Christopher Pearce 
Christopher Pearce 
Christopher Pearce 
Josh Niland and his boundary-pushing fine-diner Saint Peter have been setting the bar for culinary excellence and innovation for the past decade. So as he and wife Julie expand their scope to hoteliers, it’s little wonder the result is world-class. It took six years to transform Paddington’s historic corner pub into The Grand National, delivering one of the most polished, considered and charming properties to open in Australia.
Everything about the hotel mirrors the Saint Peter experience, emphasising quality and sustainability while creating a clear sense of place. Hidden in the backstreets of Paddington, with views over the surrounding terrace rooftops, The Grand National Hotel gives guests a rare chance to indulge in a world-class experience, while staying in the heart of one of Sydney’s most sought-after residential postcodes.
The rooms
Inside each of the hotel’s 14 rooms, you’ll find subtle nods to the Saint Peter obsession with fish. Fish-eye mirrors reflect the rooms’ architrave-edged walls, drenched in green-grey tones of sea mist. Fish-bone ceramic mugs and custom fish fat soap come standard.
Sydney interior designers Studio Aquilo are responsible for the character-filled rooms, which capture the building’s historic charm through a sensitive, modern lens. Natural light floods the corner site through its original sash windows, including the bathrooms, which come equipped with Aesop amenities, Dyson hairdryers and Frette bathrobes.
Food & drink
Upon check-in, guests will be given their first taste of Saint Peter in the form of a golden, glistening fermented rice cake topped with yellowfin tuna and N25 Kaluga caviar and a handcrafted soda courtesy of Saint Peter’s bar manager (ours was flavoured with passionfruit marigold and lemon myrtle). Those wanting to dine at Saint Peter – where dinner is a seven-course tasting menu – will still need to secure a booking for the sought-after dining room.
Where your hotel booking will unlock an exclusive culinary experience is breakfast, which might open with a black fig and coconut bircher muesli, alongside a pristine seasonal fruit plate that showcases the Saint Peter kitchen team’s knife skills, before the crowning glory of marron scrambled eggs.
The service
Guests are greeted warmly and personally, with a level of attention that feels tailored to each individual. Staff make a conscious effort to understand every guest from the first interaction and use subtle cues – sometimes even notes discreetly placed around the hotel – to ensure a truly personalised experience.
Ideal for: Gastronomic getaways
Why we love it:
- The design. Polish and exacting precision permeate each of the 14 individually styled guest rooms.
- The food. World-class dining from renowned chef Josh Niland is found downstairs at Saint Peter.
- The location. Centrally located in Sydney’s Paddington, which boasts boutique shops, buzzy restaurants, leafy backstreets and neighbourhood pubs and bars.
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