The Old Clare Hotel - Chippendale, New South Wales

Christine

Enjoyed a three night stay at The Old Clare Hotel. We loved the location close to Spice Alley and transport links.
Our room was really spacious-great bed and interesting bathroom arrangement. Absolutely loved an early morning swim in the rooftop heated pool.
Hotel staff in reception and at breakfast and in the main bar were really friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the variety available at breakfast most days.
The events team at The Old Clare,however, need to consider the impact of holding large events on other guests. The rooftop bar was closed most evenings for ‘private’ groups and breakfast on the final morning was severely disrupted for other guests due to the arrangements made for a conference.

simon ceglinski

From check-in to check-out, this hotel exceeded our expectations. It’s great to see a classic Aussie pub reborn into something new. The wider hotel decor was vibrant and fun, suite layout spacious and considered, toiletries high quality and mini bar selection decent. More power outlets/USB outlets in the room would be nice. The staff were helpful and accommodating, though felt a little inexperienced at times, mostly at reception and the rooftop bar. The lift was slow. These were very minor downsides. We’d definitely return.

Josh T

Have been meaning to stay here for years… finally had the opportunity where the location made the most sense. ||From the outset - the service was fantastic. ||The bed is very comfortable and it made getting up very difficult. ||I would very very happily return, but there was one pretty big issue. Even if you’re a very comfortable couple (as I think we are) - having limited to no privacy in the bathroom is a bit of a deal-breaker. Shower is completely open to the sleep space (certainly encourages shorter showers - so there a green bonus) and the toilet space is behind frosted glass … but certainly doesn’t leave much to the imagination.

Anna

Outstanding service, very clean and cozy rooms! We stayed here a while back and only just got around to leaving a review. We were in Sydney for the Taylor Swift concert, despite being fully booked out that month the staff has made an immense effort to have our room ready 1 hour prior to check in. We really appreciated it! Sasha and another gentleman at the front desk were kind and very helpful with earlier check in, bags, where we could catch a train etc. The staff helped us store our bags prior to check in and also when we checked out before our later flight. When we arrived to our rooms our bags were already brought up there, which was very attentive! Rooms were very clean, beds were soft and pillows were perfect too. Our room had a glass bathroom (the glass is frosted so not see through), that was absolutely fine with us (but a heads up for others, do check your booking if it’s not your cup of tea). The hotel is also easy walking distance to the train station. Definitely recommend, thank you for the lovely stay and we will be back in the future!

s s

I had a great time in this hotel for my family trip. The service was amazing and their facilities, and rooms were well looked after. The location was also very nice, with easy access to key areas in the city. 100% recommended for your stay in Sydney!! I had a great time in this hotel for my family trip. The service was amazing and their facilities, and rooms were well looked after. The location was also very nice, with easy access to key areas in the city. 100% recommended for your stay in Sydney!!

Ella de Cruz

Service and location is unbeatable, super great. However for the price, I expected more cleanliness in the room. I stayed in the Abercrombie Room. The bathroom was not spotless, the screens had grime and dust on the tables. The bed is also super soft/sinks in so not ideal for long stays/guests with back problems.

Greg Shore

An excellent bar serving delicious cocktails. It has a great ambience and located right on Spice Alley.
The staff are friendly and help share the good vibes of the bar.
I have visited in winter, and found it warm and inviting; and in the summer it is cool and relaxing.
A must place to visit.

Mightymouse X

Just to be absolutely clear, this is a review of the Old Clare pub at ground level, not the accommodation hotel that sits next to/above it, nor the rooftop bar space up on Level 4 next to the pool.

This is an appropriately character-laden old-world remnant of the brewing district of the southern CBD that has been left largely intact in terms of the tiling and atmosphere at ground level. It has oodles of outdoor seating available on a fine day out on Broadway or on the laneway side.

Reasonably priced pub grub menu, slightly posh as it shares its kitchen with the accommodation hotel. Inside the pub a rounded island bar in the centre is surrounded by bar stools and then against the interior wall are some new curved alcove couch and table areas where five mates can congregate to talk shop over schooners.

The tap beer choices rotate regularly - mostly girly beers at the lighter and fruity end of the pale and Pacific ale range, sadly not much in the classic range (e.g. Tooheys Old, Tooheys New, or Reschs). Nothing dark on tap either, although the beer fridges under the bar may hide some bottles of White Rabbit Dark Ale or similar. There was, some months back, a couple of Mountain Culture brews on tap, but these are now gone unfortunately.

Bar staff might be shared with the hotel that forms part of the business, as they seem to be fairly polished youngsters from Euro and Sth American backgrounds. Post Covid, this pub has embraced the 100% tap’n’go payment, system, so unfortunately cash is not accepted at this establishment.

As for the latrines, there is one unisex dunny and handbasin in the corridor parallel to Broadway, near the street. The loo was clean when I visited, plenty of soft sh*t tickets on hand and the plumbing infrastructure is functional.

Give this place a go if you’ve never visited - it’s super convenient for a quick round before a film at the Palace Central cinema next door, or a chow-down at the nearby strip of faux street food market outlets in ‘Spice Alley’. Linger longer on a sunny weekend arvo in the outdoor tables and chairs and watch the world walk past and your cares evaporate into the diesel mist of the bus lane of Broadway.