The Old Clare Hotel
Ultimo, Sydney
Restaurant in Sydney, Australia
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
The Old Clare Hotel is worth considering when the occasion calls for a Chippendale base rather than a harbour-side Sydney stay. Book it for design, location, and an easy night built around Kensington Street; choose a dedicated restaurant first if the meal itself is the main event.
About The Old Clare Hotel
On a return Sydney trip, The Old Clare Hotel is an option to consider when the plan is to stay in Sydney and build the visit around the city's broader dining, bar, and hotel scene. Think of it first as a Sydney hotel choice, then shape any restaurant or bar plans around the wider itinerary.
The practical upside is keeping the planning focused on Sydney. For readers comparing across, start with our full Sydney hotels guide, then build the night around our full Sydney restaurants guide and our full Sydney bars guide.
Book it when Sydney is the point of the trip
This is strongest when you want The Old Clare Hotel as part of a Sydney stay and are comfortable confirming the finer details directly before booking. The dress code is smart casual. For details such as restaurant format, cuisine, chef, menu format, price point, award history, room count, address, or dining service, check directly before booking. If the occasion needs a confirmed restaurant format, choose the meal first and let the hotel decision support the wider plan.
Service expectations should be based on the details you confirm with the hotel rather than on an assumed destination dining promise. That makes The Old Clare Hotel better as a Sydney planning anchor, with other dining considered separately. If you are comparing different styles of outing, other options may include Cartel, Gavroche Brasserie, Holy Duck, La Terrazza Osteria Verde, or Olio.
Planning details
- Location
- 1 Kensington St, Chippendale NSW 2008, Australia
- Website
- odehotels.com
- Phone
- +61282778277
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Old Clare Hotel channels its industrial past into a design-forward hotel-restaurant that feels at once modern and historic. Exposed brickwork, retained brewery signage and warehouse volumes give dining rooms a raw architectural energy that the interiors tame into an elegant setting. The building’s industrial provenance informs the aesthetic without turning it into a gimmick; lighting and thoughtful finishes keep the mood sophisticated rather than thematic. Located on pedestrianised Kensington Street, the property reads as a destination for visitors and locals who appreciate architecture-driven dining in a lively, trend-aware pocket of Chippendale.
Best For
The Old Clare is best suited to dinner-focused occasions where the setting matters as much as the food. It caters to milestone meals and celebrations—times when guests want architecture and atmosphere to elevate an evening—while also fitting a more formal business dinner or a stylish date night. As a hotel restaurant it sits between large CBD chains and small boutique guesthouses, making it a practical choice for visiting travellers who want a central, design-led base. Reservations for weekend evenings are sensible, especially when planning a special-occasion booking.
Ordering Tips
Standout dishes include the Aged Black Angus Beef Tartare and Tasmanian Ocean Trout, which signal the kitchen’s focus on quality proteins and precise execution. The bar’s Social Dog is a signature item that locals mention; consider it for a more casual bite or as part of a multi-course meal. Because the venue’s architecture often frames special-occasion dinners, order with the evening in mind—pick one of the larger protein dishes to center the table and pair it with seasonal sides if available. If you’re visiting for a milestone meal, confirm availability of featured dishes when booking.
Venue details
Ambiance
Industrial mid-century vibe blending historic pub character with modern luxury and stylish decor.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Aged Black Angus Beef Tartare
- Tasmanian Ocean Trout
- Social Dog
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 1 Kensington St, Chippendale NSW 2008, Australia
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Cartel, Notable alternative
- Gavroche Brasserie, Notable alternative
- Olio, Notable alternative
- La Terrazza Osteria Verde, Notable alternative
- Holy Duck, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How it compares in Sydney
The Old Clare Hotel works differently from Cartel, Gavroche Brasserie, Olio, La Terrazza Osteria Verde, and Holy Duck: it is better treated as the stay-and-meet anchor, not the restaurant decision itself. If the priority is a meal with a defined cuisine brief, one of the restaurant peers will be the cleaner booking.
For ambiance, The Old Clare Hotel has the advantage when the night needs a hotel setting and Chippendale positioning. For value for money, compare the total plan: a room-led celebration here can make sense if it reduces transfers and keeps the evening contained, while Cartel, Gavroche Brasserie, Olio, La Terrazza Osteria Verde, or Holy Duck are better fits when the spend should go directly into the table.
Booking difficulty is the practical separator. The Old Clare Hotel is listed as easy to book, so it suits lower-friction planning. If the first-choice dinner is unavailable, cross-shop the restaurant peers by cuisine mood and location, then use the hotel as the base if Chippendale remains the preferred part of Sydney.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Old Clare Hotel guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Old Clare Hotel
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Old Clare Hotel | Sydney | No published awards |
| Cartel | Sydney | No published awards |
| Gavroche Brasserie | Sydney | No published awards |
| Olio | Sydney | 2026 Michelin 1 Star2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| La Terrazza Osteria Verde | Sydney | No published awards |
| Holy Duck | Sydney | No published awards |
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How The Old Clare Hotel Sydney compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Old Clare Hotel good for a special occasion?
It can be, if the occasion is about choosing a Sydney hotel and you confirm the details that matter for your stay before booking. The dress code is smart casual. For restaurant format, cuisine, chef, award, address, or service style, check directly with The Old Clare Hotel.
What are alternatives to The Old Clare Hotel?
If you want a different feel, compare Cartel, Gavroche Brasserie, Olio, La Terrazza Osteria Verde, and Holy Duck. The Old Clare Hotel is the better fit when you are choosing a hotel base, while those names may be more relevant if your priority is a food-led outing.
How far ahead should I book The Old Clare Hotel?
Can I eat at the bar at The Old Clare Hotel?
What should I order at The Old Clare Hotel?
Use the hotel's current information as your guide, and if you want a more specific food-led plan, compare it with Gavroche Brasserie or Holy Duck.
