The next time you’re soaking up the sun at St Kilda Beach, or staying out late at one of the restaurants on Acland Street, consider spending the night at Selina. This hotel-hostel combo took over the former Coffee Palace in February this year, and now features a range of rooms to stay the night, as well as a coworking space, bar, common kitchen and rooftop wellness space. Selina in St Kilda is now open for bookings.
What is Selina?
This global chain was founded in Panama in 2015, and has since expanded around the world, with destinations in Lisbon, New York, São Paulo and more. There’s over 100 properties in over 25 countries, and Selina started its Australian journey in Melbourne last year. A CBD location opened just across from Flinders Street in December 2021. This St Kilda location followed in February shortly after. And a third Australian location opened in Brisbane in April this year.
Selina in St Kilda
The St Kilda Selina location is a great hideaway that’s walking distance to everything you need for a lovely staycation, including St Kilda Beach, Luna Park, Albert Park and a ton of buzzing cafés, restaurants and bars. It’s also walking distance to the trams, which means you can get there quite easily by public transport. This arrangement is perfect for backpackers and light travellers. However, there is no car park available on-site, which will make it difficult to get there if you’re one to travel with a lot of heavy bags.
The building itself is full of urban charm that perfectly captures the Melbourne vibe. Selina took over the former Coffee Palace, which was built in the late 1800s. The Selina team renovated the space, and gave it tons of colour and art, while maintaining the older elements of the building. The walls both inside and outside are decorated with creative works from local artists, and there’s heaps of chill spaces for you to nestle and read a book. However, due to the heritage nature of the building, there is no elevator.
Dotted around the building are spaces for you to relax and mingle with other guests, including a community kitchen, a bar, a café for breakfast, a coworking space, and a wellness location on the rooftop. Enjoy a bit of yoga or meditation on the roof, while soaking in the rays of the morning sun. When summer comes around, the rooftop bar will open so that you can enjoy drinks outdoors.
What are the rooms like?
At Selina, you’ll find a range of rooms to suit your budget. Feel like you’re at a hostel and share a room and bathroom with other people. If you’re sharing a room, your bunk bed will include a sizeable locker to store your things, as well as a curtain for privacy. You can also have a private room and share a bathroom with other guests or stay in a private room and have your own bathroom. If you’re travelling with family or friends, there is a large family room available, which includes four beds and a bathroom.
You can also enjoy the comforts of a larger suite, which is a relaxing and spacious room. It features a comfortable double bed, a desk for work, a coffee table, a small sofa, a large TV and a private bathroom. Enjoy a warm shower, then settle in for the night by watching some Netflix from the comfort of your bed.
Selina offers free Wi-Fi, so you can work from your room if you’re staying in a private space. You can also try out the coworking space for an additional cost, which includes a desk and faster Wi-Fi.
Pets are welcome too, so you can bring your furry friend along for a holiday.
Bookings for Selina are available now. If you need any assistance, the staff are wonderfully friendly and approachable. Selina is also hoping to open as many as 30 locations across Melbourne and New Zealand in the next five years, so keep your eyes peeled for any new and exciting destinations.
Secret Melbourne stayed overnight as a guest of Selina.