Where to stay

The Old Clare Hotel (theoldclarehotel.com.au; from $213 per night), which opened last September, has a cool, industrial vibe. Housed in a former pub and brewery, its rooms have heritage timber paneling, custom desk lamps made from vintage machinery, and large windows with original frames. Use the hotel as a base to explore the surrounding white-hot arts neighborhood of Chippendale, where you’ll find cutting-edge galleries and local projects by starchitect Frank Gehry.