Harbour Rocks Hotel, Sydney

Pros

• You'll be staying in The Rocks, a historic neighborhood just minutes from Circular Quay and the Harbour Bridge.
• The hotel occupies a historic 1887 convict-built warehouse, with original sandstone and brick features and lots of nods to local history throughout. 
• Rooms range from comfortable queens in converted workers' cottages to a sprawling penthouse suite with Opera House views.
• On-site dining options include a popular Middle Eastern restaurant, a cocktail bar with a garden terrace, and a charming deli-style sandwich shop.

Cons

• Upper-story rooms are reached via a staircase and there's no elevator, though there are ground-floor accessible rooms.
• The simplest rooms can be on the small side; consider upgrading to the Studio or Suite options for more space.

Authenticity

You'll find early Australian history everywhere you look at the Harbour Rocks Hotel, both within its walls and amid the surrounding cobblestones of Sydney's oldest neighborhood. Now part of the exclusive Ode Hotels portfolio, the boutique charmer occupies a former convict-built warehouse dating back to 1887. Careful preservation has retained the building's original sandstone and brick features, and the industrial-chic interiors showcase local history with framed convict letters, photographs, and settlers' maps. Some rooms are housed in original workers' cottages, and the stylish ground-floor bar is named for a local pair of ill-fated 19th-century lovers. 

Location

The hotel has a prime location in The Rocks, an atmospheric neighborhood in the shadow of the Harbour Bridge. It was here that the colonial First Fleet landed in 1788, and before that, its history stretches back thousands of years as the ancestral homeland of the Gadigal people. Today, you'll find a tangle of cobblestone streets and heritage-listed pubs, galleries, and restaurants. In under 5 minutes, you can stroll to the Museum of Contemporary Art or browse the bustling stalls of the waterfront weekend market. Easy transport links are on your doorstep at Circular Quay, and paid parking is available nearby.

Rooms & Bathrooms

The hotel's elegant, loft-style rooms combine a modern industrial style with plenty of historic character, featuring darkly painted brick walls, original windows, oversized wooden headboards, and designer leather chairs. Those housed in the original 1870 workers' cottages include ornamental fireplaces, and larger suites offer additional lounge areas and sofa beds. The top-floor Harbour View Suite boasts a large terrace complete with a barbecue and dazzling Opera House views. Bathrooms are spacious and well-equipped, most with rain-style showers, and there are a few accessible rooms located on the ground floor.

Amenities

This is a historic boutique property, and travelers flock here for the ambience and style versus amenities like a pool or spa (though there's a small fitness room for guests' use). The hotel's dining is one of its highlights; Tayim is a popular spot that serves modern Middle Eastern-inspired dishes for breakfast and dinner, and Eric's Bar & Garden Terrace pours craft cocktails and boutique wines in a stylish ground-floor space that opens into a romantic garden area. Guests can grab a quick lunch in a cute shopfront setting at the hotel's Harrington St Deli, which specializes in deli-style sandwiches with an Italian twist. 

Family-Friendliness

The Harbour Rocks Hotel welcomes families, though the property is most popular with couples and the occasional business traveler. The larger Studio King Suite is a good choice for families, sleeping four comfortably with a king bed and pull-out sofa, and extra beds and cribs are available upon request. Those with young children might want to book a ground-floor room, as there's no elevator and all upper-story rooms are accessed by stairs.