OXFORD HOUSE
Meet the cool new kid on Sydney’s hotel scene.
As befits an urban sanctuary, Oxford House (oxfordhouse.com.au) does a good job of hiding out. But when you do find the unassuming door to Sydney’s hippest boutique stay on Paddington’s busy main drag, you’ll be drawn right into its orbit.
Back in the day, the building was a motel and this 56-room revival leans into cool nostalgia. Timber panelling meets original popcorn ceilings and curvaceous bouclé chairs. Abundant natural light spills over a palette of sunbaked caramel and cream, giving even compact standard rooms an airy feel. In two Oxford Terrace Suites, you’ll also find a separate lounge area and a balcony with views across rooftops to the harbour.
George Gorrow, ex-creative director of Ksubi and co-founder of much-loved Bali stay The Slow, was brought in on the hotel’s styling. Metal sculptures by Adam Turnbull hang in hallways; mad collages or acid-lime, pink and purple paintings from Clare Wigney surprise you around corners.
On this stretch of Oxford Street, you’re in the sweet spot between Paddington’s pubs and Darlinghurst’s disco balls. The eat streets of Surry Hills are five minutes away by taxi.
But you don’t have to go out. On level one, a pool and bar serves a Palm Springs mood and mezcal Margaritas. Lolling on a day bed is irresistible and Fridays and Saturdays are a scene. “But it’s not too sceney,” says Public group general manager Joanne Sproule. “We want to keep it an easy spot for locals to drop in for drinks before dinner or a movie at the Verona cinema nearby. Business guests can feel like they’re coming home for a tinny and a club sandwich after work.”
For a more substantial meal, slip into a booth at the diner-meets-bistro on street level. The menu by executive chef Tyler Preston (ex-Chin Chin in Melbourne) swings from Southern-style chicken burgers to delicate octopus confit doused in sherry vinegar and sticky pork belly.
Back in your room, there are Marshall speakers and a mini fridge full of ideas. Limoncello vodka seltzer? Or Billy Button vermentino? Go on, one more nightcap (there’s also nutrient-infused Plant Water for tomorrow morning).