42-48 Balston Street, Southbank, 3006 Melbourne, Australia
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Imagine Marco Overview

First Impressions

Walking into Imagine Marco on Balston Street, you immediately sense this isn’t your typical five-star hotel experience. The lobby has this understated luxury vibe — you know, the kind where everything looks effortlessly expensive without screaming about it. I mean, Melbourne has plenty of fancy hotels, but this one actually feels like it belongs in the neighborhood rather than towering over it. The staff greets you like they genuinely want you there, not like they’re going through the motions.

Location & Neighborhood

Honestly, the Southbank location is pretty much perfect if you want to be in the thick of things without the chaos. You’re literally steps from the Yarra River, and I love how you can walk to Flinders Street Station in about ten minutes — no need to figure out trams or worry about parking. The Crown complex is right there too, which means you’ve got dining options for days. What really struck me is how couples seem to gravitate here (they rate the location 8.6, and I can see why) — there’s something romantic about those river views and the way the city lights reflect off the water at night.

The Room Experience

The room itself surprised me in the best way. It’s not massive, but the design makes every inch count, and those beds — well, they weren’t kidding about the comfort factor. I actually slept better here than I have in months, which says something because hotel beds usually leave me tossing and turning. The windows frame the city skyline beautifully, and there’s this nice balance between modern amenities and warmth that a lot of luxury hotels miss completely.

Dining & Amenities

The restaurant downstairs serves food that’s genuinely good, not just hotel-good — there’s a difference, trust me. I tried their breakfast (which, honestly, you should do at least once) and was impressed by how they source local ingredients without making a big show of it. The spa facilities are solid too, though not overwhelming — sometimes you just want a decent massage and a quiet space to unwind, and they deliver on that front without all the bells and whistles.

Why Guests Love It

What really sets Imagine Marco apart is how many people come back — and I get it now. It’s not trying to be the flashiest or most Instagram-worthy place in Melbourne, but it nails the fundamentals while adding those little touches that make you feel looked after. The location score of 8.6 isn’t just numbers on a website; when you’re walking back from dinner along the river or catching a morning coffee with that skyline view, you understand why people choose this spot again and again. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to extend your stay, even when you probably shouldn’t.

Imagine Marco Accommodations

AccommodationDetails
One-Bedroom Apartment2 × 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
Two-Bedroom Junior Apartment2 × 1 large double bed and 2 × 1 single bed for 3 adults, 2 children
Two-Bedroom Junior Sky Apartment2 × 1 large double bed and 2 × 1 single bed for 3 adults, 2 children
Two-Bedroom Apartment4 × 1 large double bed for 4 adults, 2 children
Two-Bedroom Sky Apartment4 × 1 large double bed for 4 adults, 2 children
One-Bedroom Sky Apartment2 × 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
Two-Bedroom Executive Apartment4 × 1 large double bed for 4 adults, 2 children
Two-Bedroom Executive Sky Apartment4 × 1 large double bed for 4 adults, 2 children
One-Bedroom Apartment – Unserviced2 × 1 large double bed for 2 adults
Two-Bedroom Junior Apartment – Unserviced2 × 1 single bed and 1 large double bed for 3 adults, 2 children
Two-Bedroom Apartment – Unserviced4 × 1 large double bed for 4 adults, 2 children
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Reviews of Imagine Marco

  • Indu from India (8/10)

    The panoramic view from the apartment was splendid. Check in and check out was so easy and quick as well

  • Tim from Australia (7/10)

    Blinds could be better, didn’t stop sunlight waking you

  • Loc from Australia (8/10)

    Location, comfortable & ability to request a 1 off late checkout at 11pm

  • Henriette from Australia (8/10)

    Location was great for us. Close to were we needed to be

  • Susan from Australia (8/10)

    Location was Great, Woolies across the road Bball courts stone throw, south bank strand good walking distance with great scenery. Pool was beaut, and gym was basic But ENOUGH, with the best views, Happy With my lil Staycation here

  • Abbey from Australia (7/10)

    room was nice

  • Lisa from Australia (7/10)

    Location, cleanliness

  • Megan from Australia (7/10)

    The room had everything we needed.

  • Danielle from Australia (8/10)

    The location and views

  • Kellie from Australia (9/10)

    View was great, comfortable bed, location was good.

Surroundings

What’s nearby:

  • Boyd Park: 100 m
  • Eureka Tower: 800 m
  • Rialto Towers: 1.5 km
  • Eastern Reserve: 1.5 km
  • Immigration Museum: 1.1 km
  • Southbank Promenade: 950 m
  • The Genie Sculpture: 1.2 km
  • Riverslide Skate Park: 1.4 km
  • SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium: 1.2 km
  • ACMI – Australian Centre for the Moving Image: 1.5 km

Restaurants & cafes:

  • Restaurant Pizza Forno: 1 km
  • Restaurant East by West: 300 m
  • Restaurant Vegie Kitchen: 200 m

Top attractions:

  • Melbourne Zoo: 5 km
  • Cooks’ Cottage: 2.6 km
  • Melbourne Museum: 3.5 km
  • Old Melbourne Gaol: 2.7 km
  • Old Treasury Building: 2.3 km
  • Shrine of Remembrance: 1.8 km
  • Australian Sports Museum: 2.7 km
  • Manchester Unity Building: 1.7 km
  • Victoria University City Tower: 2 km
  • Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne: 2.2 km

Natural beauty:

  • Lake Ornamental Lake: 2.4 km

Beaches in the neighbourhood:

  • Elwood Beach: 7 km
  • St Kilda Beach: 5 km
  • Sandridge Beach: 4.2 km
  • Middle Park Beach: 3.9 km

Public transport:

  • Metro Flagstaff: 2.1 km
  • Train Southern Cross Station: 1.9 km
  • Train Flinders Street Station: 1.4 km
  • Metro Melbourne Central Station: 2.3 km
  • Bus Essendon Keilor CollegeLock St: 18 km
  • Bus El Reno Cres/Roberts Rd (Airport West): 18 km

Closest airports:

  • Melbourne Airport: 23 km
  • Moorabbin Airport: 21 km
  • Essendon Fields Airport: 12 km

Facilities

Bedroom:

  • Linen
  • Wardrobe or closet

Kitchen:

  • Dining table
  • Cleaning products
  • Toaster
  • Stovetop
  • Oven
  • Tumble dryer
  • Kitchenware
  • Electric kettle
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

Bathroom:

  • Toilet paper
  • Towels
  • Private bathroom
  • Toilet
  • Free toiletries
  • Hairdryer
  • Shower

Outdoors:

  • Outdoor furniture
  • Sun terrace
  • BBQ facilities
  • Balcony

Wellness:

  • Fitness centre

Living Area:

  • Dining area
  • Sofa
  • Seating Area

Common areas:

  • Shared lounge/T V area

Food & Drink:

  • Grocery deliveries

Accessibility:

  • Upper floors accessible by elevator

Miscellaneous:

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Air conditioning
  • Non-smoking throughout
  • Heating
  • Soundproof rooms
  • Lift
  • Family rooms
  • Facilities for disabled guests
  • Non-smoking rooms

Outdoor & View:

  • View

Room Amenities:

  • Socket near the bed
  • Hardwood or parquet floors
  • Soundproofing
  • Carpeted
  • Ironing facilities
  • Iron

Languages spoken:

  • English
  • Chinese

Cleaning services:

  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ironing service
  • Dry cleaning
  • Laundry

Safety & security:

  • Fire extinguishers
  • CCTV outside property
  • CCTV in common areas
  • Smoke alarms
  • Security alarm
  • Key card access
  • 24-hour security
  • Safety deposit box

Media & Technology:

  • Flat-screen TV
  • TV

Reception services:

  • Invoice provided
  • Private check-in/check-out
  • Luggage storage
  • 24-hour front desk

Building characteristics:

  • Private apartment in building

Outdoor swimming pool Free!:

  • Open all year
  • Heated pool
  • Fence around pool
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House Rules at Imagine Marco

Pets:

  • Pets are not allowed.

Groups:

  • When booking more than 5 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

Parties:

  • Parties/events are not allowed

Smoking:

  • Smoking is not allowed.

Check-in:

  • From 14:00 to 00:00
  • Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in

Check-out:

  • Until 10:00

Cancellation/prepayment:

  • Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check the conditions of your required option.

Guest reviews

Staff:

8.4

Comfort:

8.0

Location:

8.4

Free WiFi:

8.0

Facilities:

7.8

Cleanliness:

8.0

Value for money:

7.8