Art Hotel: Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour

Why Stay?

Art History buffs and contemporary collectors alike will fall in love with Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour’s heady blend of modern design and rich heritage. Nestled in one of Sydney’s oldest surviving woolstores, almost every corner of the boutique hotel offers an art encounter.

Sydney artist Jasper Knight’s iconic machinery motifs painted in blocks of dripping colour can be spied throughout the hotel’s interiors, while Oliver Watts’ seductively gestural works have been enlarged, cropped and displayed as wallpaper through many of the rooms.

Close to…

The hotel offers a prime location for guests to immerse themselves in Sydney’s vibrant local scene, with many of the city’s iconic hotspots – Darling Harbour, The Rocks, Sydney Fish Market and Chinatown –a stone’s throw away.

UTS Art, White Rabbit, Galerie pompom and the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art are all within 20 minutes walking distance, while other gallery precincts such as Paddington – where you’ll find Roslyn Oxley9, Fox Jensen Gallery, Sarah Cottier Gallery and Martin Browne Contemporary to name a few – are a 10-15 minute cab ride across town.

Fit folks can stroll along Sydney’s picturesque harbour and through its bustling CBD to Circular Quay, home of the Museum of Contemporary Art, or The Domain, home of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Both are a 30-minute walk or 10-minute cab away.

Carriageworks, which hosts Sydney Contemporary annually in September and also boasts its own impressive art program, is also a half hour walk or 10-minute taxi.

Room rates

Each room at Ovolo 1888 is curated with signature design quirks that speak to the historical beauty of the site, at the same time creating a modern and luxurious boutique space for guests to enjoy. Ovolo’s signature Freebies – high speed Wi-Fi, in-room mini-bar and self-serve laundry – come complete with every room when you book direct on Ovolohotels.com.

The no-frills Shoebox Rooms – pitched as “perfect for the solo traveller, or those who’ve had one too many” – start from around AUD $320 per night. The more spacious King Rooms sleep two people and start from AUD $420 per night.

If you’re looking for a little extra luxe, the Shaken Suite – a versatile split-level space – and the Stirred Suite – with a sun-drenched rooftop patio and city views– both start from around AUD $730 per night.

Book it

Book direct to take advantage of free breakfast and social happy hour.