Hotel Woolstore 1888, Sydney

A masterful conversion of a 19th-century warehouse, elegant luxury, sublime atmosphere: The Woolstore 1888 finds the sweet spot between the classic and the trendy.

In recent years, much of the hospitality world has been moving away from the cloistered-off, disconnected hotel experience, heading toward something more open, interactive, and social.

Perhaps the Woolstore 1888 is a natural progression of the trend. The lobby, restaurant, kitchen, and bar all blend into one soaring, central space — and the guests’ Instagram photos contribute to the décor.

The hotel concept, steeped in art and geared to coworking and long stays, is backed by a comfortable, well-run hotel experience — and a good location. The Woolstore 1888 sits on the far side of Darling Harbour, near the Sydney Fish Market (and the Convention Center), in Pyrmont. It’s a short trip from downtown, and the neighborhood has a low-key feel, with plenty of good, locals-oriented bars and restaurants.

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Accommodation

The rooms start small — in a charming moment of self-awareness, the entry-level one is called the Shoebox — but they’re well put together, with high ceilings, cloud-like beds, and plenty of sunlight.

Sound-proofed period windows and desks built from timber salvaged during renovation serve as reminders of the building’s industrial past without making it feel too much like you’re sleeping in the 19th-century wool factory that this used to be.

At the top of the scale, those shoeboxes turn into spacious, multi-level suites, one with its private entrance (through a pair of ornate, gigantic blue doors) and one with a private roof terrace. And in every room, the technology skews toward the genuinely useful — not a mess of remotes or mood-guessing avant-garde light shows — but free WiFi, pre-loaded iPads, and big, smart televisions.

Main text (above) from Tablet Hotels, edited to fit the format. 

in our opinion

The hotel's trendy urban interiors make it the ideal hangout spot for the design-savvy jet-setter.

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What we love

• Wonderful interiors. Much of the building's original texture is still here: exposed brick walls, wooden beams, sky-high ceilings, huge period windows, and furniture hewn from salvaged ironbark.
• Great use of space in the dramatic five-story atrium connecting lobby, restaurant, kitchen, and bar.
• The property has a prime position in the inner-city suburb of Pyrmont, a short walk from Darling Harbour, Chinatown, and some of the city's best bars and restaurants.

What you should know

• Rates include complimentary WiFi, use of the in-room iPad, and free access to the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre.
• Some rooms (named "Shoebox"!) are very small.
• Public parking is available across the street from the hotel.