Is this Australia's most stunning hotel room? You be the judge

The site of the former headquarters of The Age newspaper was cleared off to make way for four skyscrapers, the tallest of them is now home to the second Ritz-Carlton property in Australia (after Perth). And that only means one thing: gob-smacking 360-degree views of a city not particularly known for hotels with gob-smacking views.

Located on the western edge of the CBD, the hotel's just a few minutes' walk to the Southern Cross Station. A 15-20 -minute stroll in the opposite direction will take you to the city's most happening nooks - from the premium retail outlets of Collins Street and buzzing bars of Flinders Lane to the stop-you-in-your-tracks art on Hosier Lane.

There's an unmissable sense of intrigue when you arrive at the Ritz-Carlton. Unlike most hotels, you can't just waltz into its lobby. Two soaring doors at the entrance - flanked by impeccably dressed doormen - swing open only for guests, hinting at the level of exclusivity that lies within. Suspense builds as you walk through the gleaming ground-floor foyer with ridiculously high ceilings, a grand staircase and eye-catching artworks, before getting into the elevator. Only when you reach the 80th floor - Australia's highest hotel lobby - does the property finally reveal its trump card: floor-to-ceiling glass windows with uninterrupted views of Melbourne in every direction.

If space is luxury then you'll be spoiled from the get go at this hotel, where even the smallest rooms offer 44 square metres of real estate, with king-sized beds, plush couches and motorised blinds that glide open as you walk in to reveal glorious vistas. I have checked into one such room on the 78th floor and can see Port Phillip Bay, glittering in the distance from the bedroom, and all the way to the outer suburbs of Melbourne from my bathtub (yes, there's a vast window there, too). The no-expense-spared interiors cater to every need - from marble ensuites with twin sinks to walk-in closets beautifully designed in dark timber.

Like everywhere else at the hotel, get ready to loosen your purse strings. Kick off the evening at Cameo bar, located on the 80th floor, where passionate mixologist Josh Palmer can concoct a cocktail with vintage spirits dating back to the Prohibition era; such as Hiram Walker's old bourbon whiskey, bottled in 1930. Then head to the next-door one-hatted Atria restaurant, where a 19-metre Victorian ash table and a long horizontal chandelier by German firm Flaming Beacon vie for your attention, along with twinkling city views. But despite all the competition, my eyes are squarely on chef Michael Greenlaw's food - at the butter-soft wagyu sirloin with a 9+ score, in particular. Next morning, Atria impresses again - this time with champagne-poached crayfish eggs florentine for breakfast.

Massive glass windows, framed by elegant sandstone columns, have turned the hotel's 18-metre indoor pool on the 64th floor into an Instagrammer's heaven. You can spend the best part of the day here posing and clicking, or simply chilling on a daybed. But if you want to turn up the luxe factor, head to the spa next door, where you can relax in the sauna, steam room and one of the vitality pools before an indulgent body treatment.

If the budget permits, upgrade to a room that gives you access to the club lounge, which will spoil you with food and beverages all day, and champagne and oysters after sunset.

Where: 650 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

How much: From $650 per night

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The writer was a guest of the Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne.