Pack an overnight bag and explore the luxurious boutique hotels of Potts Point.
Surrounded by chic cafes, fine dining restaurants, great shopping and wine bars you can lose hours and still get a good night’s sleep.
Historic Potts Point combines the best in contemporary dining and nightlife with art galleries, independent bookstores, and high-end fashion boutiques. With its mix of stately architecture, cosmopolitan appeal and proximity to the CBD, it’s no surprise the suburb is home to some of Sydney’s finest boutique hotels. Here’s our pick of the best:
Simpsons Hotel
Located at 8 Challis Avenue, the acclaimed Simpsons Hotel is the only individually-owned, free-standing heritage mansion in Potts Point. It’s currently on the market, so may yet see another new life in its already long, rich history.
The property was designed by leading Victorian-era architect, John Bede Barlow, with the original residence being built in 1892 in the classic Queen Anne style, which was typical of the Arts and Crafts movement of that period. Barlow was also an artist and exhibited at the Royal Art Society in Sydney in 1885.
The property is made up of two adjoining buildings – the original main house and the former servants’ quarters at the rear. During the 1930s, it was divided into six apartments but later restored to its original glory, leaving its stunning stained-glass windows still intact today.
In 1987, the residence was converted into the grand 13-room B&B it is now. The new hotel was named after Peter Simpson, the heritage architect who lovingly restored it and originally ran the hotel.
Today, the hotel retains its original Queen Anne red-brick façade and soaring ceilings. A sympathetic restoration meticulously revived many of the original heritage features, including its Tudor-style arched windows, ornate fireplaces, picture rails, and tiled entryway.
The hotel’s interior is equally striking, with its chintz upholstery, Georgian antiques, golden friezes and collection of Australian botanical prints. Its elegant conservatory, in which breakfast is served, and elegant drawing room overlooking Challis Avenue all combine to create a refined ambience, making it a tranquil retreat from the sometimes-hectic pace of the surrounding inner-city streets.
No wonder the Belgian ambassador is rumoured to have once lingered long by the fireplace here, exclaiming how much he preferred it to the Canberra Embassy.
Other boutique hotels in the Potts Point include:
Larmont
The Larmont has undergone a transformation in recent years – much like Potts Point itself – and now prides itself on being a sophisticated hotel for the worldly traveller. In 2017, all of the hotel’s rooms were remodelled and are now luxurious havens from which to explore the colourful surrounding area.
Hotel Challis
Hotel Challis is another charming hotel situated on historic Challis Avenue. Comprised of two renovated terrace houses, the hotel’s façade is striking for its curved decorative cast-iron balconies. The hotel received a full facelift in 2015 and now has modern, well-appointed rooms.
Spicers Potts Point
Spicers Potts Point bills itself as ‘where history meets modern luxury’. This stylish hotel is set in Victorian terraces amongst the neighbourhood’s unique blend of history, and features contemporary yet elegant rooms.
Photo Credits: Simpson Hotel
