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5.0
#28 of 195 hotels in Sydney
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Situated in the heart of Surry Hills, Sydney, Crystalbrook Albion is an eclectic mix of heritage and contemporary detail true to its own DNA and that of Surry Hills. At our boutique hotel, we enjoy modern living through attitude, design, technology and a passion for a better world – or what we call #responsibleluxury. That means no plastic straws, water bottles or guest-room key cards; using technology to reduce paper, providing large-pump amenities bottles (saving more than 64,000 plastic bottles each year) and partnering with TerraCycle, OzHarvest and Containers for Change. Delightfully intimate, devastatingly gorgeous, genuinely original and refreshingly unpretentious, Crystalbrook Albion features 35 guest rooms (some which are pet-friendly!), a dedicated team of hosts on hand around the clock to offer individualised service, a rooftop garden oasis with views over Surry Hills and Sydney city and an honour bar featuring top-shelf beverages and gourmet nibbles. For something more substantial to indulge in, pop next door to Surry Hills' newest restaurant and bar, Shaffa. Crystalbrook Albion is housed within a unique heritage building full of history, dating back to its original construction in 1903 as a former school convent. The property was transformed into a modern boutique hotel in 2018, seamlessly merging a heritage-listed building with a new world of tantalising delights and surprises, largely influenced by 1920s and 1970s styles of interiors. The hotel is located in the buzzing inner Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, which is fast becoming a popular alternative to the CBD and home to some of Sydney's best food and beverage offerings such as Chin Chin, Firedoor and Nomad.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Hidden Gem
Boutique
Languages Spoken
English
Location
21 Little Albion St Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales 2010 Australia
Crystalbrook Albion
168 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
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I booked a little staycation with the kids and we all had a wonderful stay. Christopher the GM was extremely hospitable and took the time to share the history of the building whilst giving me a mini tour as it was relatively quiet during this period. The interiors and artwork around the building is gorgeous. All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The location is perfect - so close to many great restaurants and cafe. It was nice and quiet inside the building and the bath tub was a bonus to relax in after a big day of walking and exploring the neighbourhood.
The breakfast is now provided in the room (due to Covid) and all proper precautions are taken to ensure the place meet the health and safety guideline. A nice treat for a couple of nights. Highly recommend!
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Date of stay: July 2020
Location
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christopher Greening, Marketing at Crystalbrook Albion
Responded 21 July 2020
Dear Liann920, Thank you for the glowing review, It's incredible to hear you felt so at home at our little gem in Surry Hills! We're truly lucky to be located in the heart of Surry Hills, just a short stroll to some of Sydney's best eateries and boutiques and close to the CBD for work and play! We look forward to welcoming you home soon, Christopher G General Manager
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We love Surry Hills and and plan to visit often as our son now lives there, so we are really pleased we found this little gem. Little Albion is in a great location, tucked away down a quiet little lane. Our room was perfect, spacious and clean and with a beautiful view of the stained glass windows of the old church building next door. Artwork throughout the hotel is fabulous and there is a nice little area to sit and enjoy a coffee or tea or a drink from the honour bar. The hotel is also close to many great Surry Hills cafes, restaurants and bars. We will definitely be back.
Room Tip: The 'Sweet' room is a good size with a comfortable King size bed, and a quirky stylish bathroom with a gorgeous art deco style velvety drape shower curtain (some reviews said they would prefer a glass screen, but this curtain works really well and adds to the style). This room also has a great outlook to the stained glass windows next door, (which look amazing lit up at night) and the little terraces in the lane.
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Date of stay: December 2019
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LittleAlbion, General Manager at Crystalbrook Albion
Responded 29 Jan 2020
Dear The_Travel_Locks, Thank you for your incredible review, it has truly made my day! I'm thrilled you enjoyed your stay with us at Little Albion, our designers and architects put their heart and soul into restoring the beautiful convent to make it the unique hotel it is today. We're truly lucky to be surrounded by some of Sydney's best restaurants and It's great to hear you took advantage of these treats during your stay! I look forward to welcoming you home next time you visit your son! Warm Regards, Christopher G General Manager
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Really Lovely hotel that we loved staying in. Super luxurious/clean/great bar area and breakfast was all you needed staff were very helpful.
For the more eco conscious traveller they had pumps instead of endless plastic toiletries, and had binned off plastic cards. Had robes in the rooms which I love!
Only tip would be to ask for a room off the main corridor. Ours was on it and we got woken up by others having breakfast. I wouldn’t mark it negatively for this as the hotels hands are tied with regards to this
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LittleAlbion, General Manager at Crystalbrook Albion
Responded 9 Jan 2020
Dear Sash_89p, Thank you for your 5/5 review! I'm touched the team was able to take such good care of you throughout your stay! Little Albion is committed to reducing our impact on the environment, and those pesky key cards and mini toiletries were some of the first to go, I'm thrilled to hear you appreciated our efforts! We look forward to welcoming you home soon, Christopher G
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This hotel is amazing and really captured everything the soul of Surry Hills. The interiors are thought through and every detail is intentional. I stayed in the Cozy room and it was beautiful, the finishes in the room are high quality and I loved the little touches; Jazz playing when you came in, the well-branded notebook and the handwritten note on the bed. So cool.
Their tag line responsible luxury is woven through the fiber of the hotel, from the recycled wood room key to the cute little business cards with seeds you can plant! The staff were super helpful and I can't wait to stay again!
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Date of stay: January 2020
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Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LittleAlbion, General Manager at Crystalbrook Albion
Responded 24 Jan 2020
Dear PaperWinged, Thank you for your fabulous 5/5 review! I'm thrilled you felt at home at our little gem in Surry Hills - our architect and designers put a lot of love into our little building and everything was thought of! Responsible Luxury is our core - recycled bamboo keys, seeded business cards, and supporting local businesses for our breakfast offering are just the start! We look forward to welcoming you home soon, Christopher G General Manager
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Stayed here over NYE with my boyfriend and couldn’t be more happy. Lovely service, great atmosphere and perfect location. They even added a little hangover kit to the room just to make it extra special. Would highly recommend!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LittleAlbion, General Manager at Crystalbrook Albion
Responded 3 Jan 2020
Dear ShonaLouiseA, I'm thrilled you enjoyed your NYE stay in Sydney! We're close enough to the hustle and bustle to be able to walk to and from the fireworks displays, however far enough to not get the rowdy street noise all through the night! Our creative team created the hangover kits and complimentary Bloody Mary's over new years to keep our guests feeling fresh after a late night! They definitely went down a treat! See you next time you're in Sydney! Christopher G
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From the quirky design elements to the friendly service and luxurious beds, we absolutely loved our stay at the Crystalbrook Albion in Surry Hills. Travelling with a dog last minute meant I was left with only a few choices of hotels however I was so glad I chose this one. The hotel is a converted and updated convent so the architecture is steeped in history with a mix of warm modern design. The dog friendly rooms are limited to the bottom level and are without windows. They do have skylights to let in some natural light though. The rooms themselves are well deigned with lovely bathrooms. There are lovely common spaces to enjoy with a bar area and rooftop terrace which continue with the beautiful design aesthetics. Our dog was given a complimentary lick plate with peanut butter which was such a lovely touch and the pet friendly rooms have dog bowls and a pet bed. All in all I would definitely recommend this hotel and would love to revisit without my puppy to enjoy that extra luxury of the larger rooms and suites with a view!
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Date of stay: December 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Emma Alcorn, General Manager at Crystalbrook Albion
Responded 31 Dec 2021
Dear sonjab581, We are just thrilled to hear that you and your furry friend had a wonderful stay with us! We can't wait o welcome you back again soon. Wishing you all the best for the new year!
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I stayed in a crash pad room on the 3rd floor as I was in town for a friend’s wedding and didn’t need a big room. It was perfect for me and still a really hospitable space. The location is great - lots of varied restaurants and bars, and close to the action eg you can jog to the botanical gardens quite easily, or walk from Hyde Park and the Westfield. The service was excellent and beyond the normal for upscale hotels eg they made me breakfast when I left for my flight at 3 am. I would stay again
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LittleAlbion, General Manager at Crystalbrook Albion
Responded 5 Mar 2020
Dear BarryPOshea, Thank you for your glowing review! Our Crashpads are great for quick stays, the incredibly comfortable bed is great after a long day exploring or attending wedding festivities! We're lucky to be located in the heart of Surry Hills - home to some of the best eateries Sydney has to offer! We know there's nothing worse than getting on an early flight and missing breakfast (or being forced to eat airplane food first thing in the morning!), so we're always happy to set up our grab and go style breakfast for early risers! I look forward to welcoming you home next time you're in Sydney! Christopher G General Manager
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This lovely art deco inspired hotel is a small, boutique hotel set in a fabulous location to enjoy Sydney. While centrally located, it is a nice and quiet for a good night’s sleep. It is walking distance to almost everything - short walk to nearby bars and restaurants and Central station and a bit further walk to Oxford St or the CBD, or just 40 minutes to the Opera House. The hotel is beautifully designed and finished. The bed and bathroom were very comfortable and the complimentary coffee/pastries/ fruit breakfast is very enjoyable. There is a lovely roof top terrace and an honour snack and drinks bar to enjoy too. Every room is different with clever design to make the most of their size. We stayed in a cosy room (107) and, as the website says, it is snug for a couple! We managed fine and really enjoyed our stay but personally I would have preferred a luggage rack to the sitting chair (which is overly large for a small room). The staff were all welcoming and professional. This is our second stay in a Crystalbrook hotel and both have been excellent.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hayley Seymour, General Manager at Crystalbrook Albion
Responded 18 Dec 2023
Hello galtons, What a FABULOUS review! Thank you so much for sharing everything that you loved about our devastatingly alluring hotel. We hope to welcome you back home again very soon! Warm regards, Hayley
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In my business and holidaying life I have spent more than two thousand nights in motels domestically and internationally. Little Albion has been right up there with the best and not because it is super luxurious or has every amenity you can think of but the Team’s genuine care and delight shown our 4 legged family member.
There are many of the brand name hotels who need to wake up to the opportunity and when they do, not charge through the nose for a house trained, non shedding Bicon Frise like our Sophie, unlike one in Canberra that especially comes to mind. Well done Little Albion and thank you.
Andrew, Jane and Sophie.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christopher Greening, General Manager at Crystalbrook Albion
Responded 21 July 2020
Dear Andrew, Jane and Sophie, Thank you for the fabulous review! I'm thrilled you and your pooch felt at home in our little gem in Surry Hills! We love welcoming both humans and furry friends to enjoy our stunning rooftop terrace, sunken lounge, courtyard and hotel facilities as a whole! It was a pleasure welcoming you all to our hotel, and we look forward to welcoming you home soon! Christopher G, General Manager
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The staff are very helpful and seem to genuinely care about the hotel and the guests. That's a very, very important part of a business but unfortunately it did not offset some of the downside of the property. Sustainable. The hotel seems to care about their social responsibility and nowadays, it is very important. We really liked the way they don't use regular cheap looking hotel opening door cards.
Now, the bad things:
Parking: an absolute NIGHTMARE. they have no parking at the hotel and finding decent priced parking was challenging. The price of the room was very high and I expected parking to be included. It wasn't the case and as they do not have parking on site, it made it difficult and expensive for the 2 nights we were there.
No food per se available at the hotel. We wanted to chill in the room but the only options were Uber Eats. I don't want UberEats on a "luxury" weekend away.
Breakfast was included but it was mean. For the price we paid you would expect a decent breakfast. It wasn't the case. We were there for a nice relaxing time and wanted to enjoy a few things like a decent breakfast. They also didn't have other paying options for breakfast to upgrade to a warm breakfast. I really missed my bacon.
Price of the room was high for the product and the location. I also didn't understand the way their website worked. They had 2 rates advertised for the same room which we booked last minute. we paid the higher price thinking it was getting us something more. Turned out, one rate is a rate you can't cancel but cheaper. the other rate is one you can cancel but more expensive. But we booked last minute on the higher rate which apparently we couldn't cancel anyway. I felt that was very cheeky and a bit dodgy. Charging people more last minute for a service that cannot be used. A bit unethical and the main reason for the score I am giving this hotel. We asked when we left if the rate could be changed but were told no.
We only travel to Sydney on rare occasions but we wouldn't stay at this motel again.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LittleAlbion, General Manager at Crystalbrook Albion
Responded 22 Jan 2020
Dear Palerm019, Thank you for choosing our devastatingly alluring Little Albion, Whilst our little hotel has a number of wonderful inclusions we are not a full service hotel and certainly relish in this fact as our location in the heart of Surry Hills allows our guests to enjoy the very best food & drink (and bacon!) Sydney has to offer right on the doorstep! It is incredibly wonderful to receive your note about our stunning Hosts who are our truly passionate about delivering an exceptional guest experience and as you've noted our #responsibleluxury ethos that we strive to deliver in everything we do - from our local suppliers to our unique recycled timber room cards. We wish you all the best with your future travels, Best regards, Christopher Greening General Manager
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Hi! Yes we are pet-friendly.
Our pet-friendly rooms are located on the ground floor with hardwood floors and direct access outside, so your four-legged pals can stretch their legs or read the newspaper whenever they need to.
Each pet gets its own super soft bed for the purrrfect night's sleep and of course, food and water bowls are provided ensuring, like you, it dines in style. Available to add on to your Cosy or Classic room for an additional $50 per room.
Hi Lee,
We have indeed twin bed configuration in our Sweet room type.
Look forward welcoming you in our guest house soon .
Regards
Wendy Morris
General Manager.
Good Day CaraRu,
All floors have elevator access and we hold luggage free of charge for all of our wonderful guests.
We look forward to welcoming you to Little Albion soon :)
There are more places to choose from in the Sydney area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$253 - AU$385 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
AustraliaNew South WalesSydneySurry Hills
NUMBER OF ROOMS
35
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