STAY | The Old Clare Hotel | Sydney

The Old Clare Hotel has dusted itself off and has cleaned up pretty well indeed! Stretching across two iconic heritage-listed buildings – The Clare Hotel pub and the Carlton & United Breweries Administration Building is now a 62 room boutique hotel retaining the buildings long Sydney heritage with all of the fit outs of a luxury boutique hotel. The rooms have all of the creature comforts we love - Nespresso machine, extra large King Beds, magazines, and  bespoke linen.

Situated along the fabulous and vibrant re-developed Kensington Street precinct, The Old Clare Hotel is the first Australian hotel from the unconventional Unlisted Collection in Chippendale, right by Sydney's UTS and a stones throw from the CBD and Broadway. This area with its rich and varied history is home to some amazing restaurants, art galleries, design studios, cafés and bars.  The Old Clare Hotel is home to three new restaurants from esteemed chefs Sam Miller, Clayton Wells and Jason Atherton. Spice Alley is just across the path, with an abundance of noodle and dumpling bars, dessert bars and some of Sydney’s most colourful and cute little terrace homes.  

Kensington Street Social provides flexibility, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, from sharing plates and snacks to multi-course meals. From the mind and hardworking hands of Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton.

Its important to remember to look up when you are walking through the Old Clare Hotel. Whether it be the contemporary windows contrasting with the original brick work, vertical gardens towering high above, or the original lighting and marble detail in some of the rooms, there is something unique in every corner. The perfect blend of old meets new, with enough of the building's original features in tact, with all of the modern luxuries you expect from a Sydney hotel. The original Pub downstairs is the perfect place to drop in for a casual cold beer. 

The Old Clare's passionate and super helpful concierge Martin Bray took us for a tour of the building, including this beautiful polished concrete staircase leading up to the private board room and meeting facilities. This is probably my second favourite feature of the hotel. Can you guess what the first one might be...

...the rooftop pool and bar of course. Equipped with an uber cool cocktail bar and crowd to match, this is the place to chill out over a Aperol Spritz and watch the sun go down over the city. There was such a great vibe on Sunday afternoon, and the next morning when the crowds had all gone back to work, I had the pool all to myself.

We stayed in one of the fabulous Clare Rooms, with the original marble lobby and corniced ceiling in the former C.U.B administration building lobby, with the original curved glass window and the original Tooth & Co sign visible from the street. Loved the old bikes in theology too. 

All photos by Natalie Hayllar of Eat Read Love

The Old Clare Hotel is the perfect place for your next Sydney 'staycation', or for the interstate tourist or business traveller looking for a stylish and more friendly relaxed alternative to a big chain hotel. With walking distance to the heart of Sydney, fabulous eateries, three restaurants on site, a rooftop bar and luxury suites and rooms, this historic part of Sydney has been lovingly restored into a cool and classy boutique hotel. Walking along the Central Park precinct, and looking up I had the strange but welcome sensation of being in Brooklyn NYC. Go and check it out, I know you will love it. For bookings go to The Old Clare Hotel

Unlisted Collection: is the umbrella brand that comprises unique, high quality boutique hotel properties and restaurants in Singapore, London, Shanghai, and now in Sydney, including seven boutique hotels and twenty restaurants in these major cosmopolitan cities, including London’s Town Hall Hotel, Singapore’s New Majestic Hotel and Shanghai’s The Waterhouse at South Bund.  

Happy Weekend. 

Natalie

x

*Eat Read Love was a guest of The Old Clare Hotel.