Hotel Review: Paramount House Hotel

In the space of five months, one pocket of Surry Hills received a major boost in the heritage building-turned-cultural destination stakes.

Where

Paramount House Hotel , 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, NSW

What to expect

In October last year, the much-anticipated restaurant Chin Chin opened in the iconic Griffiths Teas building on Commonwealth Street and in March, Paramount House Hotel was launched across the road, in the former headquarters of Paramount Pictures and its adjoining film storage warehouse.

The new boutique digs joined the existing complex of the Golden Age Cinema and Bar, Paramount Coffee Project and co-working studio The Office Space. Rooftop workout/hangout spot Paramount Recreation Club later completed the picture. It’s pitched as a neighbourhood hotel, and executed as a one-stop lifestyle destination for a particular kind of design-minded, indie magazine-reading, coffee bean-conscious clientele.

The hotel combines heritage features with contemporary finishes

This is evident from the moment I arrive at the cool and calm atrium-style lobby, which is reached via the ground-floor cafe and populated by plants and prerequisite Mac users.

I’m offered a welcome drink of amber sour ale from local Marrickville brewery Wildflower while staff members – friendly, helpful and unimposing – swiftly check me in. There are 27 rooms and two suites in total, and the second-floor Sunny room I’ve booked – as opposed to the Everyday, Loft and Mack Daddy options that make up the other three levels – proves to be ironic as it’s a day of epic Sydney rain. But its sunny disposition compensates for the inclement conditions outside.

The welcome scent of Aesop greets me – the room is well-stocked with the brand’s products, as well as a host of other locally made goods including cured meats by LP’s Quality Meats, Black Pantry marshmallows and William Downie pinot noir in the mini-bar.

The rooms

The cleverly allocated space (which includes a separate shower, toilet and vanity area) occupies a length of the building that looks onto Commonwealth Street, with plenty of sash windows and an alcove at the far end full of greenery.

Melbourne-based architects Breathe have let the bones of the building – such as original brick walls and their patina of old paint – shine through, and outlined them with stylish, complementary details like raw brass fixtures and terrazzo surfaces.

Henry Wilson is one of the many local talents whose designs populate the hotel;

Each additional detail is similarly considered, from the vide poche designed by Sydney’s Henry Wilson and earthy ceramic mugs made by Brisbane studio Commons Ceramics. At the centre of the room is a daybed topped with a green velvet cushion, and a large squishy bed dressed with French linens in dusk, indigo and stripes, and a recycled wool blanket made by Tasmania’s Seljak Brand in collaboration with the hotel. It’s all very curated, but doesn’t feel over-engineered. It feels eclectic, lived in and artful.

Raw brass bathroom fixtures strike the right tone

From here, it’s no effort to nip downstairs to watch a film at the Golden Age’s arthouse cinema (which occupies the site’s old screening room) and enjoy a nightcap in its adjoining bar; or to have breakfast the next morning at the Paramount Coffee Project.

I’ll have to return to eat dinner at Poly, a spin-off of lauded Chippendale restaurant Ester that was yet to open when I visited. It’s a complete vision: a celebration of all things creative in Sydney and Australia. For those of us looking to stay somewhere that fast-tracks us to the heart of local culture in impeccable style, we won’t find a better option than Paramount House Hotel.

The verdict

A beautiful heritage building stylishly and individualistically restored that gets right to the heart of Sydney’s cultural life.

We rated

The design details, like the raw brass fixtures on the elegant standalone basin.

We’d change

The hotel’s accoutrements – bespoke blankets and mugs, etc. – are lovely; and the fact that you can purchase many of them as a souvenir from the retail section at reception is a nice touch, however I can’t help but feel I am being a little ‘sold to’.

Perhaps credit for guests at the cinema or cafe would counter this, and feel like a gesture for ‘locals’.

Notes

I paid $360 for one night in a Sunny room.

All AT reviews are conducted anonymously and our writers pay their own way – so we experience exactly what you would.

Underpinned by grassroots hospitality and award-winning organic produce, the Central Coast’s gastronomy scene is thriving, with the region quickly becoming one of the best destinations in NSW for epicures.

Revered for its rugged natural splendour and laid-back seaside charm, NSW’s Central Coast has soared in popularity in recent years, becoming a top choice for an affordable slice of weekend escapism for Sydneysiders. Just a short 45-minute drive north of Sydney, it’s the kind of place that, no matter how many times you visit, leaves you with the sense that there’s always more to uncover. But while the ocean pools, bushwalks and beaches have (rightly) taken the spotlight, it’s the Central Coast food offerings which have been quietly simmering in the background.

From fresh-as-it-gets seafood and juicy organic citrus you can pluck yourself, through to regenerative farming and reputable farm-to-fork dining, this coastal gem has become an idyllic foodie mecca. Here are some of the best ways to immerse yourself in grassroots hospitality and gastronomic glory on the NSW Central Coast.

vegetables in a basket at Bells Garden at Bells At Killcare — From picking your own, to farm-to-table, discover the best Central Coast food experiences. (Image: Remy Brand)

Central Coast oyster experiences

From humble grub to opulent delicacy, oysters have ascended into a league of their own. Epicureans are fascinated by them – willing to pay upwards of $35 per dozen (double at some of Sydney’s reputable fine dining restaurants) – and ‘shuck bars’ seem to be popping up at every milestone celebration.

But it’s rare to find places that really draw back the curtain on how they’re farmed and why everyone is mad for these molluscs. The Central Coast , however, is home to several of these venues. With its pristine waters, mild climate and nutrient-rich estuaries, it’s the perfect breeding ground for oysters.

Learn about oyster farming and, importantly, how to shuck them at Sydney Oyster Farm Tours . Nestled on the Hawkesbury River at Mooney Mooney, Sheridan Beaumont and her team offer a hands-on foodie experience where you can feast on dozens of oysters (white tablecloth and all) while wading through the calm waters. You can even bring your own bottle of bubbles to wash them down.

guests in the water for an experience at Sydney Oyster Farm - Central Coast food — Learn tricks of the trade at Sydney Oyster Farm Tours. (Image: Remy Brand)

Elevate your oyster knowledge even further by heading north over the Hawkesbury River Bridge to the Hawkesbury River Oyster Shed . Tour their scenic oyster leases and saltwater paddocks by boat to uncover the distinct characteristics of the Sydney rock oyster and creamy Pacific oyster. They’ve also partnered with Broken Bay Pearl Farm to offer a one-of-a-kind oyster and pearl farming guided tour, showcasing the Central Coast’s very own pearl oyster, the Broken Bay ‘Akoya’. But if you’re simply in the mood to devour a dozen delectable oysters while soaking in the tranquil river views, pull up a chair at the shed. It’s friendly in every sense of the word: pets, families and BYO welcome.

shucking oysters at Broken Bay Pearl Farm — Taste freshly shucked oysters at Broken Bay Pearl Farm. (Image: James Horan)

Central Coast farms to pick your own fruit

While the Central Coast is known for its breathtaking 40 beaches and 80-kilometre coastline, its lush hinterland is equally impressive – abundant with orchards and agriculturally rich farmland. And when it comes to the simple joy of picking your own fruit, the Central Coast is a ripe playground.

Family-owned Meliora Farm at Peats Ridge is an orchard that blends conventional, biodynamic and organic philosophies. Third-generation farmer Tim Kemp and his wife Elise are dedicated to honouring the family legacy by growing a rich variety of oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins and avocados. In late May, roam the sustainable and nutrient-dense property during ‘Pick Your Own’ weekends.

Eastcoast Beverages is another bountiful citrus orchard boasting over 60 hectares of fruit. From June you can learn about the cultivation of high-quality ingredients – like lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges – by touring both the farm and factory before setting out and picking your own straight from the source. You can also sample an array of citrus-inspired sweet and savoury treats at their on-site cafe, Bambino’s .

If it’s just juicy oranges you’re after, Cedar Farm in Dooralong is a must-visit. Located about 30 minutes north of Peats Ridge, it features 15 flourishing orchards and over 3000 orange trees – with take-home bags during the season (from July) at low prices. Not bad for a fruity weekend haul.

woman picking oranges at Oranges at Dooralong — Pick your own citrus fruits on the Central Coast. (Image: James Vodicka)

Organic dining

What makes the Central Coast hinterland so special is the unwavering respect the communities have for their cherished backyard. Locally owned and operated farms are all striving for more sustainable practices and methods to both enhance biodiversity and reduce environmental impact, each with a heartwarming food philosophy.

The Food Farm in Wyong Creek believes good food is worth both the work and the wait. Devoted to regenerative farming, first-generation ‘farmily’ Tim Eyes and Hannah Greenshields are recognised for their grass-fed, grass-finished beef and pasture-raised, gold medal-winning chickens. With an open gate policy, The Food Farm encourages visitors to swing by and try some of their slow-grown produce at their small ‘honesty’ farm shop. With no staff, you can pick up a few quality cuts of meat and pasteurised eggs, leaving the owing amount in cash or via eftpos.

Keeping the spirit of generational organic farming alive is Fanelli Organics . Nestled in the Central Coast’s scenic and sleepy Mangrove Mountain, founders Eden and Louise Fanelli own over 45 hectares of plentiful farmland and orchards that produce a huge range of organic fruit and vegetables, like purple Dutch carrots, blood oranges, broccoli and Tuscan kale. A true home-grown operation, Fanelli Organics shares its fresh produce with local restaurants and community markets, including the beloved markets at Like Minds Cafe at Avoca Beach every Wednesday afternoon.

farmers holding fresh produce picked at Fanelli Organics — See where your food comes from at Fanelli Organics.

Paddock-to-plate dining

High-quality ingredients go hand in hand with premium dining, and the Central Coast is home to several paddock-to-plate restaurants that showcase its diverse and rich agriculture. Paired with warm, grassroots hospitality, there are culinary triumphs, new menus and revered chefs constantly popping up, putting the local dining scene firmly on the map.

Award-winning Mount White restaurant Saddles is a quintessential Australian dining destination, dedicated to country-style cooking and seasonal produce. Nestled in thick bushland with wraparound verandahs, floral gardens and an idyllic dam, the gourmet homestead and bakehouse is unlike any restaurant on the Central Coast. Here, head chef Reece Collins and his team serve up an impressive breakfast and lunch menu that oozes rustic charm. Pull up a comfy armchair on the expansive deck, listen to birdsong, and tuck into flavoursome dishes like the farmhouse Benedict with honey-cured ham, lemon myrtle hollandaise and Warrigal gremolata, or the hearty beef brisket pie with confit garlic potato purée and rainbow chard.

woman writing in notebook next to a table of food at Saddles, Central Coast food — Taste country-style cooking at Saddles. (Image: Destination NSW)

Delivering a slice of sophistication and luxury to the shores and bushland of Bouddi Peninsula is Bells at Killcare . One of the few boutique resorts on the Central Coast, it’s known for its premium service and five-star suites, as well as its bountiful kitchen gardens that boast an orchard, olive trees, avocado trees, free-range hens and a honey bee hive.

Cameron Cansdell has returned to Bells at Killcare as head chef, bringing his expertise to the casual yet refined menus that feature a raw bar with Oscietra caviar, freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters and Moreton Bay bugs, all served alongside optional matched wines. Sample some of Australia’s best regional wines and standout dishes, like roasted Wollemi duck with grilled leeks, rocket, grilled grapes and 10-year-aged balsamic, or the shareworthy salt-crusted snapper with herb salad and salsa, before roaming the picturesque gardens, wine in hand.

cocktail at Bells At Killcare — Sample incredible wine, cocktails and dishes at Bells At Killcare. (Image: Nikki To)

Plan your next visit to the delicious Central Coast.