A ritzy makeover for theatre-district Melbourne hotel

The Australian-owned Rydges Hotels and Resorts has upped its own ante in the heart of Victoria's capital, with the unveiling of its thoroughly refurbished theatre-district Rydges Melbourne.

The heritage-protected exterior remains its glorious, 1970s self, but inside has seen the transformation of 370 rooms, each with signature Rydges DreamBeds that punters rave about.

Officially, this is not a five-star hotel, but it feels like it - and even smells like it, with a signature scent that blends no less than 10 ingredients, from vanilla to green tea.

The lobby, where you can check in on self-service kiosks, looks and feels like the loungeroom of a very stylish friend, and there is curated artwork throughout the hotel, whose Aussie-inspired colour palette includes rusty ochres and eucalypt green.