The Roof rooftop space at the Standard X, Melbourne, hotel in Fitzroy. Picture / Supplied
The Roof rooftop space at the Standard X, Melbourne, hotel in Fitzroy. Picture / Supplied
Having opened in August 2024, the Standard X is still one of Melbourne’s newest hotels. Neil Porten reviews the rooms and amenities.
Location: It’s 22km from the airport to the hotel in Melbourne’s inner northeast. It took an hour in a taxi at rush hour, slightly quicker than the public transport options. Fitzroy’s time as a neighbourhood of light industry and workers’ residences was followed by a period when artists and artisans moved in, adding a smidge of glamour to the gritty core. Nowadays, the place is as quiet, genteel, buzzy, brash, or engaging as you want it to be. It’s only a 2km walk into the CBD, or 15 minutes on the tram from Brunswick Street around the corner.
Style: Industrial past meets artisan present. Exposed concrete and monolithic beams are softened with fat leather sofas, soft textile screens and a large macrame artwork sheathing a central pillar. The ground-floor dining area furniture is an eclectic mix: tables of formica and steel, blond wood, and tiles; there are hardback chairs, tall stools and a long banquette under the window. The decor is a foreground to the brick and graffiti backdrop seen through the big windows.
Price: From around $250 a night.
Perfect for: A city-adjacent escape where staying in is just as appealing as venturing out. Standard X Melbourne is a perfectly formed bolthole - intimate public spaces designed to relax in, comfortable but not large rooms, a grown-ups’ playground on the doorstep.
The Standard X stands out from its neighbours. Photo / Supplied
First impressions: In a tight grid of streets with single-level buildings, the eight-storey Standard X stands out. The rusted corten steel cladding glows in the early morning and late evening sun, reflecting Fitzroy’s industrial heritage. The scarlet-red revolving door, meanwhile, is a brash statement of the new.
In the neighbourhood: On the weekend, two local markets are just a few steps from the door: Fitzroy Mill Market trades in vintage and second-hand treasures, while Rose Street Market features crafts and goods from local artisans. At the end of Rose St the shops and restaurants of Brunswick St beckon. Independent fashion stores, galleries, and art spaces abound in the Fitzroy-Collingwood-Carlton area.
Rooms: I stayed in room 610, a king-view room facing the sunrise. It’s not a big room, mostly bed and bathroom, but it’s bright and comfortable. That bed gave good sleep, and extra points to the cushion-like headboard. The colour palette is off-white and blue, with salmon accents, like the steel cabinet minibar/fridge. Little details delight: the blue grouting in the bathroom, the denim-blue hoodie bathrobes, a tiny artwork by Melbourne-born artist Jane Sinclair, blue-hued ceramic cups and tumblers.
A King View room at the Standard X, Melbourne hotel, 62 Rose St, Fitzroy. Photo / Supplied
Bathrooms: Screened from the bedroom by floor-to-ceiling fluted glass, the bathroom is light and functionally spacious. The shower is roomy, with only a rain showerhead. The basin is oddly deep, but the X-shaped taps are a cute reference to the hotel’s name. Lotions are Davines by LaBottega.
Food and drink: You’ll want to eat at Bang - the hotel’s only eating venue, aside from the rooftop bar. Located on the ground floor, Bang is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a bright, casual area by the lobby, where the large windows and street-level views give it a city diner feel. At night, the space is intimate, with small tables along the banquette and a couple of bigger tables for groups.
Thai street food is the inspiration for the menu. At breakfast, the crab omelette with red curry sauce was a fragrant and filling tower of deliciousness. Sharing is the way to go at dinner.
A rich ginger and coffee sauce coated the slow-cooked beef short rib. Notable dishes to appear included vegetable and truffle dumplings, roast duck leg curry and Thai fried chicken.
There’s a loyal look to the drinks list, with Victorian wines and local craft beers in the majority. The bar looked like a great place to sample from the long list of house cocktails.
Don’t miss an opportunity to watch the sunset from the rooftop bar (the Roof). It’s a voyeur’s view into the brick backyards of Fitzroy’s terraced housing and the city’s skyscraping CBD shimmers in the near distance.
Facilities: Forget minibars: The Box at reception is a mini-emporium of essentials and treats. Grab a quart bottle of Melbourne Bitter or Carlton Draught beer to wash down some Iberico ham. Browse local souvenirs with an arty twist, or pick up some Standard X merch.
Wi-Fi is fast and free, there is valet parking, and you can use the nearby Snap Fitness gym.
The Roof rooftop space at the Standard X, Melbourne hotel, 62 Rose St, Fitzroy. Photo / Supplied
Familyfriendly: Bring the kids for dinner or breakfast, but the maximum occupancy is two people per room.
Sustainability: Local sourcing is important: almost all the food and beverages come from Victoria. There are no single-use plastics, and paperless documents are encouraged. Solar panels on the roof contribute to the hotel’s energy use.
Accessibility: There is a step-free entrance and an automatic door from the street. The hotel also has wheelchair accessible rooms with lower sinks and higher toilets with grab rails.
