W Melbourne

W Melbourne is a design-led hotel in the CBD that takes dogs and cats through Marriott's Pets Are Welcome program. It is a splurge stay with a real catch for dog owners: the weight limit sits on the smaller side and the nightly fee is high, so it suits a small dog and a special-occasion trip rather than a budget overnight.

Dogs at the W Melbourne

The PAW program accepts dogs and cats under 18kg, with a fee of around AU$180 per night. Pets stay in designated rooms and the package has to be booked in advance, so call ahead rather than turning up with the dog and hoping. Food and water bowls are provided, and pets cannot be left unattended in the room, which shapes your whole day: every outing is either with the dog or needs care arranged. Rooms run modern and playful with a strong design focus, and the hotel adds a pool, steam room and a concierge who can point you at dog-friendly spots nearby.

Max: book the PAW package before you arrive and confirm your dog is under the weight cap, because a walk-in request with a large dog gets knocked back.

Getting there

The hotel sits in the heart of the CBD, so the free tram zone covers the blocks around it and there is no need for a car during the stay. Flinders Street Station is an easy walk, and the river is close enough for an evening lap on the lead.

While you're out there

The city end of the river is all on-lead walking, and the Yarra River Short City Loop makes a tidy morning circuit from the door. For a longer stretch, the river path to Chapel Street follows the water through Southbank. When the dog needs a proper run, Fawkner Park Dog Off Leash Area is a short tram ride south with huge 24/7 off-lead areas under big canopy trees.

If the fee or weight cap doesn't fit, QT Melbourne is another design-focused CBD option to compare. More beds are listed in the Victoria stays guide and the locality page covers the rest of Melbourne.