Review of Establishment Hotel, by Sarah Shuckburgh

This stylish boutique hotel combines the best of old and new in Sydney, with an ambitious and eclectic mix of colonial heritage and cutting-edge luxury. The ornate facade on George Street dates from 1890, and the interior has been built round the remains of George Patterson House, which was gutted in a fire in 1996.

The facilities

There are 13 bars to choose from, but the most mellow is the top floor Hemmesphere, with its Moroccan decor and ottomans strewn with cushions. The lights of Sydney's central business district glitter through curtains made of gold saris. Choose wine from the very long wine list, and cigars from the even longer cigar list. And at the communal sushi counter, watch chefs prepare your meal as you rub elbows with beautiful people.

While you dine in the sophisticated "Est" restaurant, admire the 1940s pressed metal ceiling, the walnut furniture and Sydney's largest wine rack, which looks like a giant bird cage. Breakfast is served in the hotel's Garden Bar. It's an austere but tranquil glass-roofed space which incorporates remains of the fire-ravaged 19th-century building.

The rooms

The 33 rooms at The Establishment are large and well-appointed. You can stay in the duplex penthouse, which has an enormous bedroom and adjoining limestone bathroom, and on its upper floor an open plan living and dining area with panoramic views.

All rooms have sophisticated electronic equipment. For instance at the touch of your bedside console you can conjure up 12 lighting combinations. Further touches of the screen will control the wide-screen TV, three telephones, data port access, state-of-the-art CD and DVD players, stereo, air conditioning and dozens of other amusements. But there are also old fashioned features such as windows that open, comfortable sofas and armchairs, and a large bath.