Best Family-Friendly Stays in Abbotsford, Melbourne
Abbotsford is an inner-east suburb of Melbourne, and the family stays listed under it mix local hotels with others in Richmond, East Melbourne and the city. MainStay Suites Abbotsford and Adara Hotel Richmond give families apartments with kitchens, Melbourne Metropole Central Apartment Hotel and Mantra on Jolimont add an outdoor pool and a hot tub, and Royal Derby Hotel offers a pub with a beer garden. Here are the ones I would shortlist, and how to choose between them, based only on what each stay lists for families. Ratings across the ten stays I cover run from 7.2 to 8.8.
Abbotsford is an inner-east suburb of Melbourne. Several of the family stays listed here sit in neighbouring Richmond, East Melbourne or the city, so check each address before you book.
Where to stay
Kitchens, pools and easy meals for families
For a family in inner-east Melbourne, the choice comes down to space, a pool or somewhere easy to eat. The stays below fall into those groups, and I note where a name suggests the stay sits outside Abbotsford itself.
For space and a kitchen, MainStay Suites Abbotsford is the stay I would look at first. It is a modern hotel with studio to three-bedroom apartments, described as ideal for families and pet owners, with a fitness center, a restaurant, full-service laundry and free Wi-Fi, and it is kid-friendly and accessible. Parking is paid there, which matters if you arrive by car. Adara Hotel Richmond has modern apartments with kitchenettes or full kitchens, a fitness center and an on-site restaurant, rated 8.0 from 480 reviews. Birches Serviced Apartments offers a kitchen, a townhouse option and a courtyard with a BBQ grill.
For a pool, two apartment hotels fit, and a third has one on its roof. Melbourne Metropole Central Apartment Hotel is in Abbotsford with an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a spa and a fitness center, with kitchens in some rooms, rated 8.4 from 1,141 reviews. Mantra on Jolimont Melbourne is an informal apartment hotel with an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, a restaurant and bar with a terrace and kitchens in its accommodations, rated 7.8. Rydges Melbourne has a rooftop pool, a restaurant, a lounge bar and a fitness center, with hotel rooms, suites and apartments, and it has the most reviews here, 2,405.
For an easy meal and some character, four hotels stand out. Amora Herencia Riverwalk Melbourne is an upscale hotel with river views, a bar, a courtyard and a restaurant with live jazz, and some rooms have kitchens, rated 8.4 from 1,071 reviews. Royal Derby Hotel offers simple rooms above a pub with a beer garden and modern dining, free Wi-Fi and free parking. City Limits Hotel has bright, air-conditioned rooms with wet bars, a restaurant and a smoke-free policy, rated 8.8. Element by Marriott Melbourne Richmond is straightforward, pet-friendly, with a restaurant and a fitness centre, also rated 8.8.
Some points to check before you book. Several names point to Richmond, East Melbourne or the city rather than Abbotsford, so check each address against your plans. The ratings of Birches Serviced Apartments, at 7.2, and Mantra on Jolimont, at 7.8, are lower than the rest, while City Limits Hotel and Element by Marriott Melbourne Richmond both reach 8.8 from 257 and 457 reviews. For a first stay with children, I would start with the stays that list a kitchen and a fitness centre, and add a pool if the weather allows.
A traveler's takeFor a family of four that wants to cook and have space, I would book MainStay Suites Abbotsford, because the studio to three-bedroom layouts and the laundry make a longer stay simple. If the children want a pool and a hot tub, I would choose Melbourne Metropole Central Apartment Hotel. For an easy dinner without leaving the building, my pick is Amora Herencia Riverwalk Melbourne, with its restaurant and courtyard.
Family-friendlyMelbourne Studio Apartments Hotel @ 138 Elgin Carlton
★4.6Spacious, family-friendly studio apartments with full kitchens in Carlton
Why guests love itMelbourne Studio Apartments Hotel @ 138 Elgin Carlton offers family-friendly studio apartments in Carlton with air conditioning, a full kitchen and full-service laundry. Bossa Nova Café is a short walk away, and Queen Victoria Market and Melbourne Central are easy to reach. About 110 guests rate it 9.2. Our editorial advice: cook in the studio, use the laundry mid-stay and explore Carlton and the market on foot.
Family-friendlyElement by Marriott Melbourne Richmond
★4.4Pet-friendly hotel with a restaurant and fitness centre in Abbotsford
Why guests love itElement by Marriott Melbourne Richmond is a casual four-star hotel that welcomes both families and pets. It has a restaurant and bar, a fitness centre, room service, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning, and it is accessible and smoke-free. A business centre covers practical needs. It is a base for exploring Melbourne from Abbotsford rather than a resort. I rate it well on an 8.8 score from 457 reviews, and I would choose it when a pet is coming along.
Family-friendlyComfort Apartments Royal Gardens
★4.4Spacious apartments with a pool, free breakfast, and pet-friendly options
Why guests love itComfort Apartments Royal Gardens offers family-friendly apartments with an outdoor pool, air conditioning and pet-friendly options. Some units include a kitchen, and free breakfast and Wi-Fi are part of the stay, with an airport shuttle and parking available. About 110 guests rate it 8.8. Our editorial advice: choose a kitchen unit for longer stays, bring a pet if you like and use the pool in the afternoon.
Family-friendlyCity Limits Hotel
★4.4Bright, family-friendly rooms with Wi-Fi and wet bars for a city stay
Why guests love itCity Limits Hotel is an unpretentious, practical base for families on a city stay. The bright, air-conditioned rooms have free Wi-Fi and wet bars, and there is a restaurant on site. The hotel is smoke-free and has accessible facilities. About 260 guests rate it 8.8. Our editorial advice: choose it for reliable basics, use the wet bar for children's drinks and snacks, and eat at the restaurant on arrival night.
Family-friendlyQuest Royal Gardens
★4.3Family-friendly apartment hotel with an outdoor pool and BBQ area
Why guests love itI recommend Quest Royal Gardens to families who want space and a kitchen in Melbourne. The apartments have kitchen facilities, air conditioning and free WiFi, and some come with a balcony. The outdoor pool and barbecue area give children something to look forward to on warm evenings, and there is a restaurant on site for nights off cooking. Parking is free, and guests rate the property 8.6, although the score rests on a small number of reviews.
Family-friendlyMelbourne Metropole Central Apartment Hotel
★4.2Family-friendly apartment hotel with a pool, hot tub, and spa facilities
Why guests love itMelbourne Metropole Central Apartment Hotel is a 4-star modern apartment hotel in inner Melbourne, rated 8.4 by guests. I would recommend it to families for the mix of standard rooms and apartments with kitchens, which lets you choose the space you need. Children can use the outdoor pool and hot tub, parents have a spa and a fitness centre, and the casual restaurant and bar save cooking on busy days. Public transport links make the city easy to reach.
Family-friendlyAmora Herencia Riverwalk Melbourne
★4.2Family-friendly hotel with river views and live jazz
Why guests love itAmora Herencia Riverwalk Melbourne gives families river views from many rooms, and some rooms come with a kitchen, which makes simple breakfasts and early dinners easy with children. The restaurant hosts live jazz, a good option for an evening meal without leaving the building, and the courtyard offers a calm corner between outings. More than 1,000 guests rate it 8.4. My advice: ask for a room with a kitchen if you are staying several nights.
Family-friendlyRoyal Derby Hotel
★4.2Lively pub with simple rooms, a beer garden, and family-friendly amenities
Why guests love itI recommend the Royal Derby Hotel to families who are happy with simple rooms and want an easy pub meal downstairs. The rooms sit above a lively pub with a beer garden, modern dining and live sport on the screens, so dinner needs no planning. WiFi and parking are free, and the hotel is listed as family-friendly. Guests rate it 8.4 from close to 400 reviews, which makes it a sound pick for a short Melbourne stay.
Family-friendlyMainStay Suites Abbotsford
★4.1Spacious apartments with kitchen facilities, pet-friendly and family-focused
Why guests love itI recommend MainStay Suites Abbotsford to families who need more than one bedroom in Melbourne. Apartments range from studios to three bedrooms, with kitchens or kitchenettes and laundry facilities, and some have a balcony. Pets are accepted, the property is kid-friendly, and there is a fitness centre on site. The Yarra River is a short walk away for a family stroll. Parking is paid while WiFi is free, and guests rate the stay above 8 out of 10.
Family-friendlyRydges Melbourne
★4.1Sophisticated rooms and suites with a rooftop pool in Melbourne
Why guests love itRydges Melbourne offers hotel rooms, suites and apartments, so families can choose between a standard room and a space with a kitchen. A rooftop pool, a restaurant and a lounge bar sit on site, with a fitness centre, free Wi-Fi and parking. More than 2,400 guests rate it 8.2. Our editorial advice: pick an apartment for a longer stay, and save the rooftop pool for the end of a sightseeing day.
Family-friendlyMainStay Suites Kew
★4.0Family-friendly hotel with an outdoor pool and pet-friendly rooms
Why guests love itMainStay Suites Kew suits families who want to cook and travel with a pet: rooms are air-conditioned with kitchens, pets are welcome, and there is an outdoor pool for the children. A restaurant, full-service laundry, free Wi-Fi and parking keep a longer stay simple, and an airport shuttle is available. Guests rate it 8. My editorial advice: plan simple dinners in the room, use the laundry halfway through the trip and save the pool for late afternoons.
Family-friendlyQuest East Melbourne
★4.0Fashionable studios with kitchens, a rooftop terrace, and family-friendly amenities
Why guests love itQuest East Melbourne is a good fit for families who want a kitchen and some space. The fashionable studios have air conditioning, a kitchen and free Wi-Fi, and there is a rooftop terrace, an on-site restaurant and accessible facilities, with parking available. About 185 guests rate it 8.0. Our editorial advice: cook breakfast in the studio, use the rooftop terrace in the evening and choose it for longer stays.
Family-friendlyAdara Hotel Richmond
★4.0Modern apartments with kitchens, free Wi-Fi, and a fitness center
Why guests love itAdara Hotel Richmond suits families who like to cook: its modern apartments come with either a kitchenette or a full kitchen, plus air-conditioning and free WiFi. A restaurant on site covers the evenings when nobody wants to cook, and the fitness centre is there for parents. The property is kid-friendly and accessible. More than 480 guests rate it 8.0. My advice: ask for an apartment with a full kitchen if you are staying a week.
Family-friendlyMantra on Jolimont Melbourne
★3.9Family-friendly apartment hotel with an outdoor pool and hot tub
Why guests love itMantra on Jolimont suits families who like apartment-style rooms with hotel facilities around them. Kitchens in the accommodations make breakfasts and simple dinners easy, and the outdoor pool and hot tub are the draw once the day is done. There is a restaurant and a bar with a terrace, plus a fitness centre, free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. I would book it for a comfortable, self-contained stay rather than a night out.
Family-friendlyBirches Serviced Apartments
★3.6Family-friendly apartments with kitchens and a BBQ courtyard
Why guests love itBirches Serviced Apartments suits families and pet owners who want a kitchen of their own. The contemporary serviced apartments and a townhouse come with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, there is a courtyard with a BBQ grill and an on-site restaurant, and pets are welcome. About 190 guests rate it 7.2. Our editorial advice: cook in the apartment, use the courtyard BBQ and eat at the restaurant on arrival night.
Local tips
- 1Choose MainStay Suites Abbotsford or Adara Hotel Richmond if you want a kitchen and space for the family.
- 2Pick Melbourne Metropole Central Apartment Hotel or Mantra on Jolimont Melbourne for an outdoor pool and a hot tub.
- 3Take Rydges Melbourne for a rooftop pool and a choice of rooms, suites or apartments.
- 4Book Amora Herencia Riverwalk Melbourne for river views and a restaurant with live jazz.
- 5Look at Royal Derby Hotel for free parking and a pub with a beer garden, and note the rooms are simple.
- 6Check the parking terms: MainStay Suites Abbotsford charges for parking, while Royal Derby Hotel lists it free.