Located in the historic Rocks, the immaculate Harbour Rocks Hotel might just be Sydney’s most perfect small hotel. A sensitive design highlights the building’s fascinating industrial past. It just needs a catchier name.
The Location
Often called the birthplace of modern Australia, The Rocks occupies a narrow rocky promontory (hence its name) overlooking Sydney Harbour. This quaint collection of sandstone buildings and cobbled alleyways is now one of the city’s most popular tourist precincts, with a good range cafes, restaurants, pubs, fashion outlets and souvenir shops. Nearby attractions include Sydney Observatory, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) and BridgeClimb Sydney, while Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House and the Botanic Garden are all within easy walking distance of the hotel.
The Space
If you are looking for cavernous lobbies, liveried doormen and chandeliers, the Harbour Rocks Hotel is not for you. Compact, understated and brimming with personality, this 59-room property feels like home the moment you arrive. The former 19th Century wool store has been tastefully converted into a sophisticated city pad, complete with its own cocktail bar, restaurant and Parisian-style café. The décor is understated, showcasing the buildings original sandstone walls, exposed wooden beams and other remnants of its industrial past. Despite its busy surroundings the atmosphere is serene and assured, like an ocean liner sailing through calm seas.
The Room
Entry-level Heritage Rooms will suit travellers who expect to spend most of their time exploring the city. The colour scheme is sober with good quality beds and furniture and some tasteful prints on the wall; bathrooms are on the smallish side but spotlessly clean. Open-plan Studio Suites are ideal if you need a little more space, while the luxurious Harbour View Suite on the top floor comes with its own galley kitchen, a deluxe bathroom and a private rooftop terrace area.
The Food
Despite its modest dimensions this hotel offers a buzzy café, stylish cocktail bar and impressive restaurant called Tayim (Hebrew for “tasty”) which serves contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine. Sharing dishes include Kingfish carpaccio with labneh, pistachio and ginger and roast beef with toum, shifka, grilled onion and tomato seeds. There is live music in the nearby alleyway on Friday and Saturday evenings. The restaurant doubles as the hotel’s breakfast room, while Creperie Suzette on Harrington Street opens daily from 8am to 2pm.
Stepping Out
The Rocks is a time capsule of colonial life in late 18th Century Australia. Thanks to a passionate conservation effort in the 1970s the rabbit warren of terrace houses, corner pubs, tiny alleyways and bond stores is little changed since those days. Today the historic precinct is alive with swish restaurants, fashion boutiques and art galleries – new arrivals include Hickson House Distillery and the Chateau Tanunda Cellar Door. While the weekend street markets attract a good crowd The Rocks is generally pretty laid-back and handy for many of the great city landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Garden and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The revamped Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) is a two-minute walk from the front door of your hotel.
The Verdict
It’s easy to see why guests return again and again to this charming little hotel, which offers elegantly simple rooms, a fantastic location, good service and a calming atmosphere.
Essentials
Harbour Rocks Hotel, 34 Harrington Street, The Rocks, NSW 2000, Australia. Phone: +61 2 8220 9999. From A$329 a night, with breakfast not included. See harbourrocks.com.au
Picture credit: Tom Evangelidis & Hamilton Lund