The Thousands

Many people stay at the Prince for the day spa (whisper it in hushed tones: Aurora Spa Retreat). I stay at the Prince for the food. Luxury has a name, and it is ‘room-service steak’. Especially when it’s delivered straight from the Prince’s award-winning Circa kitchen downstairs. This forty-room boutique hotel is hidden discreetly inside one of St Kilda’s most iconic Art Deco buildings – and behind one of its biggest bandrooms. Expect hangover and jet-lag-friendly lighting in the foyer and efficient 24-hour front-desk service to back it up.

The rooms are small but cosy, light-filled and decorated in natural sand-dune tones – to match the glimpse of the sea out your window. To make use of during your stay there’s fast complimentary wifi internet; BOSE audio equipment; Lavazza gold label coffee and a plunger (tick!) and an indoor pool. Don’t forget to try the luxury soaps and lotions from Aurora and – it must be said – the damn good water pressure in the shower.

You wake up to palm trees gently swaying outside your window (or madly thrashing against it in winter – but still, that’s cosy right?). Now you have a choice: breakfast downstairs at Circa or stay where you are. Even if you order from your room, brekky seems to arrive in the blink of an eye whether it’s plain toast or baked eggs with Moroccan tomato and kale.