With the arrival of the boutique Marsden Hotel and its Onyx Grill in Burwood this week, its newly signed chef believes he was tailor-made for the job.

Florida-born Jeffrey Forrest was the opening chef at The Refinery, a boutique hotel in New York City's Garment district.

"Refinery is 90 rooms, Marsden is 90 rooms. It has a swanky bar and a rooftop, they are incredibly similar," he says.

Forrest, who cut his teeth at Big Apple institution Le Cirque and the SoHo Grand, is comfortable in an environment of accommodation and food venues.

"I was involved [so early] I designed the kitchens at Refinery," he says.

Forrest, who followed his Australian partner to Sydney, is a little later to the project this time. "I on-boarded yesterday," he says.

The opening menu is still a work in progress, but it'll include a beef carpaccio with shiso dressing.

"There'll be fire-grilled meats at Onyx Grill," Forrest says.

Skye Bar will have its own menu and a strong oyster line-up.

Burwood might seem a left-field choice for a boutique hotel with rooftop pool and a bar with a roaming Aperol trolley, despite the fact the suburb was a resting point for horse-drawn travel to Parramatta.

But the inner-west suburb has demand for accommodation and a thriving food scene. What's not to like?

Onyx Grill is open Mon-Thu 5pm-late; Fri-Sun noon-3pm and 5pm-late; Skye Bar is open daily 10am-late.

60 Burwood Road, Burwood, marsdenhotels.com.au