This isn’t just a casino- it’s a huge venue housing a cinema, luxury hotel, spa, shopping mall, car parks, restaurants, bars and much more. If you fancy a good night out in Melbourne, you can try your luck at the tables of the Crown Casino, then take your pick from several bars and clubs.
Crown Melbourne, which turns 21 in June, still dominates the south bank of the Yarra and if you don't like it, tough luck, so to speak, since the casino complex's licence doesn't expire until 2033. Book your tickets online for Crown Casino, Melbourne: See 2,116 reviews, articles, and 493 photos of Crown Casino, ranked No.65 on Tripadvisor among 663 attractions in Melbourne.
Every time I’ve visited Melbourne I’ve usually ended up at the Crown Casino at some point or other. On a hot sunny day it’s a great place to have drinks in the sun next to the river, or cool off in the air-conditioned shopping complex. It’s a little slice of Las Vegas in the Land Down Under.
The three Crown Hotels- the Crown Towers, Crown Metropol and Crown Promenade– have attracted notable guests including Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Nicole Kidman, One Direction and Tiger Woods.
If you want to be staying a stone’s throw from the casino, The Crown Towers Hotel is one of the most luxurious 5-star hotels in Melbourne, as you can see from this review. It has a 25-metre indoor swimming pool and a rooftop garden with 2 tennis courts, making it a popular place to stay for tennis players during the Australian Open.
Those who want to be pampered can visit the Crown Spa, which offers a range of treatments including massages and facials. There’s even an aqua retreat boasting a pool, hammam and therapeutic rain shower.
The entertainment complex has a number of top notch restaurants to choose from, including the likes of Nobu, which is popular with celebrities. Even Heston Blumenthal is said to be opening a restaurant there, with his ‘Fat Duck’ restaurant opening in 2015.
Want to dine on fresh seafood by the waterfront? Book a table at The Atlantic. Fancy Chinese food? Go to Silks or Spice Temple. Feel like Steak? Had to Rockpool Bar & Grill. Want to try the best in French cuisine? Drop by Mr. Hive Kitchen & Bar or Bistro Guillaume. There are so many restaurants with all kinds of cuisine to suit every taste. If you’re on a bit more of a budget you can stop for a snack at the Food Court between shopping, or visit one of the more casual restaurants.
Crown Casino itself has an array of gaming options including Blackjack, Craps, Paj Gow, Baccarat and Roulette (my personal favourite!) The casino also a major poker venue in the Asia-Pacific region, hosting events such as the Aussie Millions and the World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific.
Crown is alive with free entertainment seven days a week, so you can sit back an enjoy live acts from talented performers at various venues around the complex. You can also book tickets for concerts, comedy performances, theatre productions and cirque du soleil shows that take place in the Palms at Crown- an 800 seat theatre venue with cabaret style tables, tiered crescent shaped booths and balcony tables.
If you fancy a few cocktails with friends you can do a bit of bar hopping at Crown’s trendy and exclusive bars, including 28 Skybar & Lounge, Las Vegas Bar, Lumia, Tonic or The Den. After a few pre-drinks you can then take things up a notch and dance the night away at Club 23, Co. Nightclub or Fusion.
The shopping mall is full of designer names and high street brands including Calvin Klein, Guess, Nine West, Witchery, Burberry and Hugo Boss. There’s also a cinema and a kingpin bowling alley, where you can drink, bowl and party all at the same time.
The Hive Kitchen and Bar photo by Alpha on flickr