Sydney’s Oldest Hotel and Bar Reopens – Hotel Magazine

After three years of intense restoration, Sydney’s oldest heritage hotel and bar, Morris, will reopen in late January 2023.

Originally opening in 1929, Morris was designed by the Italian notable architect Virgil Dante Cizzio in the renowned Inter-War Palazzo style.

The hospitality group Accor undertook the restoration project to revitalise the building’s exterior, specifically its facade, windows and ghost signage. Morris’ interior was also refreshed, including stripping the internal building back to a shell to make room for contemporary hotel services and accommodations.

Behind the design and branding of the rebuild were four agencies – Reward Group, Fellow Hospitality, Squad Ink and Tom Mark Henry. The agencies worked together to preserve Cizzio’s unique Italian architectural style, while blending in historical Australian elements.

Morris boasts 82 art deco style guest rooms, with five ensuite varieties for guests to choose from. The Bambina and Piccolo rooms come with luxury queen size beds, while the Morris Queen and King rooms offer a more lavish stay. The Grande King rooms offer guests the most indulgent experience, with its large art deco windows. All of Morris’ rooms feature golden mustard tones, custom furniture, brass detailing and bold finishes, providing a warm yet rich ambience that matches the exterior of the building and the ground-floor bar, Bar Morris.

The wine bar also follows an art deco design, featuring dark moody tones of green and burgundy, contrasted against brass metal finishes and eclectic lighting features. Velvet and leather line the bar’s booth seating, while stone and natural wood flooring create an elegant yet earthy ambience.

Guests can enjoy the bar’s day-to-night menu that offers specialty coffee, wine, cocktails and Italian-inspired dishes that focus on using simple and seasonal produce.