Crystalbrook Albion

Rooms

Bedrooms at Crystalbrook Albion are bundles of retro-inspired fun, with luxe touches and tons of space in the larger ones. Oversized beds are wrapped in white linens, with down pillows and customised timber bedheads; Smart TVs come as standard and we loved the funky adjustable brass reading lights and Art Deco velvet chairs in pops of bright colour. Clever multipurpose room dividers include a basin, fridge, safe and rails for hanging clothes. This place may call itself a guesthouse, but the look and feel is pure boutique hotel.

Bathrooms are indulgent, too: marble tiles, quirky brass mirrors and Molton Brown toiletries. In larger rooms, deep free-standing tubs are strategically placed for gazing through a window or skylight; smaller rooms have cleverly designed opaque glass shower cubicles.

There are 6 different room types ranging from 'Cosy' (18 sq.m, designed for a cosy couple) up to the ginormous Albion Suite for a special occasion. My Master Room featured a large north-facing window and pink upholstered window seat looking directly onto the adjacent church roof. Gorgeous mid-morning sun poured into the room from 10am onwards, making our check-out even more reluctant.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

There's no restaurant at Crystalbrook Albion, but breakfast is included in the overnight rate and served in the lounge: bakery breads, pastries, granola, fruit and fresh orange juice.

For other meals, Surry Hills teems with popular restaurants and great little eateries. Try Xage for Vietnamese street food, including an amazing slow-cooked pork kho, and Porteño for Argentinian, which is a carnivore's dream.

Snacks, fruit and Nespresso coffees are available 24/7 in the lounge, and there's an honesty bar with a good selection of wines, spirits and cocktail ingredients. In-room refreshments include a selection of T2 teas, instant coffee, biscuits and a choice of fresh milks - including soy or almond, which we thought pretty impressive.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Explore the 'hood. Brunch at South-American inspired Rueben Hills, drink speciality coffee in the Paramount Coffee Project, and browse the vintage shops on nearby Crown Street
  
• Walk north into the city though peaceful Hyde Park. From there, spend a day doing the sights: the Art Gallery of NSW, the Botanic Gardens (don't miss the Rainforest and Herb gardens), the MCA at The Rocks, and of course, the harbourfront with the world-famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge
  
• Catch bus 374 for a day on Coogee Beach. Don't miss a swim in its tidal ocean pool, Wiley's Baths. Or lounge with locals at the beautiful Prince Alfred Park pool, a 15-min walk from the hotel
  
• Walk to Darling Harbour via Chinatown (stopping on the way for dumplings at Din Tai Fung) and spend a day strolling its boardwalks and people-watching
  
• Back at Crystalbrook Albion, take a glass of wine and a camera to the rooftop terrace for sunset views of Surry Hills

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Swimming

Kids

Children are welcome, but the style of guesthouse and location make it best suited to adults and older children.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Sweets can be set up as twin rooms and have space for a baby cot or extra bed. All other rooms have double beds and space for a baby cot.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Crystalbrook Albion is in the Surry Hills district of Sydney, Australia. It's 500m from Central Station, and surrounded by great bars and restaurants.

By Air:
Fly into Sydney then jump in a taxi or catch the Airport Link train, which runs every 10 minutes and takes 13 minutes to reach Central Station. From here, it's a 10-minute walk.

It's unlikely you'll want a car here, but if you plan to explore the region, see our car hire recommendations. Parking can be arranged with advanced notice.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.