12 beautiful boutique boltholes in Sydney, from secret rooftop terraces to restored picture houses
Sydney is a big – and sometimes brash – city, but it also knows how to do the small things well. Whilst the thriving foodie scene has paved the way for a rapidly increasing number of hole-in-the-wall coffee shops and wine bars, Sydney’s boutique hotel industry has followed, with leading architects and designers putting their touches on the city’s burgeoning collection of boutique hotels. From harbourside boltholes kitted out with interiors by the country’s leading stylists, to old-world estates with rococo rooms and in-house canine companions, the offering is as varied as the harbour city itself.
Paramount House Hotel
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
8Telegraph expert rating
Occupying one side of the old Paramount Pictures building and sharing the space with the Golden Age Cinema and Bar, this uber cool Surry Hills hotel has long been known as the trendiest spot in which to dine, drink, work and play – now it’s the hippest place to stay. The rooms are havens of style: picture Pakistani kilim rugs and bespoke couches by high-end Australian furniture maker Jardan offset with tiled floors, cement ceilings and exposed pipes. Breakfast is served at the Paramount House Coffee Project – a busy and much-loved haunt for locals that also shares the space with the hotel. An evening cocktail at Golden Age Cinema and Bar is a must. Read expert review From £134 per night
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Little Albion
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
8Telegraph expert rating
Little Albion, tucked discreetly down a lane in the humming heart of Sydney’s hipster district of Surry Hills, mixes clever architecture and on-trend design with a big dose of home-away-from-home charm. Behind the former convent’s heritage façade lie clever architectural tricks, bespoke finishes and artisan-made one-offs that help meet the homely design brief. The 35 rooms are all functional and beautiful, and vary in size from tiny crash pads to spacious suites with kitchenettes and dining areas. A compendium of the area's (many) great spots is available for guests; however, the rooftop is as good a place as any for an afternoon tipple as you watch the sun set over Sydney’s urban rooftops. Read expert review From £106 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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The Old Clare
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
8Telegraph expert rating
The Old Clare weaves Dada-esque interiors through the bones of two heritage buildings, creating a haven of modern luxury. The building’s former life as a brewer’s HQ has bequeathed the rooms with real drinking house artefacts set against exposed walls and unimaginably high ceilings. The rooftop pool and bar is more than a picturesque spot for a dip and a drink; sunrise yoga sessions are held here, as are evening art film screenings and live music. Chippendale has emerged as a burgeoning creative hub; the bordering suburbs are already known for their artsy locals and excellent drinking and dining options. For something closer to home the hotel has three outstanding restaurants: Automata, A1 and Barzaari. Read expert review From £118 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Establishment Hotel
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
8Telegraph expert rating
Establishment Hotel is Sydney's stylish headquarters for excellent eating, drinking and sleeping with a selection of Sydney’s top restaurants, bars and a nightclub all under one roof. Don’t let the façade fool you – this industrial heritage hotel boasts uber-contemporary interiors, a lobby reminiscent of Talitha Getty-era Marrakech, and designer rooms with chic finishes. The Garden, where breakfast is served, is a design highlight, with towering bamboo climbing exposed brickwork, and a soaring atrium-style glass ceiling. The rooms are styled in one of two colour schemes, dark or light. Read expert review From £167 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
8Telegraph expert rating
Uber-cool interiors in a converted wool store, paired with a kill-you-with-kindness approach to service, make this boutique Darling Harbour property both hip and homely. The building, built in 1888, was a former wool store and its bones are on display: rough-hewn beams, exposed brick walls, pipes and even the lift shaft are all bared with pride. The lobby is a buzzing atrium, housing reception and the in-house bar and restaurant Lo Lounge. Ovolo properties like to work out what is difficult about travelling then flip it, to make it easy. They also love giving you free things – the minibar is free; they leave you goody bags filled with lollies and popcorn and nuts, and there is a complimentary happy hour with free wine, beer and nibbles. Read expert review From £109 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Ovolo Woolloomooloo
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
8Telegraph expert rating
Perfectly placed in the heart of the historic Rocks district, this charming 51-room boutique hotel mixes old-world charm with a modern, industrial style, friendly service and fantastic location within walking distance of Sydney’s most famous landmarks. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an easy five-minute walk through the cobblestoned streets and the Opera House is just across “the pond.” Built by convicts, and part of the original site of Sydney’s very first hospital, the hotel has undergone many changes since it was first constructed in the early 1800s. The history is evident in the sandstone walls and exposed ceiling beams, and offset by industrial touches. Read expert review From £128 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Spicers Potts Point
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
8Telegraph expert rating
Spicers Potts Point, situated in an area underpinned by bars, restaurants and nightclubs, is impeccably styled, conveniently located, private and warm. The row of three terraces had been guesthouses since the 1880s, but the design team chose to eschew the quaint, Old World style of the Victorian properties in favour of a modern, clean and sophisticated aesthetic. The guestrooms are furnished in the mid-century Hamptons style that is currently in vogue yet forever timeless: custom-made armchairs and lounges upholstered in navy blue and a lot of marble and copper. The Victoria Terrace Suite has its own veranda with views out to the city, a fireplace and an in-room turntable with a selection of records. Read expert review From £107 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Hotel Palisade
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
7Telegraph expert rating
Located in historic Miller’s Point, the hotel sits beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The marriage of Hotel Palisade and buccaneer-spirited, celebrity-stylist Sibella Court, was always going to yield impressive results. After seven years of lying dormant, the heritage building has been restored with meticulous attention to detail and the stylist’s signature bowerbird touch. Of the nine rooms, four are north-facing and have spectacular views of the Bridge. The rooms are dressed in soft nautical colours and have seascape murals by Sydney artist Neill Mallard, queen-sized beds with linen upholstered bedheads, pristine marble-tiled bathrooms with elegant tapware, and amenities by Mor. Read expert review From £103 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Harbour Rocks Hotel
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
7Telegraph expert rating
Perfectly placed in the heart of the historic Rocks district, this charming 51-room boutique hotel mixes old-world charm with a modern, industrial style, friendly service and fantastic location within walking distance of Sydney’s most famous landmarks. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an easy five-minute walk through the cobblestoned streets and the Opera House is just across “the pond.” Built by convicts, and part of the original site of Sydney’s very first hospital, the hotel has undergone many changes since it was first constructed in the early 1800s. The history is evident in the sandstone walls and exposed ceiling beams, and offset by industrial touches. Read expert review From £116 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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The Hughenden
Woollahra, Sydney, Australia
7Telegraph expert rating
Occupying a prime position in the genteel yet urbane suburb of Woollahra is this boutique hotel set within a Victorian residence. Heavy on the Victorian grandeur, The Hughenden also employs just the right amount of quirk. The owner is an author of children's books and there are illustrations from her books throughout the residence as well as many tomes of literature. A portrait of Dame Edna in the lobby is an homage to Australiana while the bar is a masterpiece of Victorian decadence, with heavily framed artworks, crystal carafes, chesterfields and plush carpet. If Old World is your thing, it’s an absolute treat. All the rooms are furnished differently and range from very small, to spacious suites. Read expert review From £75 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Larmont Sydney
Potts Point, Sydney, Australia
7Telegraph expert rating
The Larmont Sydney is the perfect metaphor for Kings Cross; what used to be dark and brooding has come over all fresh, elegant, refined, and the hotel has replaced its signature dim lighting and dark décor with a bright – predominantly white – colour palette, marble surfaces, and soft textures. It’s fresh, new and designer-chic to the hilt. The slow and steady gentrification of Potts Point means your neighbourhood buzz is more likely to come from your espresso than the raging nightclubs the area used to be famous for. Proximity to the best sights, brand new interiors and sweeping views make this one of Sydney’s hottest residences. Read expert review From £91 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Ravesi's Hotel
Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
7Telegraph expert rating
The hotel is as close to Bondi beach as you can possibly get, just footsteps to the surf. The building pays homage to its Art Deco heritage; the famous arched windows have been painted flamingo pink, as has the interior of the wrap around terrace. Bold artwork by local artist Daimon Downey, parquetry floors and oversized potted plants compliment the open, breezy feel. Then there’s the view – which is what Ravesi’s has always been famous for – panoramic views of Bondi, the queen bee of Sydney’s beaches. Every bedroom – there are 12 in total – is unique and features Danish inspired furniture with bright splashes of colour to offset the calming neutral tones of the bed linen and carpet. Read expert review From £104 per night
