202 Elizabeth is a new designer boutique hotel in Surry Hills. This six storey hotel with 38 rooms is somewhat of an architectural marvel dubbed the "impossible build". This adults only 16+ hotel is designed as a discreet retreat from the bustle of busy Surry Hills and no two rooms are alike. And great news for pet owners, 202 Elizabeth has pet friendly rooms!
"Are you ready for a hotel stay?" I say to Milo who tilts his head back trying to figure out why his mummy is chirping gaily at him. Mr NQN and I arrive at 202 Elizabeth Street (no spoiler, that's the address) with our two pooches in tow.
Don't feel bad if you miss 202 Elizabeth. It's very subtle from the street and bucks the trend of most hotels with a big driveway and valet. This is boutique and private, almost like an exclusive club. You have to be in the know to look for it. When you arrive to check in you ring the doorbell and the smiling staff let you in. You're welcomed in the sitting area to relax with a champagne coupe of iced green tea with bubble on top. There's also an outdoor courtyard at the rear of the hotel.
202 Elizabeth has around half a dozen dog friendly rooms which are all the rooms with balconies (and tip if you're not staying with a dog, try the book the Lizzy Suite, the hotel's top suite, it's the most spacious). The cost for having your pet with you is an extra $95 on top of your room rate. Our room #406 called "The William" is on the fourth floor and has 28 square metres of inside space with a large wrap-around balcony. Unlike other dog friendly hotels that are conditionally dog friendly there is no limit on the size of the dog and the dog can stay in the room by themselves.Having said that, this room is really best for 1 dog as having 2 dogs and 2 people felt a little crowded. They have set it up for the two dogs with two dog beds, four bowls and a toy gift for each pooch (a snack, drink, puppy turn down treats, pet tags are included in the package but these didn't arrive so make sure to ask for them). There is also a special pet dinner menu available from reception.
For the human guests the king bed is very comfortable with a range of pillows so that you can find the one that you need for a good night's sleep. There are soft Piyama robes and slippers and internet is fast and free for unlimited devices. There's also a complimentary mini bar with savoury and sweet snacks as well as organic soft drinks available.
The bathroom is very much on trend with stone, marble and striking tiles. It is stocked with basics by brand Hunter with aromas like grapefruit, tangerine peel and rum. The shower water pressure however is on the weaker side with a small shower head.
During our stay the dogs spend a lot of time on the balcony where they take up residence on the chairs sunning themselves.
But back to that build. The wooden glass encased staircase that winds up the centre of the hotel is not only the core of the hotel but was also the first part of the hotel that was built. The hotel is made of a recycled frame in cross laminate timber as the brief to Alessi Design was a carbon neutral build with zero waste. Because the location did not allow for trucks to stop on the front or back they came up with the idea of building the staircase first and then the rest of the building around it.
The entire hotel was built in Melbourne and then shipped to Sydney where it was constructed like a puzzle. Where the reception desk now sits was a truck turning bay to drop off supplies. The whole build took 3.5 years, not helped by COVID delays and now the staircase is a feature of the hotel with glass walls to encourage guests to use the staircase instead of the lift to make their stay as carbon neutral as possible. Sustainable goat hair carpet lines the floors.
Guests can climb up to the 6th floor rooftop bar for a stunning sunset view. Their liquor license is just 2 days old at the time of our visit but there are plans for an honour bar on the rooftop bar and complimentary canapes and cocktails for a two hour period during sunset. There are no plans to offer more comprehensive food options as Surry Hills has so many dining options.
For this evening we are headed to Pellegrino 2000 just 2 minutes walk away with an outdoor, dog-friendly area. And there are two parks nearby that you can take your dog for some relief: Belmore Park and Harmony Park (although the tree directly in front of the hotel was a favourite spot for Milo).
Breakfast for the time being is served in the room at a time of your choosing. This will change into a buffet style breakfast in the future but I'm more than happy to take advantage of an in-room breakfast at any time.
Continental breakfast is an understatement on what is actually brought to the room. There's yogurt with toasted muesli and fresh raspberries, watermelon, all washed down with excellent coffee.
Also on offer are hot cakes with cream, honey and raspberries as well as waffles with Nutella, honeyed cream and raspberries and for savoury tooths there is bruschetta with cottage cheese, heirloom tomatoes and semi dried tomatoes. And of course the dogs get the raspberries!
So tell me Dear Reader, do you like the idea of an adults only hotel? And how important is dog friendly to you when looking for accommodation?
Need To Know
Parking: car parking is available at the nearby Goulburn Street Parking located at 101 Goulburn Street, Sydney for $99 a day.
Mini bar: yes complimentary (no alcohol at the moment in the mini bar).
Pet Friendly: yes, an additional $95 pooch package is available with some rooms.
202 Elizabeth
202 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 8029 9090
https://202elizabeth.com.au/
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