30/10/2025
New Hotel Review 🏩 - I was excited to spend 25hours @ the brand spanking new 25hours branded hotel ‘The Olympia’ over its opening weekend. The creative design lifestyle brand from Germany makes sure every property in its portfolio is unique, playful & has a soul inspired by it’s location. In the case of Oxford St, Paddo, this old West Olympia Theatre, which later became (as I recall it in my stomping ground days) Grand Pacific Blue Room. The 109 room heritage building now tells lots of stories of its arty past and it beautifully combines old charm with new so you get a literal sense of its historic past. I loved the bursts of colour, old ticket box and outdoor garden that retains its gradient from the theatre seating. The rooms are in 2 design styles - the darker black ‘Renegade’ atrium side & the brighter blue ‘Dreamer’ street side. Review - Design - beautifully combine old with new 👌 Rooms - a bit compact for an experience stay (but to be fair, the large & suite rooms were not yet available upon opening). I felt the Renegade rooms were too dark & the artwork not restful above. Preferred the brighter, softer side & aqua blue tiles. The old windows are smaller originals so the bright palette compensates. They provide some comp goodies.🤘 Team - friendly staff greet you, but inexperienced & relied on the manager to guide them. I am sure that will improve once teething issues are put to bed 🫶 Dining - it was Sunday so only Monica & Jacob the Angel were open. I invited some friends to the Hollywood inspired rooftop. The urban view looked out to Oxford St/St Vinnies side so it was more city landscape but nice & long sweeping views so it will be great for the summer aperitif with friends. The menu was varied but not consistent I thought with its fair, some dishes probably not as expected but nice enough. Possibly overpriced for what you receive but the view & ambience somewhat compensate the overall experience. If you are a Accor+ member you do receive the 30% off food & 15% off bevy benefit. The London inspired cafe serves Lune croissants. Nice, not warm, pricey. I hear beloved London offshoot Palomar is getting good reviews. Overall Rating: 👍👍👍👍😀
