I was ready to be underwhelmed by Paramount House Hotel. Since it opened back in 2018, the impeccably-designed boutique hotel has been setting the standard for inner-city cool in one of Sydney’s trendiest suburbs. And until I spent a night there, I had a sense that the pared back, effortlessly tasteful approach might be coupled with something a little too cold for a comfy hotel stay – an aspirationally perfect aesthetic that couldn’t possibly translate into a nourishing experience. The result was very different – in a masterful stroke of hospitality excellence, the team at Paramount House Hotel make you feel at once inspired and at home.
You’re struck by the sense of the place the moment you arrive – the lobby sits behind the café on the first floor, and everything about the industrial-chic space screams ‘Surry Hills’. The suburb is Sydney’s creative-industry mecca, and the high density of offices has necessitated and bolstered the emergence of one of the city’s best dining scenes. Paramount Coffee Project – one of several venues housed in the heritage-listed building – is a case in point: creative brunch plates and specialty coffee are on tap here, and you can order to your room if you’re staying in house. In the Hollywood Quarter alone (the corner dominated by the Paramount House building, linking to the street that was named Sydney’s coolest in 2024) you’ll find a gloriously unpretentious institution of a pub, a handsome neighbourhood bar serving our Ed in Chief’s favourite Martini in the city (and a beef burger that’s been ranked the ninth best in the world) and a sizeable share of Sydney’s very best restaurants (including the one place that Taylor Swift was seen dining when she visited Sydney earlier this year).
And while there’s a lot to explore in the neighbourhood, it’s entirely possible to get a flavour of Surry Hills without even leaving the building. Co-owners Ping Jin Ng and Russell Beard are to thank for the DNA of the complex – bringing some of the city’s best hospitality concepts together in one stunning shell. On the subterranean level, you’ll find Golden Age Cinema: an arthouse cinema-cum-cockail bar known for its eclectic movie program and superb cocktails. The middle few levels are occupied by the café, hotel rooms, and offices, and on the roof you’ll find a gorgeous Pilates studio (guests can book a class at a special rate) and an open-air outpost of one of Sydney’s favourite cult bakeries. That’s all there to explore, but if you decide not to leave your hotel room, we get it.
Time Out stayed in one of their loft rooms: an airy space with floor-to-ceiling windows that open up onto a balcony, a mezzanine-style bedroom illuminated by a skylight and a Japanese bathtub hidden behind cream curtains. And while the design – all terrazzo tiles and smart, natural fibre finishes – reminds you that you’re somewhere very special, the thoughtful touches are the hotel’s way of saying that you’re special too. On check in, you’re offered a welcome drink (locally brewed beer or hibiscus iced tea), and in your room you’ll find a hand-written note and a leather luggage tag embossed with your initials. The mini-bar (affectionately stocked with locally-sourced treats like Ocello cheese and Wildflower beer) and wellness menu (you can book a red light mask or massage straight to your room) are further reflections of the care that’s been taken to make a stay here a magical escape as well as a celebration of the area.
If you’re too sold on the room to leave its beautifully curated confines, you can order room service from neighbourhood favourites Poly or Chin Chin, or arrange for a coffee delivery from Paramount Coffee Project to serve as your wake-up call.
There’s no hotel pool, but if you’re willing to venture outside for a morning dip, you can take the beach bag that hangs on the door of your room – packed with fluffy beach towels – and smash out a few laps at the local Prince Alfred Park Pool. Just pray that A.P House isn’t sold out of croissants by the time you get to back.
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