Travellers are really spoiled for choices these days when it comes to accommodation. From budget hotels to luxury resorts, from community-driven website Airbnb to travel specialist like The Luxe Nomad, the options are boundless. Let’s also not forget about boutique hotels which as an industry have burgeoned over the last few years and they look set to stay.

One such hotel situated in the heart of Sydney and opened in 2013 is the 1888 Hotel. You would be forgiven if you thought that this hotel has been servicing guests for a while since it is set in a converted wool store built in 1888. The interior has been given a US$25-million makeover that highlights a vibrant and relevant update while exposed brick walls and beams have been left untouched, showcasing a touch of period soul. Vintage furniture and recycled pieces decorate the place and the clash of retro colours and texture charm guests with a quirky but inviting atmosphere.

Glenn and I were invited to stay at the hotel over one weekend and we jumped at this staycation opportunity as we love converted industrial anything. We were also eager to experience the aesthetic and hospitality of a boutique hotel, especially one that has been awarded countless of accolades. We were not disappointed. Our room provided us with a view of the city skyline and the large vintage window allowed floods of natural light in. The room came with an iPad, a well-stocked fridge and a framed photographic artwork that made our stay felt more intimate and less of a traveller experience. The comfort was completed with custom-made bedding and luxury bed toppers and sleeping-in never felt so right.

Located in Pyrmont, the hotel is just a few minutes’ walk to the CBD and is surrounded by the famous Darling Harbour, Sydney Fish Market and The Star. Cafes, restaurants and trendy bars are plenty around the area and accessibility to Circular Quay, The Rocks and Chinatown is a leisure 20-minute stroll. If relaxing is your agenda, the bar in the hotel serves up craft beers and artisanal spirits while tasting plates and modern cuisine based around local and seasonal produce complete the menu.

Cosy styling completes the atrium where a fig plant, hipster bicycles, retro sofas and pop-art inspired paintings fill the space and this set up is without a doubt where many Instagram moments will occur. 1888 is also the year that Kodak launched its first box and roll cameras so it is apt that the hotel has styled itself as the “world’s first Instagram hotel”. And yes, we wasted no time in channeling our inner Tyra Banks for social media as soon as we arrived.

There is a reason why 1888 Hotel has been featured on taste-savvy websites like Mr Porter and Mr & Mrs Smith Hotels – its approach in presenting itself as vibrant and quirky is what makes this hotel unique and the service and quality were not once compromised. It helps too that the rates do not burn a hole in your wallet and the variety of rooms allow travellers to choose what is most suited to their needs. 1888 Hotel is seriously the status of both style and substance.