The Old Clare Hotel is full of ghosts – not the Stephen King kind, but the ghosts of parties past. If you listen closely you can probably hear echoes of Brit pop reverb off the mottled yellow tiles that still line the downstairs bar of this former student-haunt. Thank God for heritage listings. We’re betting there are also trace elements of Jager bombs in the grout. But a whole new era has begun at the old Carlton Brewery site: where once was a temple to sticky carpeted uni shenanigans, now stands a vintage-styled cocktail bar beneath a slick boutique hotel, complete with rooftop pool. Standard rooms are generously sized, with king beds, mid-century modern furniture and city views, meanwhile Abercrombie Rooms offer much the same experience, with the added kick of a freestanding in-room bath. But if you want to go full baller, check into the C.U.B. Suite – it’s housed in a former boardroom, and every piece of wood paneling and parquetry has been kept intact.
Time Out Tip: The Old Clare is located in Sydney’s coolest suburb, Chippendale. Nearby you’ll find five star restaurants, a three storey warehouse of contemporary Chinese art, and a beautiful, modern cinema complex.
