DESIGN & BUILD: ABERCROMBIE HOTEL

Three venues in one

The beloved Abercrombie Hotel has reopened, with three diverse spaces providing a variety of experiences in one venue.

-By Caoimhe Hanrahan-Lawrence.

AFTER LYING dormant for many years, Sydney’s iconic Abercrombie Hotel was reopened in December of 2022, unveiling three unique but interrelated spaces. The latest iteration of the historic venue was purchased and revitalised by Solotel. CEO Elliott Solomon recognised the importance of the venue to Sydney’s nightlife culture.

“We always knew there was a strong sense of responsibility reopening the Abercrombie given that formative memories of generations of Sydney partiers, including myself, were forged here,” he said.

Lil Sis wine bar

The ground floor hosts a beer garden and club space, reviving the Abercrombie’s history as a key part of the clubbing scene. Upstairs is the Casa Rosa rooftop bar, a space to meet friends without losing that party atmosphere. Solotel also acquired the neighbouring terraces, transforming them into an intimate innercity wine bar. The spaces each function as individual venues, however, the real strength of the multiple offerings is when they work in concert. The original vision for the Abercrombie was as a “multi-level, day to late-night destination with a range of experiences under the one roof.”

OLD MEETS NEW

It was important for the design of the space to honour the historic facade of the Abercrombie Hotel. Heritage elements such as the 100-year-old pub floor tiles have been restored, and exposed timber joints and builders’ notes have been left intact. The retro design of the wooden bar reflects the exposed timber elements, elevating the space with its sleek, rounded shape. Modern elements have been included in the club, such as floor-to-ceiling gold velvet curtains and LED lighting programmed by design collective Babekhul. The blend of old and new results in a “dark, basement-style vibe,” reflective of the experiences of this new generation of club-goers.

Casa Rosa rooftop bar

“Anyone that’s younger than 28 has never experienced Sydney with proper nightlife, hasn’t experienced the city without lockouts or restrictions on drinks,” said Solomon, “So many of them don’t really have experiences in licensed venues. Their experiences are in unregulated warehouse spaces in industrial areas near the city, house parties.”

The centrepiece of the club area is the DJ booth, a sculptural, pyramid-shaped stage. The design allows the space to transition seamlessly from a casual beer garden setting to a high-energy club. Paired with a world-class Funktion-One speaker, the DJ booth becomes the altar in a “temple of techno.”

NEOPOLITAN NIGHTLIFE

The Casa Rosa rooftop bar is a “playful late-night Italo-disco cocktail lounge”, with a design inspired by New York’s iconic Palazzo Chupi ‘pink house’. The lounge is painted in vivid pastels, with monochromatic rooms designed entirely in pink or green. Mirrors, a disco ball, and plush lounges create a congenial, spirited atmosphere. The space is perfect for after work drinks, or late nights spent sipping on finely crafted cocktails with friends.

Outside, the eclectic design of the cocktail bar steps back. This is the first time in the Abercrombie’s history that the rooftop has been open to the public, and the views take centre stage.

The ground floor public bar

“Outside on the rooftop, we wanted the view over the church steeple and terraces to be the hero,” Solomon explained. “Built-in booth seating with lobster red cushions creates an ideal spot for soaking up that inner-city sunset.”

Though the design of Casa Rosa is distinct from the ground floor club, there will still be a chance to party, with the bar open until 4am and its own DJ booth. The vision was for patrons to flow between the more conversational cocktail bar and the vibrant nightclub space without losing the energy of their night out.

“Sydneysiders love a rooftop,” Solomon said, “So to be able to move from one level to another over the course of the night is really adding to the Abercrombie experience.”

A NEW AVENUE

A particularly innovative addition to the iconic clubbing venue is the Lil Sis wine bar, housed in the neighbouring heritage terraces.

“Guests who aren’t into clubbing at all and would not have visited the Abercrombie otherwise are thrilled that there is a thoughtfully curated neighbourhood wine bar to call their own,” Solomon said.

Visually, Lil Sis is distinct from the rest of the Abercrombie, with the design focused on reflecting the character of the 1850s terraces. The ground floor is a curated neighbourhood wine shop, with ample space for tastings. Upstairs, the space is intimate and cosy, with walnut banquettes and chocolate leather lending the space a homely warmth.

Every component of The Abercrombie has been well received by Sydneysiders, who have found their own ways to enjoy the hotel.

“The feedback to the refurbishment of the club space has been so positive,” Solomon concluded, “both from people who are very familiar with the old Abercrombie and the new generation of clubbers.”

The other two spaces have also been well received. The previously unused rooftop space is a welcome surprise to many patrons, and has proved a great complement to the club experience. While Lil Sis may be housed next door, it still maintains the sense of heritage that, for so many people, is synonymous with the Abercrombie Hotel.