Nice — here are highly recommended, centrally located places in Melbourne that work well for solo travellers, grouped by vibe and budget. For each I note why solo travellers like it and where it sits in the city.

Social / budget (meet people, lively common areas)

• Space Hotel (CBD, Russell St) — hostel/hotel hybrid with large shared kitchen, rooftop deck & spa, movie room and regular social events; good if you want to meet other travellers but keep options for private rooms. (spacehotel.com.au)
• The Village Melbourne (CBD) — newly refreshed city hostel with plenty of events, rooftop and a basement bar/nightlife — great for solo backpackers who want an active social scene. (thevillagehostels.com.au)
• YHA Melbourne Central (CBD) — reliable, centrally placed hostel with private-room options, rooftop and communal facilities; positioned near Melbourne Central / Queen Vic Market. Good for solo travellers who want safety + social spaces. (yha.com.au)

Boutique / design-forward (central, safe, lots of character)

• QT Melbourne (central, near Collins/Flinders) — stylish, theatrical boutique hotel with bars/rooftop and easy walking access to laneways and theatres; great if you want a social bar scene but boutique comforts. (qthotels.com)
• Laneways by Ovolo (Ovolo Laneways) — small boutique hotel in the laneway precinct; playful perks (happy hour, freebies) and excellent location for cafés and street art. Good for solo travellers who enjoy boutique design and walkable nights out. (ovolohotels.com)
• Adelphi Hotel (Flinders Lane / near Federation Square) — compact boutique hotel with a relaxed rooftop pool deck; very central for galleries, laneways and evening theatre. (oyster.com)

Mid-range / apartment-style (more space, self-cater)

• Adina Apartment Hotel (Flinders / Queen St options) — apartment suites with kitchens and laundry, right by Flinders St / Federation Square — ideal if you prefer to cook, stay longer, or want extra space and independence. (adinahotels.com)

Luxury / full-service (if you want top-end security & facilities)

• Crown hotels (Southbank — Crown Towers / Crown Metropol / Promenade) — riverside Southbank complex with restaurants, entertainment, casino and easy access to the CBD across the river; very safe and convenient for late nights/venues. (en.wikipedia.org)

Quick practical tips for solo travellers in central Melbourne

• Choose places with 24‑hour reception or secure key access (good for late arrivals). (Most city hotels/hostels list reception hours on their sites; see each property links above.) (spacehotel.com.au)
• Use the Free Tram Zone to get around the CBD cheaply — many central stops and hotels are inside that zone. If your tram trip starts/ends outside the zone you’ll need a myki. (ptv.vic.gov.au)
• If you want social nights, pick hostels or hotels with bars/rooftops (Space, The Village, QT, Adelphi). If you want quieter evenings, apartment hotels (Adina, Mantra-type) give more privacy. (spacehotel.com.au)

If you’d like, I can:

• Narrow this to your budget (backpacker / mid / luxury), or
• Pull availability and approximate prices for specific dates (I’ll check current rates).