Avg nightly rate €142 Occupancy 74 % Average review score 8.7 +0.2 New guides Weekly
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Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel Review & Comparison

Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel at 155 Bourke Street positions itself as a self-catering base in the city centre, but its reputation across booking platforms tells a divided story. This comparison looks at how the property stacks up against other serviced apartment options in the central business district — using verified review data, location insights, and pricing from multiple sources to help decide whether it fits your trip.

Last checked: 2026-09-07

Property Name: Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel · Address: 155 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 · Check-in / Check-out: 2:00pm / 10:00am · Room Types: One- and two-bedroom apartments with full kitchen and laundry

How we researched this

Last checked: 2026-09-07.

Sources reviewed: official property website (via Trip.com), Booking.com listing, TripAdvisor reviews, Expedia guest scores, Klook property profile, Agoda listing, Melbourne10 editorial roundup, M is for Melbourne editorial guide, Hotel Management trade article, Goibibo listing, EzTravel (Taiwan OTA) reviews, and Reddit travel discussion threads.

We did not conduct an on-site visit, interview staff, or independently verify prices; all rates cited are drawn from the sources listed above and may vary by season and booking channel.

Starting nightly rateFrom AU$103 per night (lowest listed on TripAdvisor)
Review sample size16 reviews on TripAdvisor, 112 on Trip.com
Distance to CBD core5-minute walk to Bourke Street Mall
TripAdvisor rating2.5/5 (Poor) — ranked #44 of 54 limited-service properties

Key facts at a glance

1 Address
  • 155 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 (Trip.com)
2 TripAdvisor score
  • 2.5/5 (Poor) from 15 reviews; sub-scores: location 4.3, rooms 1.0, value 2.3 (TripAdvisor)
3 Trip.com score
  • 7.3/10 from 112 reviews; cleanliness 7.0, amenities 7.0, location 7.9 (Trip.com)
4 Check-in / Check-out
  • 2:00 PM / 10:00 AM; responsible guest must be 18+ (Booking.com)
FactDetail
Property nameMelbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel
Address155 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Room count62 rooms
Room typesOne- and two-bedroom apartments with full kitchen and laundry
Check-in / Check-out2:00 PM / 10:00 AM
Star rating (Goibibo)4-star
Nearest landmark5-min walk to Bourke Street Mall; 7-min walk to Melbourne Central
Price range (TripAdvisor)AU$106–AU$286 per night (standard room)

What are some good apartment hotels in Melbourne CBD?

The Booking.com directory of serviced apartments in Melbourne lists several centrally located properties, including Adina Apartment Hotel Flinders Street, YTI Garden Hotel, Veriu Queen Victoria Market, and Quest Docklands. The M is for Melbourne editorial guide adds Mantra on Little Bourke, Oaks Melbourne on Market, and Treasury on Collins to the recommended set — all in the mid- to upper-price bracket.

Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel overview. At 155 Bourke Street, this property offers one- and two-bedroom apartments with full kitchens and laundry facilities. The hotel has a tram stop directly in front and an after-hours key box for late arrivals, according to Trip.com guest reviews. Front desk hours are limited — roughly 9:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and shorter hours on weekends — per Klook.

Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne overview. Adina properties are frequently cited in comparison guides as higher-rated alternatives. The Flinders Street location has a review average around 4.0 on most platforms and includes amenities such as a gym, swimming pool, and on-site restaurant — extras that the Central Apartment Group properties do not advertise.

Melbourne Carlton Central Apartment Hotel overview. Operated by the same Central Apartment Group, the Carlton property is about a 5-minute walk from the CBD via Lygon Street. It offers similar self-contained apartments but is positioned closer to the Lygon Street dining strip rather than Bourke Street’s retail core.

The bottom line: For travellers prioritising location at a low nightly rate, Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel is among the cheapest serviced options on Bourke Street. The trade-off is variable room quality and limited front-desk hours.

What is Central Apartment Group known for?

Central Apartment Group operates apartment hotels in Melbourne CBD and Carlton. Their properties — including the Bourke Street hotel and the Carlton Central Apartment Hotel — share a common model: self-contained units with full kitchen and laundry facilities, positioned as alternative accommodation to traditional hotel rooms.

The group does not operate a central booking website that aggregates its properties; instead, listings appear on third-party platforms such as Booking.com, Trip.com, and Agoda. A March 2023 TripAdvisor review described check-in as “fast and efficient” but noted that the building felt “neglected” with stained carpets and worn mattresses. Two separate Trip.com reviews mentioned that the two-bedroom apartments are spacious with large living areas and well-equipped kitchens, while another guest complained that the Wi‑Fi was unusable.

What to know: Central Apartment Group properties are best suited to travellers who value in-room cooking and laundry over hotel-style service, and who are comfortable with after-hours key-box check-in.
The pattern: Guest feedback across platforms suggests the group’s apartments deliver on space and kitchen equipment but fall short on maintenance consistency — a split that appears repeatedly in both positive and negative reviews.

What is the best area to stay in Melbourne CBD?

Bourke Street location advantages. Bourke Street runs through the heart of the retail and dining precinct. The Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel is a 5-minute walk from Bourke Street Mall and 7 minutes from Melbourne Central, according to Klook. The street is serviced by the free City Circle tram and multiple tram routes running east–west. Queen Victoria Market and SEA LIFE Melbourne are about 1.6 km away.

Carlton and Lygon Street options. The Melbourne Carlton Central Apartment Hotel sits on Lygon Street, known for its Italian restaurants and cafes. Carlton is a short walk from the CBD’s northern edge, and tram access via Lygon Street connects directly to the city loop. For travellers who prefer a neighbourhood feel with restaurant options immediately outside, Carlton offers a distinct alternative to Bourke Street’s retail density.

Melbourne10 notes that serviced apartments “combine hotel-like services with self-contained facilities,” making them a popular choice for longer stays in both the CBD and adjacent suburbs.

“A great alternative to a CBD hotel” — TripAdvisor review of Tyrian Serviced Apartments Fitzroy, praising its Brunswick Street location and tram access to the city.

What this means: Bourke Street wins on immediate retail access and tram connectivity. Carlton offers a quieter base with its own dining strip. The choice depends on whether you want to step out onto a shopping street or a European-style cafe strip.

How much does an apartment cost in Melbourne with CBD?

Price range for apartment hotels in CBD. The TripAdvisor price range for Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel is AU$106–AU$286 per night for a standard room, making it one of the cheaper apartment-style options on Bourke Street. For comparison, Adina Apartment Hotel Flinders Street typically starts around AU$150–AU$180 per night, while City Tempo studio apartments in the CBD and Southbank — which score around 4.4–4.6 on Melbourne10 — begin at AU$130–AU$160.

Long-term rental vs short-term stay. Weekly or monthly rates are not consistently published for the Central Apartment Group properties. Booking.com and other OTAs apply daily pricing; guests requiring extended stays should contact the property directly, though front desk hours are limited. The full kitchen and laundry make the units suitable for longer self-catered visits, offsetting the lack of on-site dining facilities.

Pricing reality: The AU$103–$106 floor rate applies to off-peak dates booked in advance. Weekend and event-period rates on Bourke Street often settle in the AU$180–$250 range.
The trade-off: You pay less for a Bourke Street apartment at this property, but you also get less — limited reception hours, fewer hotel-style services, and a higher risk of maintenance issues compared with better-rated serviced apartments in similar price bands.

What are the best apartments in Melbourne CBD?

We compared three serviced apartment options in the Melbourne city area — Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel, Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne (Flinders Street), and Melbourne Carlton Central Apartment Hotel — across the factors that matter most to travellers: price, location, amenities, and guest review volume.

Property nameStarting price (per night)LocationKey amenitiesReview count
Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel AU$103 155 Bourke Street (CBD core) Full kitchen, laundry, tram stop at door 112 (Trip.com) + 15 (TripAdvisor)
Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne (Flinders St) ~AU$150 Flinders Street (CBD core) Gym, pool, on-site restaurant, kitchen 500+ (multiple platforms)
Melbourne Carlton Central Apartment Hotel ~AU$110 Lygon Street, Carlton (5-min walk to CBD) Full kitchen, laundry, Lygon Street dining strip ~50 (combined platforms)
The pattern: Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel leads on price but trails on review volume and consistency. Adina offers more hotel-style amenities at a higher rate. Carlton Central provides similar kitchen/laundry facilities in a different neighbourhood at a similar price point.

Pros and cons of Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel

Pros

  • Low starting price for a CBD apartment (AU$103)
  • Central Bourke Street location with tram access
  • Available one- and two-bedroom apartments with full kitchens and laundry
  • After-hours key-box check-in for late arrivals

Cons

  • TripAdvisor score of 2.5/5 — rooms rated 1.0/5, cleanliness 1.0/5
  • Multiple reviews mention stained carpets, worn mattresses, blown light bulbs
  • Limited front desk hours (weekdays ~9:00–18:00; shorter weekends)
  • Wi‑Fi reported as unusable in some guest reviews

Our pick: Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne (Flinders Street)

For travellers who want a reliable, well-reviewed serviced apartment in the Melbourne CBD — our recommendation is Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne on Flinders Street. It costs roughly AU$40–$60 more per night than the Central Apartment property, but it compensates with consistently higher review scores, a swimming pool and gym, on-site dining, and a 24-hour front desk. The extra spend buys predictability — particularly important for business travellers and families who cannot risk maintenance issues or limited reception hours at check-in.

For the budget-conscious traveller or couples who prioritise location over polish, Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel remains the cheapest apartment-style option on Bourke Street. Just go in aware that the split in reviews — 7.3/10 on Trip.com versus 2.5/5 on TripAdvisor — suggests the experience varies significantly by room and season.

Property specifications at a glance

FeatureDetail
Full kitchenStove, fridge, microwave, kettle
LaundryWashing machine provided (no dryer per some reviews)
Wi‑FiAvailable; guest feedback varies on reliability
Air-conditioningAvailable (noted in room descriptions)
Work deskAvailable in apartments
ParkingNot specified; street parking and nearby garages apply
Front desk hoursLimited (approx. 9:00–18:00 weekdays; shorter weekends)

Pricing band and value context

The AU$103–$106 floor makes Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel one of the cheapest apartment-style options in the city core. At the high end of its typical range (AU$280+), the value proposition weakens — a guest paying AU$286 would be within striking distance of Adina’s standard room rate while receiving fewer hotel services and a lower satisfaction score. TripAdvisor data rates its value at 2.3/5, reinforcing that reviewers see the price-to-quality ratio as below average.

Location and getting there

155 Bourke Street sits in the middle of the retail spine, between Swanston Street and Spring Street. The hotel is a 5-minute walk from Bourke Street Mall and 7 minutes from Melbourne Central train station, per Klook. The free City Circle tram stops on Bourke Street, and Flinders Street Station is about 10 minutes on foot. Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) is roughly 23 km away — accessible by the SkyBus (Southern Cross Station connection) or taxi/rideshare.

Alternative options to consider

Beyond Adina and the Carlton Central property, other frequently recommended serviced apartments include:

  • City Tempo — studios to three-bedroom apartments across CBD and Southbank; rated 4.4–4.6 on Melbourne10; indoor pool and gym at some locations
  • Tyrian Serviced Apartments Fitzroy — a frequent “great alternative to a CBD hotel” mention on TripAdvisor, with tram access from Brunswick Street
  • Oaks Melbourne on Market Hotel — centrally located with standard serviced apartment amenities; listed in the M is for Melbourne guide
  • Treasury on Collins — positioned as an upscale option near the Collins Street end of the CBD
Additional sources

expedia.com, agoda.com

Frequently asked questions

What kitchen amenities are available at Melbourne CBD Central Apartment Hotel?

Apartments include a full kitchen with stove, fridge, microwave, and kettle. Reviews on Trip.com describe kitchens as “well-equipped,” though some guests noted the absence of a dishwasher in the units.

Does the hotel provide work desks?

Yes. Apartments include a work desk and chair. The space is described as adequate for basic laptop use, though separate business-centre facilities are not advertised.

Is air-conditioning available in the apartments?

Air-conditioning is listed as an in-room amenity. Trip.com room descriptions include cooling/heating units.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 2:00 PM and check-out is until 10:00 AM, confirmed by Booking.com and Goibibo.

How close is the hotel to public transport?

There is a tram stop directly outside the hotel on Bourke Street. Flinders Street Station is a 10-minute walk, and Melbourne Central Station is 7 minutes on foot.

Sources