Balinese Charm meets Resort Living in Inner Sydney

Hotel Description

You know what’s weird? Finding a place in Sydney that actually delivers on its promise of “Balinese charm” without feeling like some cheesy theme park. But this spot in Camperdown – honestly, they’ve nailed it. The moment you walk in, there’s this immediate sense of calm that hits you, probably from the way they’ve done the lighting and the fact that you can actually hear water features instead of traffic noise from Parramatta Road.

Camperdown’s one of those inner Sydney neighborhoods that’s sort of having a moment – it’s wedged between Newtown’s chaos and Glebe’s weekend market crowds, but still feels residential enough that you’re not dodging tourists every time you step outside. The hotel sits pretty close to the university, which means the area has that nice mix of local cafes that actually know how to make coffee and enough green space (Sydney Park’s a quick walk) that you don’t feel completely suffocated by concrete. I mean, parking can be a bit of a nightmare during the week when students are around, but the hotel sorts that out for you.

What really gets me about this place is how they’ve managed to blend that tropical resort vibe with the reality of being in the middle of a major city. The rooms have these gorgeous timber details and textiles that feel authentically Indonesian – not just some random “exotic” décor thrown together. You’ll find yourself actually wanting to hang out in your room, which is saying something when you’re in Sydney with a million things to do. The bathrooms are particularly well done, with stone finishes that feel substantial and rain showers that have proper pressure. Honestly, after a day of walking around the city, sliding into one of their beds feels like a minor miracle – they’ve invested in really good mattresses and bedding that doesn’t feel scratchy or cheap.

The common areas are where the resort part really shines. There’s this courtyard space that somehow blocks out the urban noise completely, and they’ve got these daybeds where you can legitimately forget you’re not in Ubud. The pool’s not huge, but it’s designed smart – deep enough for actual swimming, warm enough year-round, and surrounded by enough greenery that you’re not staring at apartment buildings. Staff here seem to actually care about what they’re doing, which you don’t always find at the four-star level. They know the neighborhood well enough to point you toward the good stuff – like which nights the Rose Hotel has live music or when the Carriageworks markets are worth the walk.

The 9.3 rating makes sense once you’ve stayed here. It’s not trying to be the fanciest place in Sydney, but it’s doing something specific really well. You’re close enough to catch the light rail into the city center, walking distance to some genuinely good restaurants on King Street, and you’ve got this peaceful base that feels like a proper retreat. It’s the kind of place where you might actually sleep in on a Saturday morning instead of feeling like you need to be out maximizing every tourist moment.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $239. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Good communication. Has everything you need. Better than staying at hotel – Tracy from New Zealand – 8 April 2025 (9/10)

  Beautifully appointed great place

• Exceptional – Michaela from Australia – 15 February 2025 (10/10)

  Beautiful apartment that was very neat and clean with great facilities. The hosts were lovely and welcoming and always happy to facilitate any needs and answer any questions at anytime!
  Overall a wonderful stay and would happily come back! Thank you once again!

• Perfect – Cameron from Australia – 27 October 2024 (10/10)

  Everything
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Very good – Michael from Australia – 15 February 2025 (8/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities