This is a quirky, heritage-listed hotel with a vintage industrial feel, featuring original timber beams and exposed brick. As the name suggests, the building hails back to 1888 when it was originally a wool store. With its great location in Sydney’s Pyrmont, the hotel is a short walk from Chinatown, Star City, the Sydney Fish Market and Darling Harbour. Hotel highlights include wonderfully comfortable beds, free happy hour drinks for hotel guests, flexible check-out times and loaner iPads.
Suite: Junior Suite
Size: 35 square metres
Price: Rates start at $509 per night.
Website: ovolohotels.com/en/hotels/sydney/ovolo-1888-darling-harbour
Review by: Gary Allen
Why stay here?
This is a quirky, heritage-listed hotel with a vintage industrial feel, featuring original timber beams and exposed brick. As the name suggests, the building hails back to 1888 when it was originally a wool store. With its great location in Sydney’s Pyrmont, the hotel is a short walk from Chinatown, Star City, the Sydney Fish Market and Darling Harbour. Hotel highlights include wonderfully comfortable beds, free happy hour drinks for hotel guests, flexible check-out times and loaner iPads.
Rise and shine breakfast time
As soon as I saw my two favourite breakfast options, Sonoma bread and T2 tea, I was sold. There is also homemade granola, pastries, fruit, cheese, yogurt and an optional hot breakfast. With The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel playing in the background, we were happy to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere.
What’s for dinner?
There is no on-site restaurant, but several dining options nearby. Guests can frequent Lo Lounge throughout the day for finger food and refreshments, and share platters can be ordered for groups.
Time out
There is no spa at the hotel. All bookings include free 24-hour access to the nearby Snap Fitness gym in Pyrmont.
Wow factor
What really stood out in the Junior Suite was a bold, large-scale artwork by local artist Jasper Knight. That, and the suite’s three-metre-high ceilings, great bed and complimentary mini-bar with boutique beers, snacks and sweets made for a very enjoyable stay. And it was very cool to see the original signatures on the suite’s windowsill from the 1920s.
I would like an upgrade
Book the Shaken suite, a 49-square-metre, split-level space with private entrance from the street that has a king-sized bed upstairs, a downstairs living area suitable for up to eight guests and a cocktail bar and cellar fridge. Or the Stirred suite features floor-to-ceiling windows with a view over the city, a lounge area and cellar fridge, a walk-in rain shower with natural light and a rooftop patio with views of Darling Harbour and Pyrmont (59 square metres including patio). Rates for either option start from $699 per night.
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