When I was younger, I used to dream about staying in a hotel in the city. It was a romanticised version of what I wanted my life to be like when I grew into a mysterious ‘adult’.
I dreamed of having drinks at a moody hotel bar, shopping for anything I wanted and wandering through the city streets. I got the chance to bring this dream to life when I stayed at the Hotel Woolstore 1888 in Pyrmont.
Hotel Woolstore 1888 is nestled one street away from Darling Harbour and is the perfect eclectic mix of vintage and modern styling, which comes together to create the exact moody hotel experience I used to dream of.
From the second I walked in, I was stunned by the character and charm. From the strong wood décor inside to the wedge shape of the building, it all comes together to create an unmatched hotel experience.
First opened in January 1888 as a wool store, the building was one of the earliest Victorian warehouses and the oldest wool store with a saw-tooth roof. It was designed by Morell and Kemp for pioneer JH Geddes, who introduced mechanical shearing equipment, it truly is a historic gem.
The hotel room I stayed in was a spacious room, which really exceeded my expectations. Often, I have found that for the high price point of hotels the rooms are small and only have the basics, Hotel Woolstore 1888 was different. The bathroom held a large tub that was designed for relaxation, along with a massive shower. My only issue with the bathroom was that the toilet was extremely low to the floor, so much so that my guest and I both questioned the design. In addition to the bed in the hotel room there was a lounge area, which made it more homely.
It gives guests the chance to relax in their room without feeling cooped up. Overall, the room was amazing.
Within Hotel Woolstore 1888 is their authentic Spanish tapas restaurant, Percy. The moody ambience of candle lighting perfectly illuminated the room and was the setting of my ideal dining experience. I chose a selection of four different tapas dishes alongside a cocktail. While the service was quick and expert, I was able to slowly enjoy my meal and really taste all the unique flavours of the Spanish cuisine.
My favourites were the Jamon Serrano Reserva and the Pan Con Tomate.
The staff were extremely knowledgeable about their selection of natural Spanish wines and were able to recommend the perfect blend that went delightfully with my chosen tapas.
After I had my fill of tapas and wine, I chose to finish off the night with dessert, a sweet lemon sorbet, which was divine. It was the perfect end to the night. I highly recommend Percy whether you are staying at Hotel Woolstore 1888 or not.
The next day I wanted to fulfill another part of my childhood dream, going shopping. Just a couple of hundred metres away from the hotel is the city’s Light Rail system, which I used to get me around the city all day. What made my shopping experience better was knowing I had an easy way to get back to where I was staying. It meant I could go and drop off my things before heading back out again. The hotel’s location is an amazing drawcard.
Later that afternoon, my guest and I went for a walk along the harbour. There is really no lack of places to stop and have a drink, which is what we did. We just sat and people watched while we waited for our dinner reservation.
Later that evening we dined at Pyrmont’s hottest new Asian restaurant, Dan Dan.
Dan Dan was created by Bobby Volcevski and Andrew Duncan, who are two seasoned veterans of the culinary world and have a combined 40 years of experience in the industry. They drew on their vast experience working in top tier establishments around the globe and have designed a dining experience unlike any other.
Again, the ambience of the restaurant was a massive drawcard for me. It felt decadent and inviting and, in my opinion, is a must visit. I tried a range of their pan-Asian dishes, but my favourites were the grilled snapper in yellow curry sauce; sesame prawn toast; and the potato gems with salmon sashimi. All of these dishes were filled with authentic Asian flavours and left my mouth watering.
Making the experience better was the wide range of cocktails, there were so many great choices! To finish off the night, my guest and I shared a desert, which perfectly brought together a range of sweet Asian flavours.
Visiting Dan Dan is something you have to add to your itinerary the next time you are in Sydney, you won’t regret it!
Make sure to visit Hotel Woolstore 1888 the next time you need a place to stay in the city or, if you are anything like me, just want to satisfy parts of your childhood dream.
Visit https://www.woolstore1888handwritten.com.au.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.