If you’re heading into the city for a weekend staycation, choosing a hotel can be overwhelming.
There are hundreds of hotels boasting similar rooms and amenities in 50 shades of beige. But, in a sea of sterility, ADGE Hotel and Residencies stands out as a vibrant and eclectic alternative, providing a true inner-city experience.
Though it looks the same as any other boutique hotel from the outside, upon entering ADGE – pronounced like ‘edge’ with an A – you’re met with an explosion of colour which can only be described as ‘metro meets retro’.
In the lobby alone, you’ll see splashes of colour all over, mixing industrial installations with bright, geometric patterns, and murals by tattoo artist Adrian Hing. And, this only continues into the rooms.
ADGE Hotel and Residencies first opened back in August last year with less than 100 rooms. Now, after an expansion earlier this year, and a second with the completion of a new 254-room tower situated on the former site of the Cambridge Hotel, it’s ready to wow more guests than ever before.
As part of my stay last month, I made myself at home in one of the new tower’s King Balcony Rooms.
Of course, the room had all of your basics – a huge bathroom, super comfortable bed, and a TV allowing you to watch any streaming service you like, making for the perfect place for anyone to have a relaxing night’s sleep.
But, what makes ADGE so special is all of the finishing touches. Each room comes complete with a Smeg fridge, high quality bath and shower products, and even a lounge to relax on if you’re not so keen on having ‘outside clothes’ on the bed. Our room, of course, even had a balcony, looking out onto the lively streets of Surry Hills.
If that doesn’t convince you, though, then the location just might.
Though it has convenient onsite parking available if you’re willing to brave the narrow spiral, ADGE is also located less than a 10-minute walk from Museum, or less than 20 from Central.
Being on Riley Street, just around the corner from Oxford Street, means there’s never going to be a shortage of things to see or do, whether it’s seeing a gig at the Oxford Art Factory, or grabbing a bite to eat.
For me, it was hard to bypass happy hour at The Rover – a cocktail bar and British-style restaurant with options for any appetite. $2 oysters, anyone?
Though the rain on the night meant I wasn’t able to explore the city as much as I would have liked to, fate brought me to Rivareno Gelato for dessert. Their Cremino Rivareno flavour is to die for, especially when enjoyed alongside a movie back at the hotel.
For breakfast, however, you’d be best off staying in, and enjoying a feed at Korean deli Soul Deli, situated beneath the hotel.
Whilst they have all of your basics available, I got the K-Street Toast – a Korean breakfast classic – and it was so good that I’d seriously consider going back just to have it again.
Going away for the weekend doesn’t necessarily have to mean escaping all hustle and bustle. But, if you’re going towards it, do it at ADGE.
Visit https://adgehotel.com.au.
Cassidy Pearce
Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022.