7 of the best boutique hotels in Surry Hills, Sydney
Once best known for its wine bars, restaurants and eclectic art scene, this inner city area is quickly emerging as the city’s go-to destination for boutique stays.
Sydney has long been a destination for boutique hotels, but one inner city locale has emerged as the epicentre for this type of unique lodging.
In Surry Hills and East Sydney, neighbourhoods known for their trendy wine-bars, top-tier restaurants and eclectic galleries, experiencing the perks of its bespoke hotels with all of the flourishes of a five-star retreat is readily available.
From brand new establishments to full-throttle revamps in some of the city’s oldest buildings, there’s no shortage of choice.
Here, we round up the best boutique hotels in Surry Hills and East Sydney.
–
Ace Hotel Sydney
Ace Hotel Sydney opened in inner-city Surry Hills early last year. The freshest property in an international portfolio that spans from Brooklyn to Kyoto, the Los-Angeles-based brand’s philosophy is very much alive in their new outpost. With cutting-edge design by Melbourne’s Flack Studio, the hotel’s interior is impossibly cool with a strong retro ‘70s vibe which is carried throughout its 257 rooms. Past the lobby, the art-filled bar is the perfect space to sip a margarita while enjoying the chilled beats from a DJ. A ground-floor restaurant, Loam, is a great spot for coffee and a bite of breakfast, but for something a little more substantial, Kiln, a rooftop restaurant by chef Mitch Orr (CicciaBella and ACME) features dishes such as calamari with salmoriglio and grilled ocean trout with pistachio, and killer city views.
The Strand Hotel
The Strand Hotel has successfully shaken up the accommodation game, transforming the concept of budget pub lodgings into stylish guestrooms with all of the trimmings of a boutique hotel. Set within a landmark Sydney hotel located on the corner of William and Crown streets, there are 17 rooms across five categories and two levels. Ranging in space and layout, the cool decor and monochromatic scheme make up for the building’s structural quirks, a reminder of the original floor plans. Downstairs, the Strand Bistro serves Parisian-inspired cuisine. Think Beluga bellinis, steak tartare with burnt onion and shimeji mushrooms and Toulouse sausages with mash. There’s also a communal library, a lounge and workspace area, while the Strand’s rooftop bar is ideal for enjoying a drink in the sun. By night, it plays host to a DJ on Friday and weekend evenings.
Paramount House Hotel
Since opening in 2018, Paramount House has become a thriving hub in the neighbourhood. Situated inside an industrial warehouse that was the former headquarters of Paramount Picture Studios, its rooms have the feel of being inside a New York City-style loft. With minimalist interior design and subtle industrial finishings, it is the perfect inner-city launch pad to exploring the nearby galleries, restaurants and cafes. Not that you have to travel far. Its cafe, Paramount Coffee, is constantly humming with loyal customers enjoying an all day menu of crumbed eggs on toast, skillet baked pancakes with mascarpone, poached stone fruit and maple syrup, fried chicken yuzu burgers and more. Catching a classic film screening in its cinema is the House’s recommended way to end the day.
The Old Clare
Spanning two iconic heritage listed buildings, The Old Clare’s refurbishment in 2015 saw it transform into a bolthole for visitors and Sydneysiders alike. Having maintained its popularity, the hotel is considered a cultural destination for those exploring its artistic neighbourhood. With White Rabbit Gallery down the road and award-winning restaurants like Ester a short walk away, it’s easy to spend the day eating, drinking and sightseeing. Inside the rooms are grand and filled with natural light with warm touches of wood-panelled walls. A rooftop pool invites guests to lounge out as they catch the sunset – or sunrise for the early risers – during their stay. The Clare bar is a refreshing take on the traditional pub with the standard Aussie classics on the menu. Its outdoor seating is ideal for soaking up the city vibes.
Oxford House
Oxford House is east Sydney’s new resort style dwelling with a focus on the level of comfort and flair usually associated with five-star hotels. Shaped around a bright courtyard and turquoise pool, the recently revamped 56-room hotel offers an oasis in the heart of bustling Oxford street. Guestroom amenities are top notch, with sage coloured robes to match the leafy green colour palette. A lounge area and ensuite complete the rooms, which open out to a small balcony overlooking the main strip. The main restaurant and pool bar, diner and courtyard are open to the public and have fast become popular destinations to grab a drink and dine over shared plates, such as salt cod croquettes and vanella burrata with ortiz anchovy and green olive tapenade.
202 Elizabeth
This brand new boutique hotel is Sydney’s new inner-city sanctum. Established in a 1980s blond-brick block building that was deemed impossible to develop due its problematic access, 202 Elizabeth has emerged as a tranquil escape from the hubbub of the bustling CBD. Its 28 guestrooms and suites feature a different design and layout but all have colourful wall coverings, ranging from pink roses to pineapples and palm fronds. A small Chinese screen separates the sleeping and living areas, which have plump armchairs, a sofa and a stone coffee table sitting on top of a luxe parquetry floor. On the sixth floor is a rooftop deck to take in the views of Surry Hills, while a courtyard downstairs is fitted out with Parisian chairs and greenery.
Crystalbrook Albion
Tucked inside a 1903 heritage red brick building on a slender Surry Hills’ alleyway, Crystalbrook Albion is a short stroll from some of the suburb’s best wine bars, restaurants and boutiques. The building, which previously was part of the Marist Brothers convent before becoming a 10-room boarding house, is now a state of the art boutique hotel where Art Deco collides with ‘70s-inspired touches. The rooms are a mix between fashionable and cosy, which house the hotel‘s eclectic collection of art, spanning ‘60s Bolotowsky prints and even some Edward Hopper landscapes. A landscaped rooftop offers alfresco seating among olive trees with views spanning the suburb, the perfect spot to wind down over a chilled glass of wine.