Review: Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour, Sydney

“Kaboom.” “Pow.” “Wow.”  These were the first three words that popped into my head when I entered the Stirred Suite at Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour.

This weekend I took a staycation in Sydney, enjoying a night at the recently relaunched Ovolo 1888, and feeling like a superhero in the process.

Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour is a boutique property with rooms ranging from the ‘Shoebox’ for solo travellers to the ‘Stirred’ suite fit for superheroes. Sitting at the top of the period property (built in 1888, hence the name) the Stirred Suite is a glass-walled luxury pad, which offers 360 city views and has its own sun-drenched patio to soak up the rays from.

Ascending the in-room staircase I don’t know what first wowed me more – the view or the decor. The comic book primary colours of the furniture combined with the murals of renowned Australian artist, Jasper Knight, certainly make a big impact. I found myself running around the room, touching the lamps, trying out the different chairs and wondering if there was a way I could sneak these home along with the toiletries!

Then something else exciting caught my eye. A sticker on the minibar read: “Enjoy! It’s on us.” Inside were racks of cold Peronis, Aussie wine, soft drinks and 4 large bottles of water. But it got better. Opening up a swag bag left on the coffee table I discovered some chips and choccie to go with the booze. In case you’re wondering if this is just a travel blogger perk, I assure you it’s not. Ovolo hotels really know how to win over their guests and offer free in-room snacks, minibar, wifi and breakfast no matter your room type. Additionally they also run a happy 2 hours everyday from 5 to 7pm in the communal Lo Lounge where you’ll find free drinks including sparkling wine and spirits, hot and cold snacks such as spring rolls and mini quiches, plus chips and dip.

The Lo Lounge at Ovolo 1888 is a cool place to hang out. A mix of modern furniture and Scandi styling contrasts well with the exposed brick and aged wooden beams of the historic building. The building was originally a wool store and you can find glimpses of that history in the wall art and signage. The glass lifts also offer a great view of the architecture as you whisk your way up over the lobby, dancing to the tunes playing in the lift as you go (or at least I did!).

Breakfast is served in the Lo Lounge also. Included with your room is a continental buffet with delicious granola, fruit and yoghurt, homemade breads, pastries and a range of meats and cheeses. For a small fee you can also order some cooked items, which include a barista made coffee or tea (there’s a coffee machine with caffeine on tap all day though). We also had a coffee machine in the room so I enjoyed my brew in the expansive and incredible comfy bed instead.

I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels and can be pretty picky. When small things – like full length mirrors, convenient plug sockets and a usable ironing board – are missing I get really annoyed. I’ve also stayed in some beautiful properties who have thought more about the decor than the guest but I can genuinely say that the Ovolo 1888 have aced both the design and comfort factors. All the small details, like the free drinks and laundry, make a massive difference to the quality of your stay and it seems to me like the Ovolo have thought of everything – we even had an in-room iPad which controlled the air con, sound system and had tips on where to eat out locally.

I had heard of the 1888 hotel before it relaunched under the Ovolo brand because it was known for being an incredibly Instagrammable property. With the relaunch, however, I can see the hotel gaining a name for itself as much more than an Insta-worthy place to stay. It’s the type of place you want to stay in again and again because they’ve made sure you want for nothing. Well, nothing except for some of those bedside lamps to take home with you!

I was a guest of Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour. All opinions are my own. Click here to find out room rates.

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