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Sydney has unveiled the city’s latest addition to its upscale aparthotel scene with the grand re-opening of the new-look Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall, which has recently emerged from a comprehensive refurbishment that left no corner or space untouched.
The refurbishment is part of a broader revitalisation roll-out across other Adina properties, and Bates Smart Interior Design were enlisted to helm the facelift of the 144-key address. Tasked with creating elegant spaces that are as stylish as they are liveable, the firm took a ‘less is more’ approach, designing and dressing the studios and suites with soft tones, atmospheric lighting, bespoke joinery and textured furnishings. Toga Far East Hotels (TFE), the parent company behind Adina as well as A by Adina and Vibe Hotels, also donated the property’s old furnishings to a local furniture rescue charity, passing everything from kettles to mirrors to new homes rather than landfill.
Stepping into my Premier One Bedroom Apartment, I immediately clock that there is as much space as there are surprises. The first, and what really sets the apartment apart, is the kitchen. Tucked around a corner, the full-sized kitchen is an unexpected bonus, giving guests the option to cook should the mood strike. With its mirrored splashback and sleek black countertops, the kitchen has good looks with functionality to boot courtesy of Smeg appliances, induction cooktop and coffee pod machine. A tall, polished cylindrical island doubles as standing breakfast bar and storage for pantry essentials. There’s a good Woolworths a few minutes’ walk away near Town Hall for stocking up on any groceries, or there are several convenience stores nearby if snacks not self-catering is your style.
The next surprise: a balcony! Concealed behind a stretch of gauzey grey curtain, which I draw back with a flourish, is a corner balcony that adds even more space to an already spacious stay. I can see across the skyline from my 28th-floor vantage point and have views of the water around Darling Harbour too. Although I didn’t do it myself, this would be quite the spot for a morning coffee or something stronger in the afternoon.
While the revamped apartment itself is more than enough to make any check-in more than comfortable, the hotel’s facilities add even more value to the stay. Take the elevator to the 9th floor for the business centre and well-equipped meeting rooms or, if you have cardio not calls on the brain, this is where you’ll also find the fitness centre and swimming pool. Cushioned sunlounges are clustered around the swimming pool in the open-air yet covered terrace space. The pool itself is a good size, ideal for a few lazy laps or quick dips to escape the Sydney humidity. In the gym, there are a few machines (treadmill, rower, elliptical) and bench, plus a rack of various weights and stack of soft mats.
While there are currently no in-house dining options available, the hotel’s food and beverage concept is launching soon so keep an eye out. In the meantime, the restaurants and bars of King Street Wharf in Barangaroo are only a 15-minute walk away and some of the CBD’s top eats – King Clarence, Ho Jiak Town Hall, Palazzo Salato, Ragazzi – are even closer. The stars of Surry Hills’ dining scene are within strolling distance too: NOMAD, Firedoor, Poly, A.P House.
The reopening of Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall is a cracking start to the year for the city’s hotel scene. Only a short walk from some of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks, the hotel’s location is perfectly primed to cater to all visitors to the city. This address, coupled with its ‘home away from home’ transformation, make it a standout stay for those wanting a contemporary and comfortable base from which to explore all Sydney has to offer.
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The writer was a guest of the hotel.
