Pullman Melbourne Albert Park Nails It
December 5, 2018
Apparently, someone from the three city tour we’re part of has been reading our supposedly secret blog entries (LOL), because when we checked in at the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park this afternoon, we were assigned a very nice room indeed. So thanks, secret blog reading lurkers! We know you’re out there.
Once again for the record, the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park is not the kind of place NPS usually frequents. This is a high level business hotel. You can always spot this category of hotel by the international air crews frequenting the lobby and the packs of Chinese tourists that wash through in waves.
At checkin, we were assigned room 9604. There is only one suite at this hotel (next door, it turns out), but there are a number of executive class rooms with a sitting area on the executive level of the hotel. Some of those rooms overlook the Albert Park lake (across the parking area and a highway). 9604 is one of those with a view.
The room itself is well appointed and spacious with room to exist.
Since it is December, it is summer here and the xmas stuff scattered to and fro all over the place is disconcerting if not outright alarming. When you wander around town in the summer heat there are many people in short xmas skirts and bad xmas t-shirts (no sweaters to be seen).
Speaking of which, when it is 99 degrees outside, the HVAC system here just can’t keep up. My in room AC ran continuously and never hit the target temperature. Time to upgrade the HVAC on this property to prepare for global warming.
Our bathroom is spacious but a bit spartan. Some of that space could have been put to use to house a better shower.
But the shower is not plastic.
We were recognized by name on checkin (tipping us off that the fairies had become involved). There was even a welcome amenity set up for someone else in the room.
We’ll happily spoof mr dunbar as long as we get to stay in this room for the next few nights.
NPS is gratified to learn that not only do all systems break, some of them even learn!
After a quick turnaround mostly for charging devices, we headed into town. St Kilda is south of the city proper and is a suburban beach town. Like many beach towns, it’s a bit scrappy. People say “fuck” a lot in normal conversation (even in fancy restaurants), and there are more crazy ass bums here than you find in the city. It reminds NPS of the seedier parts of San Diego.
A late lunch of sushi at Ichi Ni was very good indeed.
A walk along the beach was in order, and then an amble through town for some espresso.
Summer, bitches! pic.twitter.com/N0uxATLBLM
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 5, 2018
Street art pic.twitter.com/oqjx1M9XEU
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 5, 2018
Espresso at Leroy is worth seeking out. The walk from the Pullman into town is just over a mile. An easy walk, but not one you want to do multiple times per day. That’s why they make uber.
A very good but overpriced dinner at Cafe di Stasio included an incredibly delicious Omelette D’aragosta. This dish is so good it warrants mention in guidebooks and they are right on all counts. Get it. The wine list is also very good. It’s the clientele that needs some finishing school.
Food @CafeDiStasio is world class. pic.twitter.com/trq0drQDP1
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 5, 2018
LOL. Same people having a cell phone chat. All the humans must go.
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 5, 2018
Yes please pic.twitter.com/mt2dqisLi0
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 5, 2018
After a half day in St Kilda, we’re ready to give our last talk and get into Melbourne. More soon.
Cocktails at Black Pearl are highly recommended. Make a reservation for the Attic space. Our bartenders were exceptionally knowledgeable and the drinks were great. Much fun was had. And, they made us a liberal.
Drinks at 1806 are a completely different scene on a Friday. Loud music and lots of energy. Not very civilized, but very good cocktails.
1806. Great cocktails in chaos. Melbourne, Australia @drinks1806. Great time for a CR#2 https://t.co/ix6qaI9oe6 pic.twitter.com/Kz0kAtPiCr
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 7, 2018
Skip the circular tram nonsense. It is overhyped and a waste of time. Just do some walking in the center of town instead. But make sure to leave time for the incredible National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). It is worth the visit.
The special Escher exhibit was worth fighting the crowds to see, especially with Sam. See lots of Escher on apothecaryshed.
Finagle your way into the dumpling place, hutong, if you can. Really worth calling and conning your way in.
Yes, hutong is as great as its stellar reputation. A delicious dinner indeed. Must visit in Melbourne. https://t.co/ExyCIKhoXP pic.twitter.com/Gpeuecfhyz
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) December 8, 2018
The Gin Palace is an exceptional bar, so good in fact that we visited twice—briefly before seeing a play and more properly afterwards.
Four showerheads for the Pullman Albert Park and a wish for a sultry hot xmas.