Stayed here with my Partner in July 07, place looks magnificent. Walk in and the historic feel is great.

Service was fantastic everybody was helpful and friendly.

The only problem i had was we booked a room with an atrium view i think it was called, and when we arrived the lady at the counter said she only had a room on the 8th floor left, which overlooked the glass roof, i didnt think too much of it until we actually arrived in the room.

The room was okay, very tidy and comfortable, but as soon as you open the window to walk out to the balcony you are greeted by this ugly rooftoop covered in moss! far from spectacular views into the buildings glass roof. This really made the room feel cheap and crap.

If you are going to stay there (which by all means do) make your you DO NOT GET A ROOM ON THE 8TH FLOOR!

I recently stayed at the Rialto after contacting the hotel directly and booking one of their various packaged deals (better value than internet booking services) and opting for the Premier Spa Suite for $100 AUD more than a basic room.

Initially I was very impressed at the sheer size of the suite - it was massive. It had to be at least 5 to 6 times larger than the basic standard room (having stayed in one of those previously). The suite was very well appointed with numerous lounges, dining table, kitchen, 2 studies and 3, yes 3, bathrooms, and also extremely high ceilings.

The service was very friendly, efficient, of high standard and without fault. The hotel is around 10 minutes walk from the centre of the CBD and mall, and also around the same distance from the riverside and casino.

Unfortunately, as others here have noted the furniture and fittings definitely show their age. The word 'spa' no longer deserves it's place in this suite's name - the spa is ancient, in fact I've never seen a smaller one. The bathrooms and kitchen appear pre-1980 and are in dire, dire need of refurbishment. The kitchen has hotplates and oven instead of the usual microwave generally expected, but there aren't any cookpots to enable use of the hotplates?!?

In conclusion, if you're willing to forgo modern luxuries, and are instead looking for a romantic pre-21st-century experience at a hotel with significant historic value attached, then this is the place. If on the other hand you will be heartbroken by lack of 40 inch plasma screens in every room, keep looking! : )

Stayed for four nights on business.

A little further from the city centre than expected, but the walk was never really arduous. Well attended taxi rank right at the front door and trams passing by too.

Spacious room with comfortable beds and other furniture.

Generally excellent staff who went out of their way to be helpful on all sorts of small issues.

Rather spectacular inside the hotel with outstanding use of a genuinely older building which has been adapted for its new purpose. Outside pretty impressive too.

About to be 'converted' to an Intercontinental and deserves its five star rating.

Stayed here on Business towards end of January. Service and food were good. Location is in the city near Spencer street station (now renamed to something else), and about a 10 minute walk to the Bourke street mall. Overall the hotel met my requirements for a business hotel, and price was reasonable. Downside was there was no in room internet connectin, and you had to go to the lobby and buy a scratch card and use it in their business centre.