Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Australia / Sydney / The Grand National Hotel
The Grand National Hotel
Sydney, Australia · Independent · Accessible Luxury
Josh Niland's Saint Peter, No. 66 on the 2025 World's 50 Best extended list and the only Australian restaurant on it, now has bedrooms upstairs. The Grand National opened 14 rooms on 31 January 2025 inside an 1890 Paddington pub at 161 Underwood Street. Owner George Penklis had asked the Nilands in 2018 to bring the old corner back. Belinda Chippindale and Dimity Chitty of Studio Aquilo kept the marble fireplaces and the vintage tiles. The rooms follow the kitchen: ceramics made from fish bones, and soap made with fish fat.
- 14 rooms
- Opened 2025
- Neighborhood: Paddington
- Interiors: Belinda Chippindale and Dimity Chitty (Studio Aquilo)
About The Grand National Hotel
- Saint Peter is No. 66 on the 2025 World's 50 Best extended list, and the restaurant calls that placing the only Australian name on the list.
- The building was a Paddington pub from 1890. George Penklis asked Josh and Julie Niland in 2018 to restore it, and their first hotel rooms opened on 31 January 2025.
- Fourteen rooms sit on the heritage floors above the dining room at 161 Underwood Street. Studio Aquilo kept the marble fireplaces, the architraves and the old tiles.
- The whole-fish kitchen shows up in the bedrooms: ceramics made from fish bones, soap made with fish fat, and a multi-course breakfast for people staying the night.
- Belinda Chippindale and Dimity Chitty of Studio Aquilo designed the rooms with the Nilands. Art on the walls was chosen with Tim Olsen of Olsen Gallery and includes sketches by Ken Done.
History
The Grand National Hotel began as a Paddington pub in 1890, at 161 Underwood Street. Owner George Penklis asked Josh and Julie Niland in 2018 to restore it as a place to eat. Saint Peter took the ground floor. On 31 January 2025 the Nilands opened 14 rooms on the floors above, their first hotel.
Belinda Chippindale and Dimity Chitty of Studio Aquilo designed those rooms with the Nilands and kept marble fireplaces, architraves and vintage tiles. Ceramics made from fish bones, and soap made with fish fat, carry the downstairs kitchen into the bedrooms.
Restaurants and bars
- Saint Peter — Restaurant · Seafood · Chef Josh Niland
Open The Grand National Hotel in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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