The Old Clare by Ode Hotels

The Old Clare by Ode Hotels occupies the heritage-listed shell of the old Carlton United Brewery on Kensington Street in Chippendale, all exposed brick, high ceilings and a rooftop pool and bar up top. It is a design hotel first, but it is also one of the few Sydney boutique stays that gives dogs a real program: dedicated pet rooms, a proper amenity kit and an in-room dining menu rather than a grudging bowl at the door. Spice Alley's dining strip sits next door and Central Station is a short walk, so the location works hard for a city stay with a dog in tow.

Dogs at The Old Clare

Dogs are accepted in two room categories only: the compact Kent Room, pitched as a shorter-stay option, and the more spacious Abercrombie Room for lingering. The pet stay is priced as a $100 add-on per pet per night on top of the Best Available Rate, and because pet rooms are not always bookable through standard booking engines, the reliable route is to contact reservations directly by phone or email. Sources differ on the limits, with one describing up to two pets per room and another a single dog of roughly 10kg, so confirm your dog's size and count with the hotel before you book.

Once you are in, the setup is genuinely considered: a mini retro-style lounge for the dog, handmade Motion Ceramics food and water bowls, plush Fuzz-yard toys, complimentary in-room pet dining and a pet directory for the neighbourhood. Some of the ceramic bowls are yours to keep, which is a small touch that owners seem to remember.

Worth knowing

House rules are the standard boutique-hotel compact: dogs stay on leash in all public and communal areas and cannot be left unattended in the room. That makes it a hotel for travelling with a companion rather than parking a dog while you sightsee, so plan your day around each other. The fee is per pet, per night, so it adds up on longer stays.

While you're out there

Chippendale Green around the corner gives you a quick on-leash leg stretch between check-in and dinner, and Mona off leash dog park is nearby for a proper run. Charles Kernan Reserve in Darlington is a few minutes' walk the other way. The cafes along Kensington Street itself, including Concrete Jungle Cafe on the corner, welcome dogs at outdoor tables, and Quarry St Cafe in Ultimo is an easy detour toward Broadway.

Getting there is simple by train to Central, then a short walk up Kensington Street. Drivers can use the on-site parking or the Wilson Parking at neighbouring Central Park, but book the pet room first and mention the car if you want the two to line up. If you would rather compare options, Veriu Central is another pet-friendly stay in the same pocket of the city.

Max: book the Kent or Abercrombie room by phone or email rather than the booking engine, and confirm the weight limit while you have them on the line.

Browse more pet-friendly stays in NSW or see what else is walkable in our Chippendale guide.