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Written by Paul Chai
With arrival of the new movie-themed 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia, the inner-city suburb of Paddington is once again ready for its close-up. The first 25hours to land in Australia, this brand seeks to celebrate the local area in which it is located and to honour the past of the buildings it occupies. For the Olympia, that means the fun-and-playful design takes is cues from its former life as a cinema and nightclub with technicolour public spaces, clever design details and public spaces that create a sense of community.
Lights, camera, action: a true passion for film
From the moment you check in at a VHS rental counter under a glowing VIDEOS sign, you know this is not your average chain hotel. Nodding to the storied walls of the Olympia that were once a cinema, a nightclub and a pop-up restaurant; you can spend a lot of time in the public spaces finding the movie references.
A wall of movie stills and candid photos will keep you entertained as you lounge in director’s chairs and white 60s egg chairs. There is a video artwork projected on the wall at the elevators and a library of movie-themed books climbing the staircase. Even checking out the VHS wall makes checking in fun.
Renegade or dreamer: rooms with their own personality
Apparently, I am a Renegade, at least that is the room I am given. Brooding black walls, primary-coloured chequered carpet and a bold original collage by Sydney artist Kubi Vasak are the key features, as well as a stuffed toy of Lori the punk lorikeet sitting in the centre of my bed. The dark-green tiled bathroom continues the moody vibe with a central wooden vanity space and shower and toilet on either side; snacks and soft drinks in the mini bar are complimentary for the first round and calls are made via an old-school rotary telephone. Not much of a rebel? The alternate floors are Dreamer rooms that offer a similar layout but with softer pink and blue tones.
A final bit of fun is the booklet of 25 reasons for housekeeping to enter or stay out, including “Imagine the Rolling Stones stayed in the room” (please clean) and “Sometimes it’s better not to know” (do not disturb).
A little bit of Monica… the rooftop glamour spot
Boudoir-red lighting and a neon sign telling you to “Call for a margarita” greet you at the rooftop bar, Monica, whose design harks back to the sleek and sexy Hollywood of the 1960s. The bar offers views across the Paddington’s terraced roofs with a DJ deck and barstools to help you get a look at thriving Oxford Street below. Try a Sunset Strip: premium Venezuelan rum, orange, lemon and charred spices.
Burn, baby, burn: the fire-led restaurant menu
Inspired by London’s wood-fired restaurant of the same name, Palomar on the ground floor of 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia celebrates cuisine from southern Europe, north Africa and the Levant but using locally sourced Australian ingredients. An appetiser might be grilled mushroom covered in za’atar and wrapped in an aromatic shiso leaf. The classic chicken schnitty is reimagined as bite-sized chicken pieces dipped in tartare sauce punched up tangy Bulgarian peppers; and charcoal-flecked southern calamari is brightened with the addition of preserved lemon. Next door is casual cafe, Jacob the Angel, which attracts Paddo locals for great coffee and no-queue Lune baked goods.
Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown: the bolthole bar
The Mulwray is named for Evelyn Mulwray’s character in Chinatown, the 70s pot boiler starring Jack Nicolson as seedy LA detective Jake Gittes. There’s a loucheness to the Mulwray bar too, with double-wide Chesterfields, orange armchairs and golden-framed bar stools facing the vintage-looking dark-wood bar. A wine bar/cocktail bar hybrid the Mulwray has a lengthy wine list or you can grab a Somewhere in Chinatown cocktail with tequila, strawberry, watermelon, rhubarb and lime with a dash of tea.
Discover Sydney
The writer was a guest of the hotel.
