As neighbourhoods go, Sydney’s Inner West has everything. Cool breweries, sexy wine bars, killer live music venues – and you’ll find them all within easy striking distance. But set about looking for a stylish place to stay in this corner of the city, and you’ll have considerably less success. Noting the area’s relative lack of boutique stays, the people behind one of the Inner West’s most beloved restaurants decided to take on the task themselves: opening up Australia Street Suites above Continental Deli (and its shiny new neighbours).
It was way back in 2015 that Continental Deli first opened its doors, immediately becoming a timeless institution. At Continental, it’s not just the tin-based treats that secured its position as a local’s favourite (though they’re worth noting): the intimate, warmly lit setting and fun, friendly team make this the kind of place you want to revisit again and again. It’s this ethos that the team (led by brothers-in-law Joe Valore and Elvis Abrahanowicz) have carried through to their new venues, which opened within the same historic building earlier this year. All-day eatery Flora is serving up fresh, creative plant-based dishes, Mister Grotto has firmly claimed its spot among the city’s best seafood restaurants, and Osteria Mucca has transformed a former butchery into an Italian eatery plating up fresh, handmade pasta and house-cured meats. Although the foodie offering at each venue varies, the vibe is consistent: intimate, unpretentious and authentically committed to good, honest hospitality. Now, following a full renovation of the building (H. May building, found just steps away from the buzz of King Street) you can stay the night too: with Australia Street Suites now open in the light-flooded rooms above the restaurants.
Designed to feel less like hotel rooms, more like your trendy friend’s designer apartment, the three artfully curated suites (titled Flora, MG and Mucca) feature Australian makers and brands: custom furniture from Jardan, mirrors by Marrickville-based McMullin and Co and art from NSW-based artists Toni Clark and Kyle Murrell. Kitchens are stocked with Single O coffee, and NSW-made Leif body products wait in the spa-style bathrooms. Each suite sleeps up to four guests, and can be booked separately or (if you plan ahead) reserved for a 12-person staycation in the beating heart of the Inner West.
Keen? Guests who book a stay of two nights or more in April, May or June 2025 will receive a $200 dining voucher to use at Continental Deli, Flora, Mister Grotto or Osteria Mucca. If you do the maths on that, you’re practically making money.
You can learn more and book over here.
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