The Russell Boutique Hotel

The Russell Hotel draws mostly couples to its historic boutique doors and they're not there just for the hotel's superb location in the Rocks. The hotel’s site dates back to 1790 and has changed over the years from a hospital to a house and eventually to multiple hotels dating back to the mid-1800s. With such a historic past in Sydney’s oldest part of town, it’s no surprise that The Russell Hotel is famously known for being haunted by seamen, maids, and prostitutes, among other spirits. Even if you don’t see a ghost, it’s easy to enjoy this charming hotel which has the exterior of a brick castle and the interior of a homey bed-and-breakfast. The hotel is filled with narrow halls and cozy spaces set with comfy chairs, old fireplaces, antique wooden furniture, and soft prints or colors. The hotel’s bars are particularly attractive – one modern and chic, and the other (the oldest establishment in the city) with an old-fashioned pub-vibe. 

One of the biggest draws of The Russell Hotel is its central location in the historic Rocks area of Sydney. It’s not hard to reach major attractions on foot from the property. The harbor is a two-minute walk away, as is the Museum of Contemporary Art and Cadman’s Cottage. The Governor’s House takes 14 minutes to reach on foot, while the easily identifiable Sydney Opera House takes thirteen. There’s no shortage of restaurants or shops on surrounding streets. Guests can hop on a bus stop across the street. The Circular Quay T-line stop is four minutes away on foot. It’s a 25-minute drive to the Sydney Airport. 

The marked variability in decor adds an authentic touch to the historic bed-and-breakfast vibe that this property projects. The rooms are definitely homey and charming; some are more spacious than others. All rooms feature beds topped with quilts, antique wooden furniture, and wallpaper with floral, striped, or bird prints. Each comes with a flat-screen TV, fan, free Wi-Fi, kettle, bathrobe, and iron and ironing board. Some upper-level rooms include minibars and noisy air-conditioning. One Superior Room has direct access to a tiny interior courtyard with a table and chairs. Bathroom styles vary but are all clean with showers or shower/tub combos, free Natural Earth toiletries, and hairdryers. Take note that not all rooms have en-suite bathrooms which isn’t ideal for all. Some complaints have been made about bothersome noise from the bar or street. As mentioned before, there have been ghost sightings at The Russell Hotel, but no more so than Room eight, which supposedly hosts the ghost of a murdered sailor. Room 25 is also popular, but generally among Japanese anime fans as it was featured in the “Free! Eternal Summer” series.

For a historic boutique hotel, The Russel Hotel manages to provide quite a few spaces for guests to mingle and interact. The Push bar is where a simple free breakfast buffet of fruit, toast, cereals, and yogurt is offered in the mornings and drinks are offered for lunch and dinner. Sydney’s oldest licensed establishment: The Fortune of War, is a cozy old-fashioned bar that dates to 1828. Guests can gather and relax in a few places on-site such as the Sitting Room which has comfy couches, a furnished balcony, books, and a laptop. The rooftop garden has various seating options and lovely greenery. Wi-Fi is free throughout and there’s nearby parking for a discounted fee, which isn’t uncommon for the area.