Crystalbrook Albion barely feels like a hotel, thanks to its heritage elements and personalised service – expect friendly chats and to be greeted by your name throughout your stay. Unlike most hotels, it’s also pet-friendly. Each of the 35 rooms at the Surry Hills guesthouse has different features and amenities – some have pink velvet armchairs and freestanding bathtubs, while others have cosy reading nooks and rainfall showerheads. They’re all linked by a common aesthetic of dark-coloured timber, marble surfaces, textural furnishings and brass fittings.

In the evening, the self-service Honour Bar is where you can grab a drink, perhaps to be enjoyed on the quaint rooftop. In the morning, it’s where you get breakfast. The name explains how it works: you grab what you want, write it down on a piece of paper and it gets charged to your credit card.

Otherwisr, order Uber Eats, which the Albion uses in place of traditional room service. Your food will be transferred from the takeaway containers to a wooden tray with cutlery and napkins before it’s delivered to your room. The hotel is also metres away from top Sydney eateries like Reuben Hills and Bar Copains.

While larger Crystalbrook properties have on-site day spas, the Albion has instead partnered with nearby bathhouse Capybara on the Reset Retreat. The package gives you 15 per cent off accommodation, a take-home beauty pack, access to Capybara and fresh fruit and pastries the morning after.