Hotel Review: lyf Hotel Collingwood in Melbourne

Hotel Classification: 4 Stars

Book this Hotel: lyf Hotel Collingwood on Booking.com

Lyf is a brand by Ascott Hotels that is more catered towards the younger working person, as well as remote workers and travellers who seek a more ‘co-living’ kind of accommodation.

I have stayed at a few lyf Hotels so far and while I do think that they’re not exactly co-living spaces as their marketing claims, I think they provide exceptional value for money, especially for remote workers like myself.

Read below my review of the lyf Hotel Collingwood in Melbourne, where I stayed for about 9 nights in total.

Please note: The below review summarises my independent thoughts on my stay at the lyf Hotel Collingwood in Melbourne. This isn’t a collaboration with this hotel as I stayed there on my own cost. Also, the views and opinions expressed in this blog post are solely mine, the content creator of Things Nomads Do.

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Hotel Grounds

Lobby

The Lobby is a big area that includes the reception and tables for some studying or working, as well as some comfy lounge chairs to unwind. There’s quite a lot of space, so it never felt too crowded as everyone could always get a seat.

The interior design I would call minimalist modern & industrialist style, with some splashes of colour here and there and some tropical plants to make it more homey.

I really liked the interior design; it was modern yet still felt very cozy and familiar.

Kitchen

On the ground floor, there is a big communal kitchen with a few stoves that anyone can use to cook. There are also a few fridges, where you can store your food. You need to write your name on a label (which they provide) and stick this on your food or drink item.

Next to the kitchen, there is a terrace outside, where you can hang out, eat and socialise.

Laundry Room

Just behind the lobby there is a laundry room with three washers and three dryers that are free to use. You do need to buy a washing tablet, which you can get at the reception.

While waiting for your laundry, you can even play an arcade game located next to the washing machines!

Rating: 7.5 / 10

Room

The room was a bit on the smallish side but still quite comfortable for two people. The bed was very soft and I definitely slept very well while staying here! Only thing to note here is that the bed is located on a kind of wooden frame, so you need to step on it to get in the bed. However, if you are wearing socks it can be very slippery, and I once slipped and banged my leg on the wooden edge and I started to bleed.

What I really liked about the room was the many hooks and options to hang stuff. This was super handy and definitely great for saving space. I am not sure why so little other hotels have this?! Especially if there’s no room for an actual closet, this is a great and easy way for guests to store stuff.

The bathroom at the lyf hotel, Collingwood in Melbourne

The shower and bathroom, although new and clean, were a bit on the smaller side. I did really enjoy the shampoo and body wash scents, which smelled amazing!

One significant downside of the room though was the “walls” of the bathroom - they are made of glass and even though they are a bit faded you can still kind of see very clearly the silhouette (and a bit more) of someone taking a shower or going on the toilet. So the privacy was lacking quite a bit. While it may be ok for couples, I think for friends that are traveling together it might be a bit awkward.

Cleaning is done every other day. Just outside of the room you also have a smaller kitchen where you can dispose of thrash and also get drinking water, both hot and cold, which I thought was super handy.

Rating: 7.5 / 10

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Service

I checked into the Lyf Hotel very early in the morning, as my flight was delayed, so I must have arrived around 4AM. I was super tired - the person at the front desk was so friendly and understanding, he gave me the key already and told me that the rest of the check-in can be done in a few hours. It’s amazing how a customer experience can be affected by the kindness and friendliness of the staff.

In comparison, I once stayed at the Lyf Hotel in Singapore (Farrer Park), and even though I thought it was a great stay, I think the staff could be a bit more friendly there, especially if you compare it with the staff in Melbourne. Therefore, my compliments to the whole staff at the Lyf Hotel Collingwood! 👏

Events, Food & Other Amenities

The lyf Hotel Collingwood also organises social events, so you can meet other guests that are staying in the hotel. For instance, during my stay that organised a wine tasting event.

Another lovely touch is that you also have one free coffee included per day, which they make at the reception with a real espresso machine.

When I was there I saw that they were building a restaurant next to the hotel, which, from what I gathered, would be part of the hotel.

Rating: 9 / 10

Location

Lyf Hotel Collingwood, Melbourne exterior

Lyf Hotel Collingwood is perfectly located in the heart of the neighbourhood, tucked away in a smaller side street. This means it’s a very quiet location, yet it’s also within walking distance from Collingwood’s night life, restaurants and bars, so you’re not far from that action.

There are many cafes, restaurants and shops close by, as well as a few tram lines that can either take you to the CBD area or other parts of the city, so I think the location is perfect.

Rating: 9 / 10

THE PROS

The location is extremely convenient for sightseeing and the neighbourhood is fun - loads of cafes, restaurants and shops around
Extremely friendly staff that always greet you with a warm smile and hello when you enter.
Modern and trendy design of the hotel, yet still feels cozy/familiar
Located in a side street so it’s very quiet - while still being close to the hustle and bustle of the neighbourhood
I think for the price it’s a very good value for money!

THE CONS

The bathroom privacy situation - even though I was staying in a room with my boyfriend, I still thought it uncomfortable that he could see me quite clear while I was doing my business on the toilet 😅
Slippery bed frame, which can be a slightly dangerous (depending how slippery your socks are)
It would be even better if there was a gym in the hotel
I’ve read a few reviews lately that there is a lot of construction noise currently March 2024). I stayed in December 2023, and I didn’t have any noise problem then.