{"id":905,"date":"2025-04-20T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-20T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/?p=905"},"modified":"2025-04-22T12:00:15","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T12:00:15","slug":"ace-hotel-sydney-review-metro-checks-in-to-five-star-luxury-for-113-a-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/20\/ace-hotel-sydney-review-metro-checks-in-to-five-star-luxury-for-113-a-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Ace Hotel Sydney review \u2014 Metro checks in to five-star luxury for \u00a3113 a night"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A city break dream with a secret hidden on the roof (Picture: Ace Hotel Sydney)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If hipsters have a heaven, the Ace Hotel Sydney<\/a> is surely it.<\/p>\n

Perched between the CBD<\/a> and Sydney\u2019s coolest hipster neighbourhood<\/a>, this hotel in a former brick factory is achingly cool, with retro decor, stylish staff and a tantalising secret hidden on the roof.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s five-star luxury at a surprisingly affordable price, and with top-class transport links and some of Australia<\/a>\u2019s trendiest spots just steps away, this might be the best city break hotel I\u2019ve ever stayed in.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the vibe? Paint us a picture<\/h2>\n

First, let me give you the lowdown on location. Right on the edge of Surry Hills, the Ace Hotel is the perfect base for first-time visitors to the Harbour City.<\/p>\n

Metres from the door you\u2019ve got your pick of some of Sydney\u2019s top restaurants (Pellegrino 2000, where Taylor Swift<\/a> ate on her Eras Tour<\/a>, is a three-minute walk).<\/p>\n

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An eight-minute stroll will take you to Central Station, where you can catch trains to Circular Quay for the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, or out to Bondi Junction and the beaches of the Eastern Suburbs.<\/p>\n

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In the lobby, 70s retro reigns (Picture: Ace Hotel Sydney)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The hotel has excellent transport links to Sydney\u2019s top attractions (Picture: Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Plus, you\u2019re about a 20-minute taxi from the airport (make sure to Uber<\/a> \u2014 in Sydney, they\u2019re cheap). <\/p>\n

Now for the hotel itself.<\/p>\n

Taking cues from its former life as a brick factory, the building is the epitome of industrial chic: exposed concrete floors, soaring ceilings and elegant artwork juxtaposed with clunky beams.<\/p>\n

The decor is 1970s retro, with warm hues of terracotta and mustard. The bar is at once modern and nostalgic; there are low-level brown leather sofas and bare lightbulbs overhead.<\/p>\n

In a word, the vibe screams hipster.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s refreshing, then, that the staff are so friendly. Check-in is seamless, and from start to finish it\u2019s service with a smile.<\/p>\n

What about the facilities?<\/h2>\n

As is true of the surrounding neighbourhood, the Ace Hotel Sydney is all about food.<\/p>\n

At the back of the foyer is Good Chemistry, a cafe by day and bar by night. Then there\u2019s Loam, a tasty go-to for breakfast, lunch and dinner (try the poached eggs with avocado, simple but delicious).<\/p>\n

But the crowning glory is Kiln, a fine dining restaurant hidden on the 18th-floor rooftop.<\/p>\n

This vibey spot, which boasts a retractable roof, linen-draped walls and sleek mood lighting, is big news on Sydney\u2019s food scene.<\/p>\n

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Here you\u2019ll find one of the best (and from \u00a352pp, one of the most affordable) tasting menus I\u2019ve tried in years.<\/p>\n

Headed up by acclaimed chef Beau Clugston, each dish is a brilliant blend of Scandi and Australian ingredients (think kooky, experimental flavours like green ants and paper bark). <\/p>\n

Standouts include sticky coconut rice, a plate of tomato, strawberry and oyster, and kangaroo tartare (don\u2019t knock it \u2019til you\u2019ve tried it).<\/p>\n

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Kiln is one of Sydney\u2019s most exciting new restaurants (Picture: Nikki To)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Otherwise, facilities are on the light side. There is a gym, but you won\u2019t find much more than a few weights and a treadmill.<\/p>\n

This is a hotel to use as a base and a top-class watering hole: you won\u2019t be doing much lounging around here, there\u2019s a whole city to see.<\/p>\n

Ok, what are the rooms like?<\/h2>\n

With that in mind, most rooms at the Ace Hotel Sydney are bright, comfortable and straightforward.<\/p>\n

The bathroom might raise an eyebrow: in standard rooms, you\u2019re met with a sink as soon as you enter. The small toilet and rainfall shower are housed separately on either side of a vanity area.<\/p>\n

It feels strange at first, but it\u2019s fine once you get used to it. There are bathrobes, which is a nice touch.<\/p>\n

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Rooms are compact but bright (Picture: Ace Hotel Sydney)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In keeping with the vintage vibes, most have a record player and a small selection of vinyls. Mine were jazz, which I like, but you can always ask for alternatives at reception.<\/p>\n

Overall the rooms do what they say on the tin. If you\u2019re looking for something a bit fancier, it\u2019s worth splashing out on a more generously sized suite.<\/p>\n

These are true five-star, with marble bathrooms, deep sunken tubs, open terraces and guitars adorning the walls.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tMetro checks in…\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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The team at Metro Travel have been all around the world this year, reviewing everything from all-inclusive resorts in Greece to five-star skyscraper hotels in Japan.<\/p>\n

You can find our top picks here: <\/p>\n