If you want to experience Melbourne without staying in the hustle and bustle of downtown then The Lyall Hotel and Spa is well worth considering. It is located in a quiet street off Toorak Rd, a short walk to Chapel St, with plenty of great restaurants and cafes nearby. We had a beautiful meal at Cucinetta's, a cosy little Italian restaurant just across the road from the hotel. The Royal Botanical Gardens are also a short walk away, great for a morning walk or run. Getting into the city was a breeze - South Yarra train station is 5 mins walk away and it is a quick two stops to Flinders St station. Our hotel room was tidy and spacious, with a handy kitchenette for preparing breakfasts and simple meals. The only negative was the bathroom mirror light was broken which meant my wife had to use the mirror in the lounge to put on her makeup and shaving in dim light was a bit difficult. We alerted the front desk about this on the first morning of our stay but it had not been repaired by the end of our 4 night stay. Apart from this issue the service was excellent. The front desk staff were friendly and helpful, especially the person who checked us in late at night and welcomed us with a complimentary tea service. Would happily stay here again on our next trip to Melbourne!