Ace Hotel Sydney: The achingly cool boutique hotel that’s a musician’s haven

The Rooms

Credit: Ace Hotel Sydney

1/6

Most boutique hotels, whilst always beautifully decorated, tend to be on the small side and so I braced myself for an aesthetic but cosy room. I was pleasantly surprised as I walked through the door of my Medium Plus room. 

The room struck a good balance of being cosy and inviting, without feeling claustrophobic, with the same warm, cinematic colour palette that I experienced in the rest of the building. Ambient light greets me as I draw the curtains and take in the textures and colours of the room.

If I wasn’t already feeling all the feels in the room, I spy a turntable and a couple of vinyl records, helping me romanticise my stay even more. Each record even comes with little notes, regaling tales of where the record was from, what to expect from it, and why you should listen to it. 

Credit: Ace Hotel Sydney

2/6

Interestingly, one of the records was recommended as a listen if you wanted to connect with something human – for weary and lonely travellers perhaps? I chose one and sunk into my plush bed as I the crisp tones of a guitar filled the room. 

When the record was done, I got up to move to my second favourite thing in the room – the wall-to-wall 60’s inspired sunken couch, a decor element that runs throughout the entire hotel. It makes for a great reading nook or people-watching out of the window as the sun sets.

Just a note, while I absolutely loved the lighting conditions in the room, it is dimmer than average. Just something to consider if you’re someone who needs a lot of strong lighting at night, especially in the bathrooms.

And with most hotels with sustainable initiatives, aside from shampoo, conditioner and soap, there are no extra amenities, though they are available by request at the front desk.

The Food

Credit: Ace Hotel Sydney

3/6

There are four dining establishments within Ace Hotel Sydney and I was lucky enough to try out three of them.

At the top of my list is their rooftop restaurant Kiln, a refurbished kiln turned modern-fusion restaurant with expansive views of the city. A beautiful French waiter ushered me to my corner seat which I was told, had one of the best views in the restaurant. It was the perfect place for a sexy third date, where you and your date would be forced to sit closely together, whispering in hushed tones, knees touching under the table. 

Kiln offers a seasonal sharing menu that draws inspiration from the flavour-rich cuisines of Italy, Japan and Southeast Asia. A solo, but greedy traveller, I try a sampling of sake cured mackerel, tarragon stir-fried with bone marrow and peas and smoked eggplant.

I dined there on a Monday night and the restaurant was packed the entire time I was there ‘til I left at 11pm. That tells you all you need to know about this restaurant. 

Credit: Ace Hotel Sydney

4/6

While I had missed out on breakfast at the all-day dining restaurant LOAM, I decided to check out Good Chemistry, a day-to-night cafe and bar situated along the hotel’s Foy Lane entrance.

The cafe is open all day, serving a dining menu of breakfast dishes, freshly baked pastries, market-driven salads, toasties, conservas and light bites, all complemented by pours of Sydney’s own Mecca Coffee and Tea Craft along with draught wine and beer.

In the evening, after a long day of roaming the city, I popped into The Lobby, a cocktail bar and lounge, that serves as the hotel’s central gathering space.

The Facilities

Credit: Ace Hotel Sydney

5/6

The only downside of the hotel is that there isn’t a pool, but, you are in Sydney after all which is home to some of the best beaches and rock pools in the world. There is a decent 24-hour gym though, so fitness buffs can get their pump on at all hours of the day. 

And if you want to take a piece of the hotel home with you, opposite the front desk sits Ace Hotel Sydney’s retail collection, a curated selection of apparel and gifts designed by in-house creative team, Atelier Ace.

Also featured in the ever-rotating collection — select items from guest rooms, including the custom-designed Rega record players and Tivoli radios, custom-designed Deiji Studios robes, a Flack Studio stool, and an Ace signature item: a custom-designed blanket, made in collaboration with New Zealand heritage wool weavers Stansborough and Flack Studio, featuring a colour palette inspired by the landscape paintings of Indigenous Australian artist Albert Namatjira.

The Neighbourhood

Credit: Ace Hotel Sydney

6/6

While Surry Hills might not be in the middle of the action (though a 15 minute walk will take you to Darlinghurst Harbour or Central Station, wandering its meandering streets will soon bring you to a slew of art galleries, design stores and plenty of restaurants and bars. Depending on the season you can also head to one of the neighbouring parks to take in the Jacaranda trees.

The weather was beautiful during my stay, so I traipsed down to Oxford Street where scores of cool boutiques like Libertine Parfumerie, Maison Essentiele, Zimmerman lined the streets, allowing me to score some cool pieces for my wardrobe.