Oaks Melbourne on Market Hotel review

Part of the Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites portfolio, Oaks Melbourne on Market offers 276 budget-friendly studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments for families of all sizes. All apartments have functional kitchenettes and spacious living and dining areas.

Onsite, there is a restaurant, 24-hour reception, coin-operated laundry, and most importantly, a heated indoor swimming pool for kids to burn energy on those rainy Melbourne days. Plus, the hotel’s ultra central location makes it the ideal base for families to explore Australia’s cultural capital.

Traveller: Cara Wagstaff
Address: 60 Market St, Melbourne
Date: April 2025
Price range: One-bedroom apartments start at $196 and two-bedrooms from $266 per night
Best for: Active families with school-aged children

Our room

We’re staying in a premium two-bedroom loft apartment on the hotel’s 22nd floor. Mezzanine style, the ground floor is home to an open-plan living room, dining area and a kitchenette with a full-size fridge, dishwasher, oven and all the cooking utensils you need. There’s also a fully enclosed balcony with panoramic views over the Yarra River, Southbank and Port Melbourne.

Upstairs is a totally glass-walled, wow-factor bedroom with one of the best views of Melbourne I’ve experienced. Our king bed is buttery soft, and blockout blinds emit any city lights, so we all sleep soundly. The second bedroom has a queen bed, however, we use this room for our toddler, and she sleeps comfortably in the portable cot the hotel provides. There is also a small bathroom with a shower and equally impressive views. I can see all the way to Port Melbourne from the loo.

The loft-style room is incredibly impressive for views, however, I would suggest it is better suited to families with school-aged children as the windows can be opened on the balcony and being mezzanine style, there is a fall hazard for younger children.

Staying in

We drop our luggage and ride the elevator down to the basement level to check out the heated indoor swimming pool and spa. We burn off pent-up energy from our Sydney to Melbourne commute, our almost three-year-old practicing her freestyle strokes in the pool while our four-month-old looks on from the pram we park poolside. LED lights within the pool change it from a blue to green hue and back, much to the delight of our toddler. There’s also a sauna and gym for parents, so if you can tag team parenting, they’re a nice bonus.

Eating in

Buffet breakfast, a staple for any travelling family, is served in the Oak & Vine restaurant in the hotel’s lobby and dishes up both continental and hot breakfast items, including fluffy pancakes and an ‘eggs your way’ station. Barista coffee is available at an extra cost.

Tip: Prepay for your breakfast when you book or check in to save ($28 per adult); otherwise, it’s $35 on the day. Kids over six are $14, and under six’s eat for free. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and there is also a bar on the ground floor.

Stepping out

There are oodles of fun things for families to do on Oaks Melbourne on Market’s doorstep. Visit SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, walk alongside the Yarra River, hire a Go boat or check out one of the family-friendly eateries.

We have plans to catch up with friends and walk down to Yarra Botanica, a floating restaurant with picture-perfect views of the city – especially at sunset when we arrive.

A short bus or tram ride away are the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Luna Park and the National Gallery of Victoria, all of which are all free to enter. For more Melbourne family fun, check out our list of the best things to do with kids here.

Our verdict

This is an excellent base for active families eager to explore Melbourne’s delights. It has the facilities families need while travelling—kitchens and a laundry room are available, a swimming pool, and buffet breakfast—all in a stellar location at a reasonable price.

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