There are simply not enough hours in a day. The paradox of more conveniences but less time, makes it feel like we are in fast-forward. If you are craving a rewind to when the pace was slower and things seemed simpler, the new 25Hours The Olympia Hotel in Paddington is your “back-to-the-future” fix. It’s a retro escape to a time when technology was present but not overwhelming, the era of landlines, Walkmans and unapologetic fashion. Their promise? To make you feel like you squeezed every hour out of your stay – and one more.
The Arrival
An uber chic hostess with a ukulele slung over a shoulder welcomes us into No1 Oxford Street. The spot is loaded with history, opening as a cinema over a hundred years ago, was home to A-lister iconic Grand Pacific Blue Room and today it’s an 80’s glory glow-up.
The lobby is a cinephile’s delight, with film-set relics, furniture from The Matrix and a Video shop. After briefly being triggered by late fees, we realise this is where we check-in. The 109 rooms come in two moods femme themed “Dreamers” and edgy “Renegades”.
Renegade Room 315
Tonight we are renegades, we step into a room that has been prepared to make a strong first impression with a handwritten note and cheeky welcome pack that includes black and red nail polish.
The decor is vintage flair meets contemporary style, a rotary dial phone sits on one bedside and Bluetooth speaker on the other. Elevated contrasts across the hardwood floors, glossy moss tiles, black ceiling and pop-art feature wall. The spacious bathroom features double sinks which we love, roomy shower and moody lighting. A balcony faces the Oxford Street hustle, but once the sliding door closes, it’s blissfully quiet.
Monica’s Rooftop
Sydney never met a rooftop it didn’t fall in love with, it looks like Monica is this summer’s crush, buzzing with a stylish crowd. Santa Fe inspired, landscaped with a succulent garden, cane outdoor furniture and tables face a leafy Eastern Suburbs vista. Inside the décor is elegant rosy hues, cushioned booths, tiny tables set below tasselled lamps. With signature cocktails and a substantial bar menu, we dive into the weekend with Palomas (Tequila and fresh pink grapefruit juice) and bowl of sweet-salty roasted macadamias.
25hours Hotel is on trend with the city’s current precinct design – vibrant and refreshingly un-hotel-like. Credit goes to the collaboration with London’s Studio Paskin, who bring their popular London venues to the space.
Mulwray Cocktail and Wine Bar
Returning to the ground level overlooking the hotel’s atrium is the Mulwray, named after Faye Dunaway’s character in the movie Chinatown. A terrace wraps around the tropical garden while dark chesterfield lounges circle the bar. We sip on a couple of crisp NV Louis Pommery glasses of champagne and people watch.
The Palomar
With the edge of the week taken off, we slip next door into the restaurant. Minimalist with art deco lighting and sheer drapery set around the grill. There’s also some class in the kitchen with culinary director Mitch Orr (Kiln, Acme, Sepia)and head chef Luke Davenport (The Palomar London, Noma, The Ledbury). Woodfire is Mitch Orrs jam. The menu draws from an ancient region The Levant, which extends from Turkey, Syria to Cyprus so we can expect a fusion of aromatics.
We are seated at the amber marbled chefs table with full view of the grill action, Raffi flipping hefty pieces of meat and fish greets us and gets us going with a smooth 2023 Domaine Gueguen Chablis and freshly shucked Sydney Rock oysters dressed in finger lime and EVO. They are sublime.
We need a long chat with our delightful waiter Brett because it’s a menu with many unfamiliar dishes. Commencing fresh and flavourful with the delicately charred Grilled Abrolhos Island Scallop, Zhoug Butter and the zesty Globe Artichokes, preserved Lemon on labneh spiced with Aleppo pepper. We choose an indigenous Turkish red varietal 2022 Doluca ‘Tuğra’ Kalecik Karasi to go with the charred Berkshire pork chop, blistered grapes and smoky sherry jus. It is plate-licking good. The dish of the night goes to restaurants signature, smashed cucumbers glossed in green tahini, crispy chilli and almond clusters. What favours do we need to do get the recipe?
After dinner we are in the mood for a digestive and wander back to The Mulwray. Head of beverages Roean who also has history with the Mitch Orr crew talks us through the premium wine and cocktail list. We order exceptionally good vodka and espresso martinis and get very comfortable on the lounge which now has a late-night relaxed vibe. We finish with an aromatic Yuzu-cello nightcap – the perfect final flourish and relish the luxury of being tucked into that oh-so-comfortable within minutes.
Jacob the Angel
The hotel serves breakfast in a cute ground floor café which is already popular with Paddington locals. Sounding a touch biblical, it takes its namesake from the first man to bring coffee to England. The beans are from Ona and we order “magics” – Melbourne’s favourite ratio-perfect coffee, it lives up to its reputation.
The cafes centrepiece is Kate Raids Lune Croissants. For anyone who has queued for these babies, table service is a gift. We sit in the window observing the Oxford Street shoppers and devour the savoury Ham & Gruyère and the decadent Lemon Curd Cruffin.
The 25Hours has it all, from cocktail to croissant in comfort. We love a retrospective, nostalgia is grounding in times of uncertainty, 25Hours is nostalgia upgraded.
The Verdict
From check-in to check-out, the hotel hits the design, cuisine and hospitality trifecta.
What we are Addicted to
Hospitality that is beyond.
What we could be more Addicted to
Sultry room lighting sets the vibe, not so helpful for precision mascara.
25Hours The Olympia Hotel
Open 25×7
1 Oxford Street
Paddington NSW 2021