When Josh and Julie Niland – the couple behind Sydney’s boundary-pushing sustainable seafood restaurant, Saint Peter – announced that they’d be opening hotel rooms above the new iteration of their Paddington restaurant, foodies across the nation rejoiced. The chance to stay the night above one of the best special occasion spots in the city is a game-changer for anyone more than a stumble away from the stunning Inner East gem. And in fact, even if you live down the street, the temptation to stay in Saint Peter’s carefully curated, tasteful embrace will be strong – when the doors to the 14 new boutique bedrooms finally open at the end of this month.
Honouring the heritage of the building – formerly a beloved neighbourhood pub, whose original structure dates back to 1890 – the hotel will continue its former name: The Grand National (with the “by Saint Peter” added to the end to avoid confusion). Featuring 14 individually designed rooms, The Grand National by Saint Peter looks set to join the ranks of Sydney’s best luxury hotels – with designer interiors and an exclusive-to-guests breakfast menu to rival the city's best cafés.
“When approaching the hotel, we paid as much attention to detail to the design and furnishing as we did with the restaurant. This is our first venture into being hoteliers, and we knew that we wanted to apply the same level of care to the rooms so that they weren’t just an addition to Saint Peter but a destination in their own right,” says Julie Niland.
As an ode to the building’s heritage, the rooms have a timeless, William Morris-style maximalism: velvet headboards are set against plush, colourful carpets, and walls are lined with patterned wallpaper illuminated by brass light fittings. Sydney-based interior design firm Studio Aquilo worked with the Nilands to bring the space to life – preserving heritage features like marble fireplaces and vintage tiling with a refined sense of very-Paddington elegance. And though the ornate aesthetic of the rooms differs from the pared back, muted grandeur of the restaurant, Saint Peter’s signature “whole fish philosophy” is still present – with fish-fat candles and ceramics made from fish bones. The neighbouring Olsen Gallery is responsible for curating the hotel’s art collection, with paintings and prints from celebrated and emerging Australian artists alongside black-and-white sketches by Ken Done, the king of capturing Sydney’s magical cityscapes.
Josh Niland – one half of the ridiculously accomplished husband-and-wife team – describes the hotel as “a thoughtful 360-degree hotel experience” – guests can dine in the restaurant, retire to bed (with a handmade chocolate placed on each pillow) then emerge in the morning for what we’re confident will be one of the best hotel breakfasts in the city (featuring spanner crab omelette, and only available for hotel guests).
Room rates start at $600 per night and include breakfast and a complimentary non-alcoholic mini bar. Reservations are open now, with stays available from Friday, January 31. You can learn more and book over here.
Up for travelling further afield? Josh and Julie Nilad are opening an oceanside restaurant in a luxury Hamilton Island hotel later this year.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.