Expert reviews
“Zagame’s House, a once faded motel that was gutted and modernized, has 97 rooms with dark tones and gold accents. The hotel is a few minutes’ walk from both the city center and the lush Carlton Gardens, popular for its green lawns and the grand Royal Exhibition Building.”
“Once a scruffy motel, Zagame’s House has been reborn as a character-filled boutique property that expertly mixes creature comforts and urban vibes. Straddling the border of the city center and Little Italy, the art-strewn hotel attracts an in-the-know crowd that appreciates smart design and proximity to great pizza.”
“Surprises await in this smart motel conversion on the fringe of Melbourne’s central business district. It features on-trend, low-key luxe rooms, a fun lobby café and an innovative in-room dining menu, as well as a roll call of the city’s moody looks.”
What guests liked
- Top location
- Boutique style
- Delicious breakfast
- Friendly staff
- Comfortable beds
All you need to know
Zagame’s House in Melbourne feels less like a typical hotel and more like crashing at a stylish mate’s urban pad, but with way better pillows. Nestled in historic Carlton on Lygon Street, it’s a boutique gem born out of love by brothers Victor and Robert Zagame.
With 97 rooms decked out in sleek design, marble accents, and modern tech, it’s cosy, creative, and absolutely inspiring. Whether you’re in the mood to hit the gym, unwind with a glass of wine, or just chill in your room, the place has you covered.
When it comes to food and drink, Zagame’s House doesn’t mess around. There’s the chilled-out 1851 Coffee + Kitchen for brunch vibes, and when the sun goes down, Lord Lygon Wine Bar turns up the elegance with tapas-style dishes and a seriously good wine list.
The whole place has a “home but better” feel: intimate, warm, and unapologetically Melbourne.
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Location
Recent guest reviews
7 January 2026
Exceptional
Zagames is a cool spot in a great location. The beds were super comfy, shower worked great, wine bar and restaurant was very good, and it is in a great location- walkable to the Little Italian restaurants in Carlton, shopping and bars in Fitz Roy, and very close to Flinders Square and a bunch of sites to see. Perfect for our 4-day stay in Melbourne.
6 January 2026
Comfortable, convenient with great staff
We had a fantastic stay at Zagame’s House and would happily stay here again. The location was brilliant, especially being right near Lygon Street and all the amazing restaurants. Having so many great food options just a short walk away added to the overall experience of being in Melbourne. Our room was clean and comfortable making it a great place to come back to at the end of the day. What really stood out, though, was the staff. Everyone we interacted with was genuinely friendly and helpful. Every question was answered and nothing ever felt like too much trouble. Overall, a wonderful stay. Comfortable, well located, and supported by a team who clearly care about their guests.
The only minor drawback was the security around lift access. Being able to access the lifts and accommodation levels without needing to scan a room key meant that anyone could potentially access the floors. While this didn’t impact our stay directly, requiring key-card access for lifts would add an extra layer of security and peace of mind for guests, particularly those travelling solo.
6 January 2026
Fabulous
Very comfortable, great service, wonderful products and good proximity to cafes and trams
The chrome cast on the TV wouldn’t always work
6 January 2026
Fabulous
The bed was extremely comfortable and the room was very clean and modern. Staff were friendly and helpful. Location very good.
Would've liked more privacy for the bathroom/toilet with a proper wall rather than just a privacy screen.
6 January 2026
Fabulous
Position is great easy access to trams near by to go into the city. Great restaurants.
3 January 2026
I really enjoyed staying here !
Good location, halfway between Fitzroy and downtown. Rooms were kept spotlessly clean and the staff were lovely. Everything worked very well and I was sad to leave !!
2 January 2026
Great location and service
We stayed overnight for my daughter’s graduation at the Royal Exhibition Building. Great location, walkable to CBD and Carlton. Room was comfortable with all amenities. Staff were very helpful and friendly, storing luggage for us after checkout and even gave us a free coffee in the morning as a graduation present. Would definitely stay again!
1 January 2026
Fabulous
Great location, close to the centre but not in a loud area - great facilities and clean.
1 January 2026
Exceptional
Breakfast and room quality
1 January 2026
Very enjoyable
Great room friendly staff accessible
Nothing
1 January 2026
Fabulous
Super nice and friendly staff. We arrived early in the morning, tired after 24 hours flight, and we got the room even before check-in time :))
1 January 2026
Perfect spot! Will return
Great room. Facilities excellent. Food amazing
Nothing to not like
31 December 2025
Very good
Love the friendly staff, location, breakfast cafe and comfy bed
The toilet inside a glass room provides limited privacy. Suitable for very familiar couples only 😬😅
31 December 2025
Amazing staff! Great location! Cool Vibe!
First of all the staff here is AMAZING! So friendly and accommodating! The location was fantastic and central to all of what Melbourne has to offer - just a short walk to just about anything. It's in an Italian area so the food was great, too. It's an iconic, eclectic hotel atmosphere that was safe and welcoming. The bed was very comfortable.
Just some minor notes: The bathroom lighting was rather dim and the lack of a shower door left a little water mess. The pillows were uncomfortably firm (very hard). There are no dressers or closets for clothing storage.
30 December 2025
Exceptional
Nice hotel with good facilities. Corner room was spacious and the restaurant is of high quality.
29 December 2025
Wonderful birthday night away
I loved the room, the bed was ridiculously comfortable, it was in a wonderful location just outside of the city (perfect for me as I find the city too overwhelming). Onsite parking was a huge plus for me too, and the room layout was perfect for a cozy stay. The staff were very friendly too. I wish I could have stayed for more than just one night!
I was a bit disappointed by the meals, they didn’t really hit the spot for me.
29 December 2025
Very good
No freezer. No fan. There was a milk frother but no way to use it!
29 December 2025
Would definitely stay again
Modern and clean Very comfortable bed and bedding
Nothing
28 December 2025
Fair enough 👌🏻
Location
The smell of old, stained and damp carpets on the patio hallways.
27 December 2025
Surprised at the value and how on point it was
Loved it, can’t wait to go back
Not much
26 December 2025
Good stay
Spacious room with amenities
Good have been cleaner and also the location is in CBD but not super central
23 December 2025
Exceptional
Great bar. Chilli scramble for breakfast was excellent. Good coffee.
21 December 2025
I’ve stayed before and will be back again
Lovely property. Delicious breakfast. Super friendly & helpful reception staff. Thank you for having us.
20 December 2025
Excellent
Clean tidy with excellent staff
Location Staff Rooms
17 December 2025
Home outside of home
I didn't have breakfast; however, one thing to mention is how small things are thought about: the minibar is automatic, but there is plenty of space for personal stuff (NOT very often thing, even in pouch hotels)! And Nespresso coffee machine. And comfy bed. And reasonably well-equipped gym. And the best possible location. And pristine rooms. And very friendly staff. Solid 10/10.
It's hard to find what can be done better
15 December 2025
Extremely comfortable with a good vibe.
The bed was so comfortable and the design was unique. Staff were very kind and welcoming.
13 December 2025
Modern and contemporary motel conveniently located with excellent breakfast and coffee.
Very comfortable room in a nice location on the edge of the city center. Great breakfast and access to parks and museums.
Nothing.
12 December 2025
Exceptional
Location was great close to city & Vic Markets, Tram lines & Melbourne Central.
Motel style, could be noisy.
12 December 2025
Excellent stay, quiet, comfortable and easy location to everything.
Location, comfy bed and fairly prices room service
Nothing
11 December 2025
Exceptional
excellent breakfast with a wide choice, very nice Japanese-style rooms (with Western comforts), Bluetooth stereo in the room and all the bathroom accessories very good and always stocked.
Nothing.
11 December 2025
One of the best hotel stays I’ve had - highly recommended
Pretty much everything. Great style and size. Amazing bed. Great bathroom facilities. Temperature control was fantastic. Very clean and private, and an amazing location in the city, within walking distance of pretty much everything.
Very little. I would’ve liked a fridge that wasn’t pressure sensitive so I could keep more of my own stuff in there, and the bathroom sink’s tap made it impossible to fill a water bottle. These are nitpicky details! Otherwise I can’t fault the place.
11 December 2025
Cool vibe, great location & wonderful food.
Cool and great vibe. Very aesthetically pleasing. Very comfy bed.
The light streamed in from under the door - would be worth putting a door snake or cover at base of door.
11 December 2025
Exceptional
Well designed room, very comfortable. Great location, short walks to everywhere in the CBD and inner north.
10 December 2025
Great location, room & lovely staff - would recommend
Location excellent, ambience & Lord Lygon’s wine bar & food were great
Check in was delayed as they were so busy & full the night before & unable to help us with an early check in which would have been helpful after a 22 hour journey
10 December 2025
We had a great stay. Super handy to everything. Easy.
Location was excellent, bed was wonderful, rooms was lovely, staff were awesome, bar and restaurant also lovely (had a few meals and coffees and very nice).
Toilet was VERY noisy - no secrets! :(, light over the basin was weird to turn off - we spent the first night with it glaring away, and room was quite bright from lights outside - if you are after a blackout room don't think this is for you. Room was also tiny with space for only one suitcase (there were two of us). Possibly placing the bed in the middle would have left more space. Perfect for one person through, as also only one chair.
9 December 2025
Fabulous
The staff were great
My Breakfast was terrible. Too oily Scrambled eggs are not cooked in an oily wok . They are cooked in a frypan in butter and milk. My Burger was only half cooked. That's why I only had two meals there. The bathroom light would not turn off.
9 December 2025
Exceptional and great value.
Superb hospitality, rooms, food, amenities and especially staff. Great value for money, feels exactly how a boutique hotel should feel.
Great parking, super clean.
9 December 2025
Great location but...
Breakfast was terrific and staff were wonderful. My room was well appointed, although a little dark. I enjoyed sitting outside in the outdoor area which had good wifi service.
I stayed on 2 occasions in the space of a week. The room on my first stay was located next to a building which dampened so you couldn't hear the traffic. The second room was near the corner of 2 busy roads which meant it was rather noisy due to sound of accelerating cars, trucks etc even late at night.
8 December 2025
Great place to stay
cool place
7 December 2025
Fabulous
A bit noisy in the afternoon
7 December 2025
Great establishment in a great location
High quality with everything you need
Nothing
6 December 2025
Fabulous
Location
4 December 2025
All very nice with except of the incidents described above.
Everything was fine , including the staff at the reception and food section
I was shocked by two incidents in my room 232 (from 17 Nov to 27 Nov, 2025): on one occasion the bag of potato chips was missing from the bar (I don't eat such type of junk food at all), and the second, much more serious, I found my laptop broken through one of the hinges of the screen, as if it had been dropped on the floor. After some thought, I decided not to report those incidents to reception, because I would have a hard time proving they weren't due to my own actions. However, I decided to share this unpleasant experience in the survey about my stay at your hotel.
4 December 2025
Would definitely recommend and would stay there again if visiting Melbourne.
The rooms were very comfortable. The Smith & Co products were devine! Bathroom lighting was great.
The doors could do with adjusting to stop them slamming - that was the only noise we could hear during our stay. The lighting in the main bedroom could also be improved.
4 December 2025
Very good
The breakfast was excellent and I loved their unique Blue Magic tea. The beds are super comfortable and also the showers are so big, love this hotel.
N/A
2 December 2025
Perfect
Perfect location
All excellent
2 December 2025
Exceptional
Very luxurious feel, the staff were incredible. The bed was so comfortable which is hard to find in hotels. We were able to check out later with no extra cost!
Loved everything!
1 December 2025
One of my favourite places. ❤️
Love this place, a bit of luxury while travelling for work.
Nothing
28 November 2025
I would highly recommend Zagame’s, I had a lovely stay and will be returning when I’m next in Melbourne.
The location was perfect for where I needed to attend while in Melbourne, they have amazing coffee in the lobby as well as food options and a restaurant which makes it so convenient when you’re managing a tight schedule! The room was beautiful and so much attention to detail, I particularly loved the inclusion of the books and a house shaped tissue box holder! Very sweet 🤭
I didn’t feel 100% safe in the rooms, it wasn’t clear if the lock was working and when you can hear people outside it’s a bit disconcerting as a young female travelling alone. I also did notice a few hairs when I checked in that weren’t mine but no where can be perfect!
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Snack bar
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Coffee house on site
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Soundproof rooms
- - Car hire
- - Heating
- - Allergy-free room
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Shared lounge/TV area
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Fax/photocopying (additional charge)
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Tour desk
- - Luggage storage
- - Concierge service
- - Invoice provided
Activities
- - Fitness centre
- - Fitness
- - Happy hour
Cleaning services
- - Laundry
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Trouser press (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Entertainment and family services
- - Board games/puzzles
Parking
- - Accessible parking
Accessibility
- - Wheelchair accessible
- - Toilet with grab rails
- - Raised toilet
- - Lower bathroom sink
Outdoors
- - Outdoor furniture
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key access
- - Key card access
- - Security alarm
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Delivered food is securely covered

More photos

7 January 2026
Wonderful stay! We will be back.