence and dedicated fine-dining. However, the Pullman holds its own as a 5-star property with an indoor pool, spa therapy, and a fitness suite, as listed on Only Melbourne.

How The Swanston Hotel (Pullman) Ranks

Guest ratings on Hotels.com give the Pullman an 8.8 out of 10, while Trip.com shows an 8.5 (from 180 reviews) and an 8.7 (from 214 reviews on a regional page). These numbers place it solidly in the upper-midscale to luxury bracket, but not at the absolute top.

Luxury Amenities Compared

The property offers an indoor pool, gym, valet parking, concierge, and meeting facilities — all standard for a city-centre 5-star. The trade-off: while it lacks the extravagant ballrooms or private butlers of the Langham, it provides robust business and leisure amenities at a generally lower price point. For a luxury experience without the premium price tag, it is a strong candidate.

Why this matters: If you want “most luxurious” in terms of splurge, look to Park Hyatt or Langham. If you want luxury amenities at a more accessible rate, the Pullman fits.

Is It Safe to Walk Around Melbourne CBD at Night?

The hotel’s location at the corner of Swanston and Little Bourke Streets is in the heart of the CBD, an area generally considered safe and well-patrolled. The Melbourne CBD has a strong public transport presence, with tram stops along Swanston Street and Bourke Street Mall just a two-minute walk away. Only Melbourne notes its proximity to bars, restaurants, and theatres, all of which draw foot traffic into the night.

Safety in the Melbourne CBD

Like any major city centre, the area experiences occasional petty crime, but violent incidents are rare. The streets around the hotel are well-lit, and the nearby Chinatown precinct adds an extra layer of activity and security. Visitors should exercise standard caution, especially after midnight when crowds thin.

What to Expect Around the Hotel

Within a five-minute walk you will find the Bourke Street Mall, State Library of Victoria, and multiple tram stops. The hotel’s position on a main artery means constant traffic and surveillance. One reviewer on Trip.com specifically cited the location near Chinatown and the business district as a strength.

The implication: The CBD is safe for walking, and this hotel sits in a prime, vibrant zone. Use normal city awareness.

Pros & Cons of Staying Here

Best For These Traveller Types

• Business travellers needing reliable CBD access, meeting facilities, and a fitness centre
• Celebrity enthusiasts and music fans who want to stay at a hotel linked to Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift
• Budget-minded couples on a city break looking for a 5-star experience without the premium price of the Langham
• First-time visitors to Melbourne CBD who want to be in the thick of the action

Pricing Band

Room rates for the Pullman Melbourne City Centre typically fall in the midscale to upper-midscale range for Melbourne CBD. Exact prices fluctuate by season, booking platform, and room type. No verified current nightly rate is available from a single authoritative source, but listings on Hotels.com and Trip.com suggest a typical stay starts from around 200–350 AUD per night. Breakfast, if not included, is charged separately — expect roughly 25–40 AUD per person, though no official figure is confirmed.

Location & Getting There

The hotel sits at 195 Swanston Street, on the corner of Little Bourke Street. This puts it two blocks from the Bourke Street Mall tram stop and within a 5-minute walk of Flinders Street Station. Melbourne Airport (MEL) is about 20 km away; a taxi or ride-share takes roughly 30 minutes. The SkyBus from the airport to Southern Cross Station costs around 20 AUD, followed by a short tram or walk.

The neighbourhood is safe, walkable, and full of restaurants, especially along Little Bourke Street’s Chinatown section. The theatre district and the State Library are within 400 metres.