From derelict shopping centre to a five-star oasis, The Eve Hotel is Hollywood cool with its biophilic design and neighbourhood vibe.
In what has to be one of Sydney’s best property glow-ups, this uber-cool hotel sits in a new precinct straddling Redfern and Surry Hills.
Surrounded by suburbia, there’s a definite local neighbourhood vibe, but you only need step inside this urban oasis with its art-filled lobby bar and colourful design-forward aesthetic to see why it’s ranked with a revered Michelin Key.
The destination
The Eve sits within the new lifestyle precinct of Wunderlich Lane, around 20 minutes from Sydney airport.
The design pays homage to its history as an 1800s Wunderlich Ltd factory, where the facades of the Government Bank in Martin Place and pressed metal ceilings were made, which can still be found in Sydney’s terrace homes today.
Restored to create retail laneways and a market village experience, Wunderlich Lane is filled with eateries, and while it’s only around a 10-minute drive to Darling Harbour, you will want to spend several days both here and lazing by The Eve’s rooftop pool (open 7am to 10pm) with its glamorous beach club serving Mexican bites.
My room
My Sunset Balcony room has a leafy terrace surrounded by lush greenery, overlooking (on tippy toes) the terraced houses of the neighbourhood.
Relax here with a drink of your choice, and you’ll feel like you’re in the garden oasis of a private apartment.
There are 102 rooms, all decked out in timber with deep olive or burnt terracotta accents and all the luxuries you’d expect in a five-star hotel. Custom Saardé toiletries, GHD hairdryers, and hooded robes, as well as a snack bar filled with locally produced treats.
Wine and dine
Bar Julius is The Eve’s European-inspired lobby bar. An all-day menu includes everything from brulee cinnamon porridge with burnt apple jam to a Bar Julius hot dog (smoked pig’s head sausage with pickle and shallot).
Step things up in the evening with freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters, Oscietra caviar with beef fat crisps and confit salmon.
At rooftop Lottie by Sydney’s hospitality gurus Liquid and Larder, you’ll find a contemporary Mexican restaurant and mezcaleria, where cocktails follow the rhythm of the produce, made with hibiscus, chamoy, citrus and chilli.
Out and about
If great food is what fuels your inner joy, then this new precinct is the place for you.
As well as the moreish food in the onsite restaurants, there are multiple options right outside the front door, including Olympus with its Greek village-style hospitality; Island Radio, which is a little slice of Southeast Asian street culture, and Regina La Pizzeria by pizzaiolo Matteo Ernandes, the first of its kind in Australia, with pizza handmade by artisans using volcanic stone.
A short drive or solid stroll will also have you in the heart of Sydney.
The verdict
The Eve is the cool little sister of older, more traditional luxury hotels. It’s an experience rather than just a stay. A place where you can feel like you’re part of a local neighbourhood, even if it’s only for a few days.
The details
Address: 8 Baptist Street, Sydney, NSW
Room type: Sunset Balcony
Check-in: 2pm
Check-out: 11am
Rates: Starting at A$519
For more information, visit The Eve.
