Bursting with utterly contagious character, The Strand Hotel has completed the final phase of its multi-level restoration of the 99-year-old pub with the new Rooftop bar and 17-bedroom house and hotel now open. Creating a boutique refuge in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, The Strand offers sophistication with a mix of well curated French style.
Overseen by the curator of cool, George Gorrow, the co-founder of cult denim brand Ksubi has joined Principal Architect, Tom de Plater at Public Hospitality and Public Design Studio as Creative Director for the local institution; bringing with him a nod to fashion, music and entertainment.
A contemporary blend of Parisian elegance and bohemian spirit, The Strand Rooftop is an idyllic open escape for both hotel guests and locals alike to soak up the afternoon sun underneath the kaleidoscope awning or watch the city at dusk, lit up with the glow of festoon lights. The rooftop offers a playful and vibrant mix of colourful textures, warm timber and lush verdant landscaping that encloses the intimate space.
“We’ve designed the rooftop to provide an unexpected and charming escape amongst the anonymity of William Street, with a deliberate strong contrast to the aesthetic experienced through the brooding texture and materials of the hotel rooms and Bistro below” says Tom de Plater.
The bar serves its signature drinks, the French Ginger Mule and Thyme & Basil Daiquiri alongside a menu of light dishes such as tuna tartare & fried shallot with sesame crackers, corn and gruyere croquettes, fried chicken with pickles and hot sauce and our Rooftop toastie with leg ham, mustard and pickles.
The rooftop will also host a series of live entertainment and weekly DJs each Friday and Saturday from 6pm – 12am and 4pm – 10pm on Sundays.
Describing The Strand Hotel as a drink, Gorrow wants the hotel to feel like a dirty martini; classic, with a twist.
“The Strand has been designed with the intimacy and personal service of a boutique hotel, creating a community hub of like minded people, that makes you want to return again and again. My purpose is for the character of the hotel to grow and continue to build over time, just as if you were building your own home. If it was a song it would be Sebastien Tellier’s Look or Roland Ray’s Girl on my Mind” says George Gorrow.
Guests are also invited to check in and spark a sultry side in one of The Strand’s 17 boutique charmers, appointed with refined, contemporary interiors from crisp white linens, rattan bed heads, accented with deep green finishings and contrasting dark floorboards. With five different guest rooms to choose from, from a cosy sleeper for one, to a deluxe residential style living with a sun-drenched balcony, each calm oasis is filled with considered essentials that will keep guests both pampered and plugged in.
The Strand Hotel dips, dabbles and mixes in French tradition and unmapped mystery to offer an uncommon hospitality experience through generous service, overthought details and secrets waiting to be discovered. It’s the perfect choice for travellers and local revellers looking for an intimate getaway experience. As guests enter from the bustling William Street, they will be welcomed through to a charismatic hotel house of Parisan sensibility where grit meets glamour and dark black surfaces paint a masculine edge to contrast the refined furnishings and warm cream textures of the walls, showcasing the history and character of the building.
The architectural design has been born off the history of the site with a winding staircase taking guests up to a two-story labyrinth of winding halls, where Gorrow has hand selected Australian photographers such as Simon Lekius, Denniela Rache, Chris Searl and Domonic Rawl to adorn the walls, creating a behind the scenes insiders guide to the diverse subculture of Sydney as guests wonder to their rooms.
Meanwhile, on the ground floor, The Strand Bistro is bolstered by a playful sense of mischief, drawing cues from turn-of-the-century Paris, with a modern laidback interpretation of French cuisine. Spoons of beluga caviar sit proudly alongside humble steak frites and duck leg pie served with grilled broccolini, mash and gravy and baguettes with cultured butter. Culinary Director, Nick Mahlook has designed the Bistro menu to hero seasonal Australian produce while the bistro’s extensive drinks list boasts an impressive line-up of French and Australian wines, aperitifs, cocktails and beers and a 49 strong whisky list.
The Strand
99 William Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia
T: +61 2 9068 8527 | E: hello@strandhotel.com.au
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