Is parking available at the property?

Free self-parking is available on-site, providing convenience for guests traveling by car.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 2:00 PM, and check-out is by 10:00 AM. Early or late check-in/check-out may be available upon request, and guests should contact the property in advance for arrangements.

What accessibility features does the hotel offer?

The property features limited wheelchair accessibility, including elevators and step-free entrances, ensuring convenience for guests with disabilities.

What is the hotel's location in relation to nearby attractions?

The hotel is located just a 4-minute walk from Victoria Park and a 6-minute walk from The Wedge - Performing Arts Centre. It is also close to Gippsland Centre and Gippsland Art Gallery, making it a convenient base for exploring Sale.

What are the hotel's policies for guests staying with children?

One child aged 11 years or younger can stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room using existing bedding.

Criterion Hotel Sale

What guests think

At Criterion Hotel Sale, travellers describe a thoughtfully renovated heritage pub-hotel with modern, comfortable rooms, friendly staff, and a central location that suits quick stopovers as well as short business visits.

Rooms are generally very clean and include helpful touches like coffee machines and minibars, with lift access to upper floors. Common trade-offs are compact room sizes, occasional noise from the road or bar areas, and a few reports of hard beds or temperature control issues in certain rooms. The on-site bistro and bar draw frequent praise for quality, variety and convenience, though there is no breakfast service and a couple of diners reported slow or uneven service. Expect a stylish stay with good food and compact rooms suited to short visits.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

On-site bistro and bar are a standout and widely praised; lift access and on-site parking are available. There is no breakfast service.

Related guest reviews

10

Noni

28 May 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location for walking to dinners and easy to get back on the road first thing in the morning. Comfy room, spacious bathroom, elevator access, easy check out process

10

PETER

17 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent overnight stay at the Criterion. Very comfortable room/bed. Nespresso machine. Bathtub. Twin sinks. Modern, clean, fast WiFi. Good price. Food in the bistro was top notch too.

10

Giuseppe La

16 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Quick check in. Comfortable clean. Fantastic bar & restaurant No faults as usual

10

Graham

20 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The initial wlcome from the the staff on receptiopn was excellent and informative and friendly. The room was accessible via lift and the rooms were small but very coimfortable with very clean bathroom and a fully stocked bar (I probably used too much of). While there was no breakfast, the evening meal was very good, I had the steak and my friend had the barramundi with a side of veggies and a long island iced tea. The whole stay and experience was very pleasant with all staff being firiendly and helpful. I highly recommend this place to stay and enjoy if you are in the Sale area, in fact even if you are not then go out of your way to spend a night or two in tyhis fantastic restasblishment.

10

Janine

14 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Wonderful service, cleanliness and safety of room as well as great restaurant in hotel.

8

Sascha

7 Dec 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

No breakfast but good options around the corner.

10

Charles

22 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly, efficient service. A comfortable room. An outstanding meal in the bistro.

10

Erin

16 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely accommodation with a fabulous restaurant attached. Excellent, friendly staff too

8

Daniel

17 Apr 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

early century colonial pub with modern upgrade and extension to the building made for a comfortable stay. Room was clean and suitable for duration of my stay. Check-in was fast and easy with very friendly and accommodating staff. Staff even showed me to the room. The hotel was close to central CBD. Hotel amenities where convenient. On site free parking was available.

10

Margaret

8 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful old pub with quality renovations. Fabulous dining room with lots of options and a great wine list. The bedrooms were on the small side but very comfortable and so nice to see a coffee machine. It was a very convenient stay on our trip to Melbourne. The staff were very helpful and friendly.

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness is consistently praised across reviews, with rooms and common areas described as clean or spotless. A few guests noticed dust, dirty shower areas, or exterior windows needing attention.

Related guest reviews

6

Natalie

8 Mar 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Was a bit dusty in the room and the shower was a bit dirty. Otherwise it was a nice and quiet and very convenient having the restaurant on site.

10

Lynda

12 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The Criterion in Sale was great for an over night stay. Everything was clean & the staff friendly & helpful.

10

William

22 Mar 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean, compact and convenient.

10

PETER

17 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent overnight stay at the Criterion. Very comfortable room/bed. Nespresso machine. Bathtub. Twin sinks. Modern, clean, fast WiFi. Good price. Food in the bistro was top notch too.

8

Emma

31 Dec 2022

·

Stayed 19,357 nights

Love a visit to The Criterion. Hotel decor is great, friendly staff. Cleanliness has dropped a little since pre Covid times. (We have been staying here since 2019). One suggestion to improve eco-friendliness would be to have refillable pump packs of shampoo, conditioner, soap in the shower.

10

Janine

14 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Wonderful service, cleanliness and safety of room as well as great restaurant in hotel.

10

HISAYA

9 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

All positive score. Good size and clean room and friendly staff. Room #3 WiFi conection was bit weak signal.

8

Lisa

3 Feb 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Really like beautiful old buildings with modern interior design like this one. Everything was pretty good. Mattress was comfy. Pub food was good too. Cleaning could be improved (eg exterior windows & windowsills need a good clean) and AC in rooms needs to run to ensure the hallways & rooms stay must free.

10

Heather

10 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good central location. Very clean quiet hotel. Just check that your room key works on the out of hours door. Apart from that, highly recommend.

8

Kevin

31 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean room & friendly staff. Recommend.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are modern and comfortable but frequently compact, with some windowless or limited-window layouts; in-room coffee machines and minibars are appreciated. Noise can affect street- or bar-facing rooms, and a few mention hard beds or heating/AC issues.

Related guest reviews

6

judith

25 May 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The room we stayed in had only small windows up high and it felt like we were staying in a very large cupboard, if you suffered from claustrophobia, it would not be recommended. Overall, it was pretty noisy every time someone left or entered their room all the walls shook when the door closed and we could hear the noise from the large vents on the roof which were outside our windows. Can't fault the staff they were very nice and friendly.

10

chris

12 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Modern and cozy rooms, very clean. Make sure you ask for a room Not on main road, otherwise you hear trucks passing all night. I liked it, just the road noise made it hard to sleep.

10

PETER

17 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent overnight stay at the Criterion. Very comfortable room/bed. Nespresso machine. Bathtub. Twin sinks. Modern, clean, fast WiFi. Good price. Food in the bistro was top notch too.

8

Marlin

17 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

A nicely renovated hotel, rooms are small but nicely done. Unfortunately the beds are horrendous, honestly the hardest I have ever slept in. I went for dinner downstairs and the staff seemed confused and one young man behind the bar was too busy trying to be cool than actually providing good service. Food was very delicious and plenty of it. A real mixed bag here!

8

Frances

18 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

A bit noisy on Friday night. My window right beside verandah seating area

10

HISAYA

9 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

All positive score. Good size and clean room and friendly staff. Room #3 WiFi conection was bit weak signal.

8

Darren

22 Apr 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

VERY small rooms, not for the sales person on the road, limited space, very small desk.

10

Andrew

17 Feb 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The rooms are small but this is a renovated pub. I had a room with no windows but it was very comfortable and fit for purpose. Great for an overnight stay.

8

Rochelle

14 Apr 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room (10) was small, there was no luggage racks or much space. The bathroom/toilet sink was extremely small. The room was clean. Staff at the hotel were very polite and engaging. The restaurant/Bar attached to this hotel is the draw. The menu was seasonal and the food was very good. Five stars for the restaurant.

10

Margaret

8 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful old pub with quality renovations. Fabulous dining room with lots of options and a great wine list. The bedrooms were on the small side but very comfortable and so nice to see a coffee machine. It was a very convenient stay on our trip to Melbourne. The staff were very helpful and friendly.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Service

Staff are repeatedly described as friendly, helpful and professional, and check-in is smooth. Isolated criticisms cite confused bar service or slow restaurant response at busy times.

Related guest reviews

10

Rushil

2 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Good value for money. Modern and comfortable rooms. The staff were great and helped organise an after-hours check-in.

10

Carolyn

13 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautifully appointed hotel. Sensor lighting in corridors. Dined in house, so convenient. Food and wine delicious. Large spacious room with king bed. Staff very friendly and obliging. Rex on reception very warm and welcoming and made suggestions of places to visit.

10

Stuart

31 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great room, friendly and helpful staff. Excellent food. Great location. Very happy!

8

Michael

27 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was good, staff were really helpful and friendly, amenities were very good.

10

Peter

8 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This a well renovated very comfortable hotel. Staff were excellent.

8

Michael

12 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The Hotel was absolutely amazing, we stayed in the room suited for those with limited mobility or in a wheelchair and it is the best planned, easiest to access room. They thought of everything and although I am not in a wheelchair myself, I have mobility issues, I could not find a fault with the bathroom facilities. There were rails right where I needed them and as a tall person this helped significantly, there were shelves that were accessible for both wheelchair users and others with limited mobility which made getting dressed easier. My only fault would be the lack of a seat in the bathroom which would have made that process much easier. I would not however, under any circumstances recommend the restaurant on the ground floor. It took 45 minutes to get drinks to our table and we then waited another hour to be served our meals. In that time 5 other tables were seated, served and had left, despite us bringing this to their attention the service was still dreadful and I will not be returning for a meal.

8

Marlin

17 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

A nicely renovated hotel, rooms are small but nicely done. Unfortunately the beds are horrendous, honestly the hardest I have ever slept in. I went for dinner downstairs and the staff seemed confused and one young man behind the bar was too busy trying to be cool than actually providing good service. Food was very delicious and plenty of it. A real mixed bag here!

10

Cameron

19 Sept 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Accommodation was good, dinner was good, service from the Manager at check in, during dinner and serving bar drinks was excellent.

10

Lorinda

20 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

As listed in the review, the stay has been very pleasant and the staff extremely helpful. Walking distance to cafe’s and shopping. Highly recommend.

10

Charles

22 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly, efficient service. A comfortable room. An outstanding meal in the bistro.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Central, walkable location close to shops, cafes and the lake, convenient for stopovers and business travel. Easy access to main roads supports onward travel.

Related guest reviews

10

Noni

28 May 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location for walking to dinners and easy to get back on the road first thing in the morning. Comfy room, spacious bathroom, elevator access, easy check out process

8

Anthony

24 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Close to shops and close to lakes

10

Kevin

1 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

One night stay for visiting Golden Beach. Pros : Great location. Clean. Great bathroom size(almost as big as the main room) . Friendly staff. Price per night. Nice and warm at night (winter stay in July) close to shops and food. Near the lake. Shower is strong and good temp. Cons: bedroom is a little small however couple or single is fine. Shared belcony right outside the window, some people might not like this. Will I stay again? Yes. Also recommend others too.

10

Heather

10 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good central location. Very clean quiet hotel. Just check that your room key works on the out of hours door. Apart from that, highly recommend.

10

Lorinda

20 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

As listed in the review, the stay has been very pleasant and the staff extremely helpful. Walking distance to cafe’s and shopping. Highly recommend.

10

Ian

22 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very good stay. Room was comfortable and quiet. Very good location, close to everything.

8

Peter

20 May 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean tidy and modern facilities in a heritage hotel. Convenient to the shopping areas and on the main road. No traffic noise in the hotel dining room or bedroom.

8

Neil

12 May 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Good spot in the centre of Sale

10

Gillian

15 Dec 2022

·

Stayed 19,341 nights

Central location, safe and secure, excellent base for surrounding district work to be undertaken

8

Amanda

1 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean Walk to everything

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

The bistro serves high-quality, tasty meals with a good menu and wine list, and the bar is popular. There is no breakfast service, and a couple of reviews mention slow or uneven service.

Related guest reviews

10

PETER

17 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent overnight stay at the Criterion. Very comfortable room/bed. Nespresso machine. Bathtub. Twin sinks. Modern, clean, fast WiFi. Good price. Food in the bistro was top notch too.

8

Steven

1 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

In Sale for business and room was comfortable, dining downstairs made it very easier. Food was nice but not cheap. Beer was cold and enjoyed happy hour. Thx

10

Graham

20 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The initial wlcome from the the staff on receptiopn was excellent and informative and friendly. The room was accessible via lift and the rooms were small but very coimfortable with very clean bathroom and a fully stocked bar (I probably used too much of). While there was no breakfast, the evening meal was very good, I had the steak and my friend had the barramundi with a side of veggies and a long island iced tea. The whole stay and experience was very pleasant with all staff being firiendly and helpful. I highly recommend this place to stay and enjoy if you are in the Sale area, in fact even if you are not then go out of your way to spend a night or two in tyhis fantastic restasblishment.

8

Michael

12 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The Hotel was absolutely amazing, we stayed in the room suited for those with limited mobility or in a wheelchair and it is the best planned, easiest to access room. They thought of everything and although I am not in a wheelchair myself, I have mobility issues, I could not find a fault with the bathroom facilities. There were rails right where I needed them and as a tall person this helped significantly, there were shelves that were accessible for both wheelchair users and others with limited mobility which made getting dressed easier. My only fault would be the lack of a seat in the bathroom which would have made that process much easier. I would not however, under any circumstances recommend the restaurant on the ground floor. It took 45 minutes to get drinks to our table and we then waited another hour to be served our meals. In that time 5 other tables were seated, served and had left, despite us bringing this to their attention the service was still dreadful and I will not be returning for a meal.

10

Janine

20 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great experience, quiet and comfortable room, amazing meal in the restaurant downstairs!

10

Salvatore

2 Feb 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Everything about this place was brilliant from the cleanliness and conditions to the great service and convenience. The staff are friendly and the pub makes by far, the best parmigiana in Victoria!

8

Sascha

7 Dec 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

No breakfast but good options around the corner.

10

Charles

22 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly, efficient service. A comfortable room. An outstanding meal in the bistro.

10

Erin

16 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely accommodation with a fabulous restaurant attached. Excellent, friendly staff too

10

Margaret

8 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful old pub with quality renovations. Fabulous dining room with lots of options and a great wine list. The bedrooms were on the small side but very comfortable and so nice to see a coffee machine. It was a very convenient stay on our trip to Melbourne. The staff were very helpful and friendly.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $91	2 $91	3 $90
4 $85	5 $89	6 $90	7 $90	8 $90	9 $90	10 $90
11 $85	12 $93	13 $89	14 $89	15 $95	16	17 $89
18 $84	19 $91	20 $97	21 $98	22 $97	23 $91	24 $97
25 $84	26 $91	27 $96	28 $91	29 $89	30 $89	31 $97

Criterion Hotel Sale

About this property

Location

Room options

Standard Double Room

Queen Room (Disabled Access Room)

Deluxe King Room

Studio Room with Bath

Guest reviews of Criterion Hotel Sale

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

FAQs about Criterion Hotel Sale

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28 $103	29 $103	30 $96