Seasons Heritage Melbourne

I’ve walked by this boutique hotel (just at the corner of the next block from our home) a dozen times and never really noticed it. One Sunday morn, we wanted to grab some breakfast without having to take the car out, and came upon the menu signage on the sidewalk in front of what I now noticed was the Seasons Heritage Melbourne hotel. (Huh!!! I can’t be that oblivious in my own neighborhood, can I!!! Alas, I guess I was!!!) From the outside façade, the building simply looks like one of those long-​forgotten, over-​imposing, lumbering Federation Queen Anne redbrick buildings that might’ve been a schoolhouse, or maybe even an asylum, or old folks’ home from some very distant memory… It’s certainly not dilapidated; nonetheless, there’s nothing out front that’s very welcoming to the casual passerby. As you approach the building from the long walkway, the moniker, «Warwillah,» looms over the entryway to this monolith. (Inside, there’s a printed history of the building and its various incarnations over its 100+ years.) A couple of scraggly young gals were smoking at the entrance, which immediately gave me the feeling that I was entering a youth hostel! (Egads!) Alas, once inside, nothing could be further from that imagery!!! The small lobby is done in antique white, giving the space a much brighter and larger feel. A beautiful Old World chandelier floats distinctly, yet discreetly, over a welcoming floral arrangement seated upon an ornate-​footed, marble-​top table in the center. Reception check-​in desk along the right rear of the room. Antique seating dotted about; modern lounge seating, as well. The visual impact is charming, chic and sophisticated. Very European. Original stained glass (esp. the large one atop the first landing of the fabulously detailed staircase) and polished wood juxtaposed nicely with a sleek, frameless sliding door entrance, and an almost nightclub-​styled hallway that defied the depth of the building!
The breakfast/​lunch eatery (with a menu moniker of «Orient,» and the insignia of a fish upon it) to the left side of the lobby was pure Old English whimsy. A bit stuffy, but wholly inviting, as well. We informed the welcoming young gal behind the counter that we were there for breakfast. She told us to take any seat and she’d be with us. The short wait gave us time to absorb the environs. (The Michael Jackson anthology playing unusually loud for the hour of day did take us aback a bit. I suppose I should count my blessing that it wasn’t rap music blaring instead!!!)
We started with a couple of orders of mocha. It came attractively presented; however, sadly, it was only warm. The breakfast menu price range went from $ 7 for buttered sourdough or fruit loaf, to $ 25 for a full breakfast (with most dishes in the mid-​teens). I decided to go with the peanut butter French toast with golden syrup ($ 12); my partner ordered the corn fritters with avocado and sambal sour cream ($ 16). Both orders were served on aptly proper English china; both orders were on the «dainty» side (size-​wise) but visually very appealing. Two slices of French toast were cooked perfectly (nice bite of crust on the outside, and a dense yet spongy inside), with a thin layer of peanut butter in between. I found it to be quite filling and wonderful. Unfortunately, my partner said his corn fritters were «tepid» and may have been frozen and/​or microwaved. (I had a bite, and, yes, it was on the cold side; nonetheless, it tasted fine to me.)
In wrap-​up, I really enjoyed my meal. I love peanut butter; I love French toast. The two married happily on my plate. Except for the warm mocha, and choice of early morning tunes, this is a place I’d definitely return to, esp. being that it’s only a block from our home. Very charming, indeed!!! I’m gonna breakdown my rating as follows: 2 stars for music selection; 3−½ stars for food; 4 for service; 4−½ stars for décor.
[They have a lunch menu, too, and a separate dining room (I believe). I’ll have to check it out. And, too, I just found out that the depth-​defying hallway leads to the tall building behind, which is the hotel itself.]

The Seasons Heritage is a quaint, charming hotel on the corner of Roy and St. Kilda. It used to be a teacher’s hostel in the early sixties and converted to a hotel in recent years. We had Sunday breakfast at the Citro dining room and bar. Starting with a mocha, which I found to be on the tepid side, was beautifully presented. I ordered corn fritters with avocado. Even though it had really good flavor, it was also tepid, almost cold. Not sure why it would be tepid if if were made fresh, but that could be the problem. Not sure. If the food and coffee were hot, I would have rated it a solid 3 stars. Maybe an off day in the restaurant, I’ll try again in the future.