‘The Buckland Terrace’ Timeless Inner-City Treasure

Hotel Description

You know what? I’ve walked past The Buckland Terrace probably fifty times over the years without really noticing it – which, honestly, is part of its charm. This place doesn’t scream for attention like some of the flashier hotels around town, but once you step inside, you get why it’s earned that 9-star rating. The building itself has this beautiful heritage character that they’ve actually preserved rather than gutted for some soulless renovation. The lobby feels like stepping into someone’s well-appointed home, if that someone happened to have impeccable taste and a serious budget for Persian rugs.

What really sold me on this place was the attention to detail that you don’t find everywhere. The staff – and I mean this genuinely – seem to actually enjoy their jobs, which makes such a difference when you’re dealing with early check-ins or need restaurant recommendations that go beyond the tourist traps. They pointed me toward this incredible little café three blocks over that I never would have found otherwise. The rooms themselves are spacious by Sydney standards (and if you’ve stayed in inner-city Sydney before, you know that’s saying something), with these gorgeous high ceilings and windows that actually open – revolutionary concept, right? I stayed on the third floor facing the street side, and while there’s some traffic noise during peak hours, it settles down nicely by evening. The bathroom was properly luxurious without being pretentious about it, with one of those rain showers that actually has decent water pressure.

Location-wise, you’re perfectly positioned without being stuck in the chaos of the CBD. It’s about a fifteen-minute walk to Circular Quay if you’re feeling energetic, or there’s a bus stop literally around the corner that’ll get you anywhere you need to go. The neighborhood itself has this lovely residential feel – tree-lined streets, corner pubs that locals actually frequent, and enough cafés to satisfy any coffee snob. I mean, this is Sydney we’re talking about. Parking can be tricky if you’re driving, but there’s a secure garage two streets over, and honestly, you won’t need a car once you’re settled in. What impressed me most was how the hotel manages to feel both timeless and current – they’ve got all the modern conveniences you’d expect from a 4-star property, but without losing that character that makes heritage buildings special in the first place. It’s the kind of place where you can imagine staying for a week without feeling like you’re trapped in a hotel bubble, which is exactly what you want when you’re trying to actually experience Sydney rather than just visit it.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $228. Two-Bedroom House with 2 × 1 large double bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Nice house for city break – Thomas from United Kingdom – 11 February 2025 (7/10)

  Great location – Easy walk to Waterloo Metro and Redfern station, park, Woolworths and pubs / cafes. Buckland St is fairly quiet at night for an urban area and tree lined.
  
  Lounge area is comfortable for 2/3 adults, dining area can suit 4 people and kitchen has nice light and gas a good size fridge, dishwasher etc. Setup with washing machine / dryer was also helpful as we stayed for 9 days.
  
  2nd bedroom has a large wardrobe and main has fresh air with balcony. Beds were comfortable.
  
  What could be improved: Garden is a good size space but needs some love to make it inviting to use in the evening. Umbrella instead of covered net would be good and clearer path / grass which was long and had some mozzies.
  
  Great fresh air from rear door but no flyscreen on the rear door yet which would allow for cooler evenings in summer.
  
  No Air Conditioning but gather this is being installed in Feb 2025. Shower curtain was old and a but dirty but feedback given and again team said they’ll update this for future guests.
  
  Gave feedback on cleaners renewing basics such as hand soap, coffee pods and checking for breakages – eg we had a total of 4 for dinner one evening with visitors but had 3 wine glasses

• Exceptional – Muireann from Australia – 30 March 2025 (10/10)

• Exceptional – Kieren from Australia – 15 October 2024 (10/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities