New boutique hotel planned for Surry Hills

With Longrain and Paramount Coffee Project already in residence and Melbourne restaurant Chin Chin a confirmed starter, the only thing missing from the tiny strip of Commonwealth Street north of Hunt Street is an achingly cool boutique hotel with a restaurant attached. Well buckle up, Surry Hills hipsters, it's coming.

Russell Beard, of Reuben Hills cafe, is one of the men behind the new hotel (Photo : Danielle Smith)

The hotel is the brainchild of a creative trio, Russell Beard, from Reuben Hills cafe, Melbourne coffee entrepreneur Mark Dundon and property investor Ping Jin Ng.

The entrance for the yet-to-be-named hotel will be through the Paramount Pictures building, but it will occupy the neighbouring site.

The project is a long brew, with a planned 12-month build. Two extra floors are planned for the building, the finished hotel containing 30 rooms.

The trio is already in talks with a leading Sydney bar-restaurant operator about its ground floor space.

Beard says while comparisons between the project and the Ace hotel in Portland are flattering, he's keen for its design to have a local, approachable flavour.

Source: Good Food   Scott Bolles  June 2nd 2015