The Strand Hotel: Sydney's best kept secret

While you'd be forgiven for thinking it's just another quaint pub on a Sydney corner, there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to The Strand Hotel.

The boutique hotel sits on the corner of William and Crown Streets in the bustling inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst. I stayed here with my partner and we were shocked at what a far cry the hotel was from its former self.

Now completely renovated into an elegant accommodation for visitors and Sydneysiders alike, The Strand has transformed from your regular pub with Carlton branding to a sleek black and white heritage building that boasts a mouth-watering French-inspired bistro, pumping rooftop bar and stylish hotel rooms that make it a top place to stay while getting amongst everything the city has to offer.

When we checked in we were greeted by friendly staff who took us to our room which had a surprising, modern twist. While it embraced the quirks and charms of the heritage building, it had a luxurious feel with its polished black and white finishings. Simple, yet classic.

We were brought a refreshing Aperol Spritz straight to our room which helped us relax into the weekend, and given a tour of the executive co-working space with twilight aperitifs, making it a perfect stay for corporate workers.

We ventured to the rooftop bar to enjoy a glass of champagne in the golden hour of Friday afternoon and were surprised others had already discovered Sydney's best-kept secret. Couples, friends and colleagues grabbing an after-work drink were basking in the afternoon sun flooding the roof, proving it's a popular spot for a refreshing beverage.

Afterwards, we wandered down to the French-inspired bistro for a much-needed meal and it was hard to choose from all the delicious offerings on the menu – and that was before we were introduced to the specials.

We opted to share a number of dishes to try as much as we could, with the blue-eyed cod and escargot gnocchi the absolute standouts.

We both felt transported to Europe as we were immersed in the sophisticated setting, and it encouraged us to embrace our spontaneity and order an expensive bottle of red – and it was totally worth it.

With our stomachs full and satisfied, we retired to our room where we each had our own bathroom stocked with luxurious products before rugging up in robes and relaxing on the plush Queen bed with a glass of wine.

Upon checkout, we both felt well-rested and revitalised and were ready to plan our next stay at The Strand.

Until February 28, guests can indulge in a summer stay and receive a complimentary $50 voucher.

The rate of the Petite Plus room is about $299 with the voucher included while the De Luxe is about $399 for a Saturday night. The Petite is valued at $229.

Yahoo Lifestyle was a guest of The Strand Hotel in November.

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