Clever, Med-style design is just the beginning for reinvented hotel
The hotel
Oxford House, Paddington, New South Wales.
Lush, sandy-toned Oxford House is an instant, local hit.
Check-in
One rickety elevator ride from the ground floor and the frenzy of Oxford Street is a distant memory, replaced by DJ-spun ’90s R&B and clinking glasses. Channelling the sleek lines and muted tones of Palm Springs, Paddington’s most talked-about boutique stay Oxford House (OH!) quickly established itself as a spot to see and be seen. It takes over the site of the Arts Hotel Paddington, with a transformation that has finally brought the ageing complex in line with its fashionable postcode. On weekends, catch the beautiful people sipping margaritas under tasselled ivory umbrellas in the palm-fringed courtyard as hotel guests vie for a spot by the pool. The venue is the latest hotel to launch from the burgeoning Public Hospitality Group.
On weekends, the upstairs courtyard is abuzz with activity.
The look
All 52 rooms and four suites have been given a smart, sandy-toned refresh. With splaying traveller palms, Travertine-style tiles and a sun-bleached aesthetic, the property’s courtyard and pool area brings a touch of the Mediterranean to Paddo. The alfresco restaurant and bar is the hotel’s beating heart, and come weekend, boy, does it beat loudly, thanks to a thumping DJ set (guests in pool-facing rooms may do well to pack their earplugs). Trying to secure prime pool real estate on a Saturday at 3pm is futile; eight sunbeds are guarded by guests armed with books and spicy margs, while towels plug every vacant sun-drenched inch of deck.
Oxford De Luxe: rooms are snug, but space is utilised cleverly.
The room
I’m in an Oxford De Luxe room, with a queen bed, ensuite, and a balcony looking out over leafy Oxford Street. It’s snug, but clever design remedies most space-related qualms – a curated mini-bar doubles as a vanity, with a back mirror and extra lighting, while a bathroom door opens to reveal a full-length mirror. The world’s slimmest wardrobe fits two items (couples may need to duke it out for hanger real estate). There’s a smart TV with Chromecast, though we encountered some technical issues getting it working. Custom Double Rainbouu bathrobes and slippers, free Wi-Fi, GHD hair dryers and Grown Alchemist amenities are a welcome, luxe touch, as is the QR code-accessed room service.
A mini bar bench doubles as a vanity.
Food + drink
The culinary offerings, which were already strong, have been upgraded since our stay, following Public’s acquisition of The Maybe Group (behind award-winning bar Maybe Sammy). The ground floor Oh Restaurant is now the uber-cool Busby Music Bar, spruiking natural wine (curated by another Paddo fixture, Mike Benny of nearby P&V fame) and unfussy fare by top chef Clayton Wells, made for the warmer months (think tiger prawn rolls, and vodka rigatoni with wild oregano). Menu items can be ordered to the restaurant, your room, or even the pool – though our pool breakfast mistakenly ends up in our room on one occasion. There’s also some confusion among staff over whether they offer table (or towel) service in the pool area; we’re eventually told to fetch our own tipples.
Out + about
The hotel is a short drive from Central and Museum stations, and strolling distance to popular bars, restaurants, designer boutiques and Oxford Street’s pulsating LGBTQI club mile. Downstairs, sister venue El Primo Sanchez has your margarita and karaoke needs sorted.
The verdict
This stylish property ticks all the basics of a comfy stay, with a dose of design flair and personality you won’t find in most hotel chains. There’s barely a trace of the property’s ageing, daggy past – rickety elevator aside.
Essentials
From $295 a night. 21 Oxford St, Paddington, New South Wales. Phone: (02) 9071 4750. See www.oxfordhouse.com.au
Our score out of five
★★★½
Highlight
A breezy Palm Springs-inspired pool area.
Lowlight
Clearer ordering systems (particularly in the restaurant and pool area) would be welcome – a succession of menu ordering fails could be staffing issues, though we’ll be watching to see what The Maybe Group bring now they’ve stepped in.
The writer stayed as a guest of Oxford House.
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