New Sydney boutique hotel opens in surprising location

Times change.

A couple of decades ago the area bordering inner city Sydney suburbs of Redfern and Surry Hills was best avoided. 

There were only a few reasons to visit the badlands off Cleveland Street: to eat some great Lebanese food, buy an illicit wrap or two, find a lady of the night, or perhaps get into a fight.

But gentrification happened and now the area around Wunderlich Lane is home to restaurants, bars and, as of today, a new luxe hotel.

Independently owned by TOGA and operated by TFE Hotels, the EVE Hotel Sydney opened its doors today.

It is set among a labyrinth of lively laneways connecting Surry Hills and Redfern and boasts a 20-metre rooftop pool..

Designed by Surry Hills-based architects SJB (with styling collaboration from Bates Smart), the city's newest 102-room boutique hotel is part of Sydney's newest lifestyle precinct, Wunderlich Lane, set on the site of Sydney’s original Wunderlich Ltd factory, which made terracotta roof tiles.

 
The precinct’s inner-city laneways will feature boutique shopping, al fresco dining and design-led commercial and event spaces.

“We have a prominent address at the crossroads of Surry Hills and Redfern and a location full of rich history,” said TOGA Group managing director and TFE Hotels chairman Allan Vidor.

“And our team are looking forward to sharing our version of Sydney hospitality.”

"By design, The EVE’s pre-opening team has aimed to create spaces where guests and visitors can immerse themselves in the art, cultural, and culinary offerings from the local community,"

See https://theevehotel.com.au/.

Meet a luxe South African lifestyle precinct with a purpose

 

The Saxon Hotel, in Johannesburg's northern suburbs, is one of the best addresses in Africa. Food, wine, accommodation and service are all top notch. Nelson Mandela wrote his autobiography while in residence.

Now the team behind Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, led by owner Douw Steyn, is full steam ahead with an ambitious new project: Steyn City.

The Steyn City residential lifestyle estate - an ambitious project is an unlikely location - has just opened Saxon Spa Steyn City, Steyn City Hotel and Guild restaurant, with shared workspace and conferencing.

Steyn City is located next to Deepsluit, one of the most impoverish settlements in South Africa, and the Lucky 7 informal settlement (shanty town), but insurance magnate Steyn wants the project to benefit locals through employment and business opportunities, and by actively engaging with the community, which is just a short distance from the business hub of Sandton.



“It is with great pleasure that we introduce our newest offerings nestled within the prestigious Steyn City residential lifestyle estate," says George Cohen, managing director of Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa.

"These additions to our portfolio mark our dedication to reshaping serenity and luxury within an environment that is truly incomparable."

The precinct includes Steyn City Hotel by Saxon, a luxury apartment hotel with 50 luxury serviced apartments set in 2,000 acres of indigenous parkland, only 50% of which can be developed.

Also on site are a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, a private 50km mountain bike track and a 300-metre lagoon.

There are also padel and tennis courts, walking and trail running tracks.

The new hotel apartments boast a hotel cocktail bar and a rooftop pool.

“This is a rare partnership: the power of our brands coming together is certain to provide guests with a unique experience that is not easily forgotten,” says Steven Louw, CEO of Steyn City Properties.

“As we unveil the Steyn City Hotel by Saxon, we are not just introducing a new chapter in luxury hospitality, but an unparalleled experience where sophistication meets convenience." OK hypemaster. 

The Steyn City Hotel is part of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World collection, along with the Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, and family-owned Shambala Private Game Reserve.

The Saxon Spa, a wellness and rejuvenation centre, will open soon.

See https://www.steyncity.co.za/ and https://steyncityhotel.co.za/

New luxury hotel to transform trendy Brisbane suburb

The hip inner city Brisbane suburb Teneriffe is to be home to a new five-star hotel project.

Teneriffe is just 3km north-east of the CBD and was the location of Australia's largest submarine base in World War II. It has been transformed from industrial precinct to a trendy lifestyle zone. 

It has been chosen by IHG Hotels & Resorts and Kokoda Property to bring the Kimpton hotel brand to Brisbane in 2028.

It will form part of Kokoda Property's $1.5 billion mixed-use development comprising hospitality and retail facilities, commercial offices and multiple residential towers as part of a lifestyle precinct.

Kimpton will offer approximately 155 guest rooms, including marquee suites "that will cater to celebrity guests and VIPs".

The hotel will feature a 200+-seat signature restaurant and bar on level 14, a spa with multiple treatment rooms, fitness centre and 618sqm of flexible indoor and outdoor event space.

The Kimpton will boast absolute waterfront access and views, including an infinity pool overlooking the Brisbane River and an open-air Garden Terrace bar.



“We couldn't be more excited to bring our Kimpton brand to Brisbane, particularly in such a strategic location that perfectly aligns to the aspirational ethos of the brand," said Cameron Burke, director of development, Australasia & Pacific, for IHG Hotels & Resorts.

"Kimpton has an ardent global following amongst the lifestyle-led and socially inclined, which will resonate strongly as part of the Skyring Terrace precinct and within Brisbane's luxury hotel market. We're thrilled to be partnering with Kokoda Property in pursuit of our common vision to elevate the hospitality space in south-east Queensland."

Founded in 1981 in San Francisco by Bill Kimpton, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is billed as the fastest growing relaxed luxury brand globally.

IHG currently has 53 hotels operating under eight brands in Australia, including InterContinental, Kimpton, Vignette Collection, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, voco, Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts.