© Ace Hotel / Photography: Anson Smart

A slice of Seattle cool in Surry Hills. Indeed, the Ace Hotel‘s hotly anticipated arrival, halfway across the globe, in what’s arguably Sydney‘s most hyped suburb, is a reality. Developed in collaboration with Golden Age Group, a local property development firm, the hotel forms part of one of the latter’s most recent projects which sees the historic Tyne House brick factory on Wentworth Avenue paired with a newly built 18-storey tower. Ace Hotel Sydney is the cult hotel chain’s tenth outpost worldwide – as you know, Ace Hotel London fell victim to the global pandemic and sadly closed its doors in 2020 – and was designed by Australian architecture practice Bates Smart, while most of the interior settings have been created by Flack Studio in Melbourne. Interestingly, the latter practice drew inspiration from The Australian Ugliness, an influential 1960s publication by architect Robin Boyd (1919-1971), and highly acclaimed Indigenous Australian artist Albert Namatjira‘s landscape paintings.

The lofty lobby of Ace Hotel Sydney is an alluring social hub with the prerequisite settings to keep many a party going. Large floor-to-ceiling windows allow in floods of daylight, a variety of cozy nooks provide ample seating, and when thirsty or peckish, the nearby cocktail bar and lounge, aptly called The Lobby, readily offers craft cocktails, wines by the glass and beers, in addition to snacks and shareable small plates. The property features 257 guest rooms in no less than ten different categories and sizes, and oozes a similar in-the-know, hipster style aesthetic that was first coined by the hotel chain’s very first property in the American Northwest little over two decades ago. Needless to say, the guest rooms are stylish, comfortable, and last but not least, overtly homey thanks to a simple yet thoughtful design and use of subdued materials. At 78 sqm. (840 sq.ft.), the Ace Suite is the hotel’s top spot, and comes with alluring extras such as a king bed, separate living room with a large U-shaped lounge area, custom bar and kitchen, and an Ace x Rega turntable and a D’Angelico acoustic guitar add that inimitable Ace Hotel touch.

We already mentioned the lobby bar, but there’s more fun to be had at Ace Hotel Sydney. Situated along the hotel’s Foy Lane entrance is Good Chemistry, a day-to-night cafe and bar housed in a former chemist’s, and offering an airy space to enjoy a morning coffee or to gather with friends for a glass as the evening sets in. Also situated on the ground floor is Loam, a sister establishment of the namesake dining spot at Ace Hotel Los Angeles, serving a thoughtful menu of simple yet tasty dishes made with the fresh quality ingredients. On the top floor sits Kiln, a gourmet restaurant helmed by chef-partner Mitch Orr and designed by Melbourne-based Fiona Lynch Office, featuring a setting that takes cues from Australian landscapes and using only local and sustainable materials. Planning an event? The hotel boasts three highly flexible events spaces, and each one is adaptable for everything from an intimate wedding, to culinary workshops, record launches, dinners, receptions, and other events.

Ace Hotel Sydney
47-53 Wentworth Avenue (Surry Hills)
Sydney, NSW 2000
Telephone: +61 2 80998799

© Ace Hotel / Photography: Anson Smart