Sydney’s top boutique hotels have style in spades
From historic boarding houses to nineteenth century pubs, the city’s most luxurious lodgings are making the old new again.
Few cities in Australia are as architecturally varied as Sydney. While admiring the curve of an inter-war building or the exposed brick facade of the city’s oldest kiln may be satisfying on a walking tour, take it from us: staying inside its hallowed halls is an experience that’s hard to beat.
The good news is that in Sydney, that experience is readily available, because the best boutique hotels happen to be situated in some of its most interesting heritage buildings. This is why the city is such a drawcard for design nerds and history buffs, as well as aesthetes looking for a refined place to stay. Because having a place to rest your head is one thing. But sleeping a converted mansion with copious amounts of charm and a background story to match? Now that’s our idea of an enriching stay.
Here, we check into eight of the city’s best boutique hotels, and discover more about the architecture that shapes them.
Crystalbrook Albion
Inconspicuously located on one of Surry Hills’ slender alleyways, a meander from the neighbourhood’s best wine bars, restaurants and boutiques, Crystalbrook Albion feels a bit like a best-kept secret. The hotel is tucked inside a 1903 heritage red brick building that has lived multiple lives: it was originally part of the Marist Brothers convent, before being repurposed as a 10-room boarding house. When the Crystalbrook Hotel Group came across the site, it was in need of love. So they partnered with architects Terence Yong and Chris Haughton to transform the building’s neglected halls into a state of the art boutique hotel. Interior designers Connie Alessi and Cressida Kennedy worked their magic soon after by complimenting the original structure with Art Deco flourishes and ’70s-inspired prints.
History aside, the hotel’s rooms strike a balance between fashionable and cosy. Contemporary artist Nicholas Samartis has curated the hotel’s eclectic collection which spans ’60s Bolotowsky prints, an Egon Schiele nude and even some Edward Hopper landscapes.
Before you check out: Savour sunrise or sunset on the hotel’s private rooftop terrace, which boasts stellar views.
Read our full review: Crystalbrook Albion Guest house, Surry Hills.
The Albert
The Albert was a private residence before it became the Lower North Shore’s most charming boutique hotel. Built in 1886, the Victorian-style property was given a cutting-edge refurb to breath new life into its classic yet colourful interior. The 26-room hotel overlooks Mosman’s Middle Harbour, with the family-friendly Balmoral Beach and top-rated restaurants like Ormeggio at The Spit, Chiosco, and Public Dining all close by.
Here, there’s no need to sidle up to a cafe — The Albert’s chef-cooked breakfast is the area’s most delicious morning offering.
Before you check out: Visit nearby art spaces like Harvey Galleries and Mosman Art Gallery, which are some of Sydney’s most underrated places to purchase (or simply appreciate) contemporary art.
Read our full review: The Albert, Mosman.
Ace Hotel Sydney
The United State’s hippest hotel group has just arrived in Sydney, and the locals (and international visitors, for whom Ace is their home away from home) couldn’t be more thrilled. At 257 rooms, it’s bigger than your typical ‘boutique’ hotel. But thoughtful touches to the interior, which is designed by Melbourne’s Flack Studio, along with impossibly cool perks like a wine program curated by Newtown liquor merchants P&V, earn the Ace a spot on this list.
The building’s bones are also alluring. It was the site of Australia’s earliest kiln discovery, where convict potter Jonathan Leak produced domestic pottery as early as the 1820s. Almost 100 years later, the brick structure that remains today was built to house the factory and distribution centre of Washington H. Soul Pattinson Chemists. With an artist-in-residence program that honours and celebrates the immemorial contribution of First Nations creatives to Australian culture, the Ace isn’t done writing this Surry Hill outpost’s history.
Before you check out: Pull up a stool at the lobby cocktail bar and order the Bush Honey Old Fashioned for a local twist on the New York classic.
The Terminus
It was the first public house in Pyrmont. And today, The Terminus hasn’t lost its spirit of vivaciousness — its downstairs bar and Vera’s cocktail lounge is one of the area’s most popular spots for date nights and delicious bites. But unlike some pubs that refer to their cramped lodgings as boutique hotel-worthy, The Terminus’ elegant rooms are bright, airy and beautifully outfitted with artful decor.
The hotel was built in 1841, and from its origins as the original Coopers Arms to its days as a popular bikie haunt, there’s no disputing its walls have been privy to some serious debauchery. Sitting on one of its plush bar stools, you’d never know. But those secret histories form a big part of its allure.
Before you check out: Don’t forget to book a table. The restaurant’s food is just as delectable as the hotel’s ambience.
Paramount House Hotel
Paramount House is so much more than a hotel. Since opening in 2018, its cafe, Paramount Coffee, has become the neighbourhood destination for meet-ups between the city’s creative types, while its state of the art rooftop gym regularly hosts group sessions with some of the world’s most in-demand fitness instructors. But this isn’t to say the hotel’s accommodation is secondary to its vibe. Situated inside an industrial-style warehouse that was the former headquarters of Paramount Picture Studios, its rooms are reminiscent of New York lofts that have been treated to the most fashionable face lifts. The staff are friendly and helpful, Aesop is on tap and the hotel’s tagline, ‘to be a guest is to be a friend’, also rings true.
Before you check out: Catch an indie flick at the art deco Golden Age Cinema downstairs, and collect a neighbourhood guide from reception for local recommendations that won’t disappoint.
The Old Clare
Come for The Old Clare’s state-of-the-art refurb, and stay for the multitude of cultural destinations that are clustered close by in the artistic hamlet of Chippendale — White Rabbit Gallery and award-winning restaurants like Ester and, of course, the hotel’s own Automata are a skip and a jump away. The hotel spans two iconic heritage-listed buildings, and was once the site of Kent Brewery, where ‘Tooth’s Beer’ was crafted.
Returning guests refer to the outpost simply as ‘Clare’, because the hotel’s friendliness is such that you’ll want to get on a first-name basis. And when you return home from a day spent eating, drinking and sightseeing, you’ll rest easy in its warm, wood-panelled rooms.
Before you check out: Take a dip in the rooftop pool. If you’re an early riser, we recommend catching the sunrise from its edge.
Read our full review: Hip transplant for a heritage charmer.
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
Overlooking Sydney’s sparkling harbour, it’s hard to come across a more iconic lodging than Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. Its coastal-style rooms boast panoramic views of the nearby headlands, where sunsets rarely fail to disappoint. Here, a stay can be as action-packed or laid-back as you desire. While the hotel’s sandy shoreline and proximity to coastal walks ring with relaxation, its lively, sun-soaked outdoor bar is also a destination in and of itself.
Before you check out: Book a long lunch at the Beach Club and invite a group of your dearest (and most fun) friends.
Read our full review: Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Sydney.
Spicers Potts Point
Spicers is the ideal place from which to drink up the charisma of Potts Point. Consisting of 16 stylish rooms, which merge the building’s classic heritage character with a sense of pared-back luxury, it’s one of those hotels you check into, stay a few nights in and ultimately decide that you’d like to extend. To revel in the real, lived-in Potts Point experience, book its Victoria Terrace Suite.
Before you check out: Try one of Spicers’ bespoke experiences. The hotel’s private harbour and city tour is one of the best ways to take in the surrounds.