hero media

Sydney’s hottest new stay? A first look at The EVE Hotel

Credit: The EVE Hotel Sydney

Nestled in Wunderlich Lane – where history meets contemporary design – The EVE Hotel Sydney is a stylish sanctuary at the centre of Sydney’s cultural crossroads.

A bold new addition to Sydney/Warrane’s boutique hotel scene, The EVE Hotel Sydney seamlessly blends history, design and luxury in the heart of Redfern. More than just a place to stay, The EVE is a launchpad for cultural discovery, embodying a spirit of anticipation and new beginnings.

Set on the site of the old Wunderlich Factory – once renowned for its ornamental pressed metal ceilings – the hotel pays homage to its past while embracing the future of urban hospitality.

I’ll never forget the sense of arrival I felt as I strolled into Wunderlich Lane for the first time; almost as if I was momentarily caught between Sydney’s past and present. The warm glow from the boutique storefronts, the echoes of the old factory’s history and the modern architectural lines all came together in one captivating tableau.

The EVE’s biophilic design, lush rooftop gardens and art-filled interiors make it an inviting retreat for those who appreciate refined aesthetics and seamless luxury.

The location

The EVE Hotel Sydney balcony
The EVE Hotel Sydney is in the heart of Wunderlich Lane.

Perched between Surry Hills and Redfern, The EVE Hotel Sydney is at the heart of one of the city’s most dynamic cultural crossroads. Wunderlich Lane, once part of Sydney’s earliest pleasure gardens and later home to the renowned Wunderlich Factory, has been reimagined as a vibrant lifestyle precinct. Home to boutique retail, wellness experiences and some of Sydney’s most exciting new restaurants and bars, The EVE is a destination within itself. With Central Station a short stroll away, guests have easy access to explore the city and beyond.

Style and character

The EVE Hotel design
The design celebrates Sydney’s urban landscape.

A collaboration between acclaimed architect Adam Haddow from SJB Architects, landscape designer Daniel Baffsky of 360 Degrees and interior design by SJB, Bates Smart and George Livissianis, The EVE Hotel exudes effortless sophistication.

Rather than looking internationally for inspiration, the design celebrates Sydney’s urban landscape, featuring soft neutral tones, Australian materials and sculptural lighting by Henry Wilson. Original artworks by Louise Olsen of Dinosaur Designs adorn the walls (and the Bar Julius ceiling), while the hotel’s signature pomegranate motif is subtly woven throughout, symbolising rich experiences and new beginnings. A striking rooftop pool, enveloped in lush greenery, offers an oasis of calm in the city’s heart.

Facilities

The EVE pool
The rooftop pool area is a serene escape. (Image: Georg Roske)

The EVE’s carefully curated amenities set it apart. The 20-metre rooftop pool, complete with plush cabanas, tropical planting and stunning city views, provides a serene escape from the urban rush. I head here straight after check-in with Sydney’s golden hour providing the perfect backdrop for me to unwind and disconnect from the bustling city below – perhaps the most refreshing midday break I’ve had in recent memory.

A dedicated fitness space is still in the works, but upon completion will ensure fitness enthusiasts can maintain their routines, while wellness offerings, such as spa treatments from The Parlour Room and meditation spaces, cater to relaxation seekers.

The in-room experience is further elevated with luxury amenities from Saardé, including Australian-made bath products and glassware. Guests can also enjoy boutique retail, including Saardé’s flagship store, where the hotel’s bespoke olive oil-based amenities and artisanal glassware are available to purchase.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Rooms

rooms at The EVE
The rooms are thoughtfully designed in calming eucalyptus and red clay tones. (Image: Georg Roske)

Designed with both relaxation and sophistication in mind, the hotel’s 102 spacious guest rooms and suites are a masterclass in contemporary comfort. The seven room types vary from courtyard rooms to the sunset suites, offering something for all travellers.

Thoughtfully designed in calming eucalyptus and red clay tones, each space features premium bedding, curated furnishings and Juliet balconies or terraces, providing natural ventilation – a rarity to have that kind of fresh-air moment in a busy urban hotel.

Food and drink

Bar Julius
Bar Julius is the hotel’s European-inspired lobby bar.

The EVE Hotel places guests at the epicentre of one of Sydney’s most exciting dining precincts. Bar Julius, the hotel’s European-inspired lobby bar by Liquid & Larder, transitions seamlessly from breakfast espressos to post-dinner martinis, with a ‘no laptops after 5pm’ policy ensuring the space remains social and relaxed.

Upstairs, Lottie brings a fresh take on contemporary Mexican dining, helmed by head chef Alejandro Huerta (formerly of Noma Copenhagen and Pujol, Mexico). The rooftop mezcaleria and restaurant blends authentic Mexican flavours with premium Australian produce, offering a vibrant, 100 per cent gluten-free menu and an extensive agave-based drinks list.

Lottie bar at The EVE
Afternoon cocktails have never looked so good.

Within Wunderlich Lane, guests can also experience Olympus Dining, a Greek village-style eatery from The Apollo team, as well as Island Radio, a Southeast Asian-inspired restaurant with bold flavours and tropical futurism, and Baptist Street Rec. Club, a lively neighbourhood bar that channels the spirit of 1980s and ’90s Australiana with nostalgic cocktails and vibrant energy.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Access for guests with disabilities?

The EVE guestroom
There is step-free access throughout the property.

The EVE Hotel offers accessible rooms and facilities designed for ease of movement, with step-free access throughout the property. The design team has incorporated thoughtful elements to ensure a comfortable and seamless stay for all guests.

Family-friendly?

The EVE sunset suite
While not the central focus, families are welcome.

While The EVE is designed with a refined, adult-focused aesthetic, families are welcome. Spacious room layouts and the hotel’s convenient location make it a viable option for those travelling with children, though dedicated family amenities are limited.

Details

The EVE Hotel Sydney
The EVE Hotel Sydney is a microcosm of Redfern’s creative energy.

In sum, The EVE Hotel Sydney is more than a stylish new stay in a vibrant neighbourhood; it’s a microcosm of Redfern’s creative energy and Sydney’s ever-evolving cultural landscape. From the biophilic design elements to the world-class dining, The EVE offers a thoughtful blend of modern luxury and nods to its historic Wunderlich heritage. It’s an experience that will linger long after you’ve closed your suitcase.

Best for: Design lovers, luxury seekers and culture enthusiasts.
Address: The EVE Hotel Sydney, Wunderlich Lane, 8 Baptist Street, Redfern, NSW
Cost: From $519 per night

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
View profile and articles
hero media

3 vintage train journeys to step back in time and explore NSW

(Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.

Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.

Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.

Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train carriage
Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.

The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.

The Riverina

Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train travelling through nsw
Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.

The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.

North Coast

Forest Sky Pier
Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)

This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.

Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.

Golden West

winery experience in new south wales
Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.

Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.

Special event journeys

meal onboard Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train
Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.

For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.

Step back into the golden age of rail travel at vintagerailjourneys.com.au.