At the start of the year, I predicted The Eve Hotel would be one of Australia’s most exciting openings of 2025 – and it looks like I wasn’t wrong. After earning a spot on Travel + Leisure’s list of the 100 Best New Hotels of the Year, I was itching to check in. Two blissful nights later, I can confirm: this boutique beauty lives up to the hype.
Opened in February, The Eve is one of the newest kids on the block in the trendy Wunderlich Lane precinct, rubbing shoulders with some of Sydney’s hottest new restaurants, including Bar Julius, Lottie, Olympus and Island Radio. While the hotel has everything you need at your fingertips – from a heated rooftop pool to a luxe spa – it also makes a perfect launchpad for exploring the best of Sydney's inner city suburbs.
What’s The Eve Hotel like?
Entering the art-filled lobby from Baptist Street, I almost felt like I’d accidentally stumbled into a contemporary gallery. Designed as a dream collaboration between SJB’s Adam Haddow and 360 Degrees’ Daniel Baffsky, the hotel is both a transporting urban oasis and a delightfully Sydney-centric celebration of place. Soft, organic curves and natural materials set the scene, while pops of colour from custom-made artwork by local artists bring the space to life.
The Eve undoubtedly boasts one of Australia’s most stylish lobbies, complete with striking blue couches, burgundy wool banquettes, soothing natural stone walls and eclectic art. Two standout pieces particularly caught my eye: a shimmering hand-stitched gold moon sculpture by Perth artist Tarryn Gill, and a bright hand-knotted tapestry by renowned Surry Hills artist and gallery owner Louise Olsen.
The soundscape is as effortless as the space itself, shifting with the natural light – from slow and soft in the morning to more upbeat as the day unfolds. The ambient soundtrack followed me from the lobby, down the white, cloistered corridor – a popular photo spot for diners at the neighbouring Olympus restaurant – and into my ground-floor Sunset Balcony Room.
What are the rooms like at The Eve Hotel?
The Eve Hotel’s 102 light-filled rooms are snug yet spacious, with an unpretentious layer of sophistication. There are nine room types to choose from, including Courtyard and Sunset Rooms with charming Juliet balconies that overlook the rooftops of Redfern and Surry Hills.
I stayed in one of the slightly larger ground-floor Sunset Balcony Rooms, which came with its own private terrace overlooking a garden of native plants. These earthy tones extend into the room, where olive-toned terracotta tiles, a fluffy rug and a king bed in premium linens create a sense of calm. I particularly loved the banquette-style couch that doubles as a cosy window seat and the scalloped mirrors in the bathroom. Bonus points for the blackout blinds (hello, uninterrupted sleep) and the plush eucalyptus-toned robes that had me feeling peak relaxation.
This native Australiana colour palette is also reflected in the quirky, bespoke glassware designed by Kairos, and continues with the botanical, citrus-inspired signature scents by Saardè (who happen to have an adjoining store on Baptist Street). The mini bar shows off local makers too, featuring Kakawa chocolates, Chunky Dave’s peanuts, and a small-batch, single malt whisky collaboration between Archie Rose Distilling Co and Bar Julius.
What are the best restaurants/bars at The Eve Hotel?
Given that The Eve is in the heart of Wunderlich Lane, you’re spoilt for choice with exceptional restaurants and bars. Sharing an entrance with the hotel, Bar Julius channels the vibes of a classic European hotel lobby bar with a modern, art-filled twist. Brought to us by Liquid and Larder – the Sydney hospo group behind The Gidley, Alfie’s and Bistecca – this 100-seat bar opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We highly recommend starting your day with a stack of buttermilk pancakes (also available as room service), then returning for happy hour from 4pm to 5pm for $2 and $15 hot dogs. Bar Julius also claims to make the “world’s best mimosa” – so you might have to go suss that one for yourself.
Upstairs on the all-weather rooftop, Lottie serves up a 100 per cent gluten-free menu bursting with fresh, Mexican-inspired snack-style dishes. Think house-made tortillas piled with fresh, zingy and charred toppings, plus a cracking line-up of tequilas and mezcals, alongside three types of Margaritas – classic, spicy and frozen.
Also within the Wunderlich Lane precinct, you’ll find Olympus (an uber-popular Greek garden restaurant), Island Radio (a high-energy Southeast Asian eatery), Baptist Street Rec Club (a retro music bar serving Thai snacks), Regina La Pizzeria (a classic Italian pizza joint), S’wich (a Bondi favourite for fresh sandos and salads), and Gelato Messina (a beloved gelato institution).
What is the service like at The Eve Hotel?
The Eve Hotel’s 24-hour guest services are impeccable – attentive but not too overbearing. Upon check-in, I was offered valet parking ($55 per day) and then personally escorted to my room with a brief walk-through of the essentials: how to adjust the temperature and lighting, where to find the filtered water taps, directions to the rooftop pool and how to order room service (available from Bar Julius from 6.30am to 10pm).
What is the pool like at The Eve Hotel?
The 20-metre rooftop pool was the star of The Eve’s pre-opening buzz. Overlooking Surry Hills and Redfern, this lush urban oasis pays homage to the site’s historical roots as one of Sydney’s first pleasure gardens. Surrounded by native plants and exotic palms, it’s easy to forget you’re in the city, while retro-style umbrellas and deep orange sunbeds and cabanas channel laid-back Florida holiday vibes. The pool is heated in the cooler months.
What is the gym like at The Eve Hotel?
While The Eve Hotel doesn’t have an on-site gym, guests enjoy complimentary access to Hiscoes Gym, just a five-minute stroll down Crown Street. Spread across three floors, the gym offers more than 50 weekly classes – ranging from yoga and boxing to strength and HIIT – along with four squash courts.
What’s the spa like at The Eve Hotel?
One of Sydney’s most-loved beauty salons, The Parlour Room, opened its third salon in Wunderlich Lane, offering hotel guests a serene sanctuary amidst the buzzing lifestyle hub. From uniquely personalised facials to deeply relaxing massages, the treatments here are designed as ritualistic self-care practices tailored to your needs. My therapist’s warm, gentle touch and smooth strokes melted away the tension in my tired muscles, leaving me completely refreshed.
The Parlour Room also offers manicures, tanning, waxing, lash lifts, skin needling, teeth whitening and specially curated experience packages designed in collaboration with The Eve Hotel.
What’s the area like around The Eve Hotel?
Located in Sydney’s trendy new Wunderlich Lane lifestyle precinct, The Eve seamlessly blends the glamour and grunge of Redfern with the creativity and cool of Surry Hills. Guests are within walking distance of Crown Street, which is lined with independent boutiques, cult-favourite bakeries and thriving cafés. On the other side, Redfern is Sydney’s Aboriginal heartland and boasts an impressive lineup of multicultural restaurants.
Within Wunderlich Lane, you’ve got all the essentials covered with a Coles, Harris Farm and a pharmacy. And of course, as mentioned above, you’re spoilt with an incredible lineup of restaurants and bars just steps away.
While there’s no train or metro nearby, local buses to the city stop right outside the hotel. For more options, you can walk eight minutes to Moore Park Light Rail, which connects to Central Station and its trains, metro and light rail services. Alternatively, Central is a 15-minute walk down Cleveland Street and along Elizabeth Street.
Why you should book a stay at The Eve Hotel?
The Eve is an everybody hotel. Art buffs will love its eclectic yet stylish design, foodies will appreciate having Sydney’s hottest restaurants and bars on their doorstep, locals will enjoy a chic staycation in the suburbs, and holidaygoers will appreciate the lush green escape on the city’s edge.
Address: 8 Baptist St, Redfern, 2016
Price: From $519 per night
Closest Transport Link: Eight-minute walk to Moore Park Light Rail
Book Now: www.booking.com