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Wish you were here: a luxury stay at the Royal Botanic Gardens

From the luxury of United Places Botanic Garden to watching the world go by at City Wine Shop, spend a weekend away with Junior Fashion Editor Natalie Petrevski.

Stay ...
There’s nothing quite like being greeted in the private entry of United Places and ushered directly to your room in the quiet, with no busy reception desks or queues. Located in the heart of South Yarra, this is a boutique accommodation like no other - whether travelling for business or leisure, there’s something for everyone here. I was lucky enough to stay in a Garden Suite overlooking the beautiful trees and greenery. The interiors feature all the lavish comforts – from velvet drapes, organic cotton sheets, spacious showers and tubs, well equipped kitchen and sensor lights for when you wake up in the night (which is often for me). Not to mention, United Places is the only hotel to offer Santal 33 amenities by cult beauty brand Le Labo. Yes please.

Eat ...
There’s many restaurants not to be missed in town, but you can’t go past an afternoon drink at City Wine Shop. With gorgeous interiors and vast rows of wines, the best thing to do is order a bottle and pair it with a selection of cheeses and bar food. Or if you’re feeling hungrier, a serving of spaghetti meatballs is a win. United Places is worthy of a sleep in, so why not order breakfast to your room? The staff will bring a daily hamper of breakfast items from downstairs restaurant Matilda. And when closing in for the night, be sure to order in a calming relaxing tea to help you drift into the night. The staff sure do cater to your every need.

Do ...
A sunny walk through the Botanic Gardens with a picnic set up courtesy of United Places (when the weather permits), a visit to the NGV - the incredible Escher X Nendo | Between Two Worlds exhibition is not to be missed. Or a vibrant city centre visit for some much needed shopping. Take your pick.

Take ...
Comfortable shoes for plenty of walking and exploring are a must. A great city suit for evening bar hopping and jeans for the day. Lastly a jacket and umbrella in tow because well, it’s Melbourne of course. Just one of everything as you never know where you’ll end up (I’m the worst at packing).