St James, Art Deco Dream – 2 Bedrooms W Aircon

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about this place? The moment you walk into St James, you actually feel like you’ve stepped back into 1930s Sydney – but with all the modern stuff you actually need, like proper air conditioning that works. I mean, finding a genuine Art Deco apartment in Potts Point that hasn’t been completely gutted and modernized is honestly pretty rare these days.

The two-bedroom setup is really well thought out, and I’m saying this as someone who’s stayed in way too many cramped Sydney rentals. The bedrooms are actually separate spaces (not just divided by a curtain or something ridiculous), and the aircon reaches both rooms properly – which matters more than you’d think during those sticky February nights. The whole place has these beautiful original features… the bathroom tiles, the kitchen details, even the door handles feel authentic. But here’s the thing – they’ve managed to keep the character while making sure everything actually functions. The kitchen isn’t huge, but it’s got everything you need if you want to grab groceries from the Woolworths on Macleay Street instead of eating out every meal.

Location-wise, honestly, Potts Point is one of those neighborhoods that locals love but tourists often overlook. You’re literally a five-minute walk to Kings Cross station, which I know sounds sketchy if you’re not from Sydney, but the Cross has cleaned up so much in recent years. Plus, you can walk to the Royal Botanic Gardens in about fifteen minutes – I did it most mornings and it’s such a nice way to start the day. The cafés along Macleay Street are actually where locals go, not the tourist traps down in The Rocks. There’s this little place called Yellow that does incredible coffee, and it’s maybe two blocks away. The area can get a bit lively on weekend nights (you’re still in Kings Cross, after all), but the apartment’s windows are decent at keeping the noise out, and honestly, by midnight things settle down pretty well. Parking is… well, it’s Sydney, so street parking is a bit of a game, but there are paid lots nearby if you’re driving. Most people just use the trains though – the city’s right there, and you can get to Circular Quay in maybe ten minutes on the train. The 8.5 rating makes sense to me because while everything works well and the style is genuinely special, it’s not trying to be a luxury hotel – it’s more like staying in a really cool friend’s apartment who happens to have great taste and knows the neighborhood inside out.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $332. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Great location with a walking distance to fabulous coffee shops and restaurants. We enjoyed the stylish art deco style. – Eliza from Australia – 10 April 2025 (9/10)

  The apartment was in great location. Minted from train station and fantastic restaurants. Communication was fast and reliable.

• Prachtig art deco appartement in Kings Cross – Tieneke from Netherlands – 11 July 2025 (8/10)

  De centrale plek in Kings Cross,
  
  What could be improved: We wisten niet dat we 4 trappen op moesten met zware koffers. Een levendige buurt, hou rekening met lawaai ‘s nachts

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities