- 25hours Hotel the Olympia is the latest hip hotel to open in Sydney.
- It’s an Accor brand – we love Accor as unpretentious. This is just a little bit pretentious.
- Here’s what you get when you stay at 25hours Hotel The Olympia.
Sydney’s Oxford Street used to be the sort of place where you could grab a pint, a kebab and a show. Now, it’s home to something far more terrifying: a “bold, playful hub for locals and travellers alike.”
Welcome to 25hours Hotel The Olympia, where staying the night is less about sleep and more about joining a performance art piece you didn’t audition for.
Leave the Car, Bring a Compass
Before you even arrive, the website delivers the first punchline: “We recommend public transport.” Translation: there’s no parking. None. Not even a spot for the manager’s Prius.
If you insist on driving — perhaps because you enjoy freedom — you’re directed to “neighbouring car parks” in Moore Park or Darlinghurst, which is a polite way of saying “good luck with that.”
Alternatively, they’ll rent you a bike, so you can wobble up Oxford Street’s hills dodging utes and buses while convincing yourself this is all part of the urban adventure.
Theatrical, Conceptual, and Slightly Exhausting
The 109 rooms are inspired by “cinema’s Dreamers and Renegades.”
The reception desk rents videos, and there are screens throughout the entrance. It’s all very heritage-meets-hipster: exposed brick and murals that look like someone shouted “local art!” into a paint can.
The place oozes creativity, though mostly in the way that makes you feel underdressed and slightly judged for ordering a beer instead of a pet-nat.
The History
The building was the original Olympia Theatre, which opened in 1911 with a silent movie called The Power of Love and a full orchestra to provide the sound track.
It was also the Grand Pacific Blue Room, one of Sydney’s hottest nightclubs during the 1990s, known for being a leading venue in the emerging small bar scene.
Earlier, in the swinging 60s, Oxford Street became a hub for Sydney’s gay community and was known as “The Golden Mile”.
To be fair, given that it has been empty for years and is a difficult site at a cross roads with no parking and no off-road entrance, 25Hours is a pretty good effort at reviving this awkward end of Paddington’s Oxford Street.
That said, it has the wonderful Berkelouw book shop just along the street, and some pretty cool shopping within easy walking distance.
The brand promises: “Every unique, playful 25hours hotel has a soul inspired by its location and shaped by the art, culture, gastronomy and stories of its surroundings. Each one centred around a surprising social hub, a space where global travellers and local guests can meet and create a dynamic community.”
25Hotels can be found in 14 cities around the world.
Food: London Chic
The big draw is The Palomar — a celebrated London restaurant that offers Mediterranean meets Middle Eastern food: think shawarma lamb croquettes, Westholme Wagyu tongue and chicken schnitzel with shifka tartar sauce.
Given the venue, here’s the official description: “From London to Sydney, The Palomar is a love letter to the Mediterranean — taking inspiration from Southern Spain, North Africa, and the Levant. Always over fire.
There’s a rooftop bar (Monica), a wine bar (The Mulwray), and a café (Jacob the Angel). It’s the full lifestyle trifecta.
The Loyalty Program: Dis-loyalty
And then there’s the loyalty scheme — called, brilliantly, Dis-loyalty.
For €15 a month, you get discounts at any subscribing hotel.
You get 50% off just-opened hotels, 20% off first time stays (that’s the first time you book every hotel after signing up) and 10% off return stays. Plus, 10% off food and drink.
There are 10 other brands that are part of the Dis-loyalty Collective. No earning points or waiting for rewards.
They’ll also throw in a “free coffee every day”.
From what we can see, 25hours Hotel The Olympia isn’t bad. It’s colourful, it’s confident, and it’s very good at pretending Oxford Street is the Left Bank.
A Triumph of Vibe
If you’re the kind of person who calls an Uber “public transport,” enjoys small plates that look like concept art, and think hotel lobbies should double as DJ booths, you’ll have the time of your life.
For everyone else — those of us who like parking, proper breakfast, and the occasional moment of peace — this place will feel less like a getaway and more like TED Talks with room service.
Full disclosure: Sydney Travel Guide hasn’t stayed at the hotel. We’re still waiting for our invitation.
And perhaps that’s just as well.
For more, go here.
