Ace Hotel Sydney Review 2025: Trendy Design, Vinyl Players & Stylish Stay in Surry Hills

Looking for a stylish boutique hotel in Sydney that blends history, art, and comfort? During my March 2025 trip for Mardi Grass, I stayed at Ace Hotel Sydney for one night and was pleasantly surprised by the design details, friendly vibe, and unique in-room features like a vinyl record player. If you love creative spaces and trendy neighborhoods, this hotel is worth considering.

This year, I’ve been lucky enough to stay at three Ace Hotels—first in Sydney in March, then at the Ace Swim Club in Athens, and most recently a three-day stay at Ace Hotel Kyoto. When I returned, I was surprised to find out that Seibu Prince is acquiring Ace Hotel and I was happy that I’ve been able to experience Ace as it is!

Table of Contents

About Ace Hotel Sydney

Ace Hotel is a boutique hotel brand originally from Seattle, USA, known for turning historic buildings into creative, design-driven hotels. The Sydney property opened in 2022, converted from a former brick factory.

📍 Address: 47–53 Wentworth Ave, Sydney NSW 2000
🛎️ Stay: March 2025, 1 night
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The location is right on the edge of Surry Hills, one of Sydney’s most hip neighborhoods filled with coffee shops, restaurants, and indie boutiques. You can easily walk into the heart of Surry Hills, or reach Sydney CBD within minutes.

I’ve always loved Surry Hills when I was in Sydney in 2012, where I always visited my favorite gelato Messina. Now they are doing incredibly great. Check out my Gelato favorites

Other Ace Hotels can be found in Kyoto (Shinpukan complex), New York, Los Angeles, and more. Fukuoka, Japan, is expecting an Ace Hotel opening in 2027.

Don’t miss out my Sydney Itinerary article

Ace Hotel Sydney Hotel Facilities

Rooftop restaurant & bar (Kiln) – popular with both guests and locals
Lobby bar & restaurant – open, buzzy space for drinks or casual meals
Good Chemistry café – coffee and pastries on the ground floor
Fitness center – compact but well equipped

Note: Ace Hotel Sydney is cashless – payment is by card only.

If you’re still comparing Sydney hotels, use this map of Sydney CBD accommodations to see options near Surry Hills and Central Station.

Ace Hotel Sydney Lobby & First Impressions

The entrance is intentionally understated, blending into the surrounding brick buildings. Inside, the lobby isn’t a traditional sit-down space – check-in is on the left, with a small retail section on the right selling Ace merchandise (cheaper than buying online).

The ground floor feels like a social hub, with people working on laptops at the café and bar. Lighting design is eclectic, with each corner illuminated differently. During my stay, there were posters for local art collaborations – Ace often partners with Sydney artists for events.

I arrived around 11 a.m. and was surprised to be offered an early check-in through my Agoda booking – a nice bonus!

The Room

We booked a Medium-Plus room (25 sqm), slightly larger than the standard 19 sqm option.

The room key itself had a unique, textured feel—perhaps a nod to the building’s past life as a brick kiln.

Right across the entrance there’s some graffiti art, adding to the edgy vibe of the neighborhood. During my stay, I didn’t bump into any other guests in the hallway, which made it feel quite private.

Ace Hotel Sydney Room Details

The room number signage was thoughtfully designed and stylish.

When you step inside, the bathroom comes first, followed by the carpeted bedroom area. The room included a sofa, a small table, and a black platform that was the perfect size for laying out my suitcase.

The minibar fridge was fully stocked with carefully curated drinks (all chargeable), plus bottled water and even wine in pouches.

For in-room beverages, they provided organic Tea Tonic tea bags—the blue blend had a subtle sweetness, while the red breakfast tea was very fragrant. Fairtrade coffee powder was also available and my partner said it’s quite good.

The bed was comfortably medium-firm (the previous night’s hotel bed was too soft, so this was just right).

On the wall hung a quirky cardboard-like art piece. I had expected that, since this is a heritage building conversion, the soundproofing might be poor. But after one night, I was pleasantly surprised—noise wasn’t an issue at all. At other hotels housed in older buildings, I’ve often noticed thin walls.

Amenities & Details

Bathroom amenities were from uka, a well-known Tokyo salon brand famous for its nail polishes and hair care products. Their items have even won beauty magazine awards.

There’s a flagship uka store inside the Ace Hotel Kyoto (Shinpukan complex), and we bought it when we visited Ace Hotel Kyoto in September this year. I actually own their scalp massage brush, so I was delighted to see these toiletries. I even checked the price later: around AUD 49, though it’s cheaper if purchased in Japan.

The shower and toilet were separated, which I found practical. The wardrobe was slightly tall, which might be tricky for shorter guests.

Every room comes with a record player and three vinyls. Some room types even include a guitar. We did run into a hiccup when trying to play the records—the turntable needle had fallen off.

We initially asked for help but no one came, and when we checked back at the front desk, they admitted they forgot to send someone. Eventually, a staff member came with a replacement needle and got it working. Watching the setup, it actually seemed very simple. On this point, though, I’d say service felt a little underwhelming.

On the side of the cabinet, there were also some stationery items provided, along with a booklet of witty, well-written notes and explanations about the hotel.

View: Our window faced another building (Vibe Hotel Sydney, where I stayed when visited in 2023), so don’t expect sweeping skyline views.

The Gym

Compact but well-equipped with treadmills, weights, and functional training equipment. Great for a quick workout before heading out.

Dining at Ace Hotel Sydney

Check the Map below for Sydney CBD Hotels!

Loam (Ground Floor Restaurant)

We had dinner at Loam before heading to the airport. The food was decent though not outstanding:

Starters and salad were tasty.
Tap beer was a good value at AUD 8.
Burgers and fries were average.

Dinner for two cost about AUD 75. Breakfast is also served here, and the menu looked appealing.

Good Chemistry Café

Located on the ground floor with its own street entrance. The design is slightly industrial.

Coffee around AUD 5 – decent but not memorable.
Wide selection of bread and pastries.

Kiln (Rooftop Restaurant & Bar)

We didn’t have time to visit Kiln, but it’s highly recommended for views and creative cocktails. Worth checking out if you stay here.

Final Thoughts: Is Ace Hotel Sydney Worth It?

I enjoyed my stay at Ace Hotel Sydney for its design details, creative vibe, and comfortable rooms. The vinyl players add a nostalgic charm, and the Surry Hills location is perfect if you want to explore Sydney’s coolest cafés and bars.

Overall: Ace Hotel Sydney is a trendy yet comfortable choice for design lovers, couples, and solo travelers who want to stay close to both Sydney CBD and Surry Hills.

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