Occupying part of a modern 14-story building, The Abey is essentially a hotel inside a hotel, with the same orange-trimmed entry and reception area serving it and the larger, slightly pricier Cambridge Hotel Sydney. Guests staying at both can frequently be found kicking back on long couches in the bright yet basic split-level lobby. The property’s sky-lit pool and popular street-front osteria provide alternate places for them to gather. But in this up-and-coming area much of the buzz emanates from the surrounding streets, which are now home to some of Sydney's trendiest shops, restaurants, and nightlife venues.

One of a cluster of hotels in suburban Surry Hills, The Abey puts guests in close proximity to several vibrant areas. Crown Street (with its bars and restaurants) and George Street (a shopping mecca) can be reached on foot in five minutes or less; Oxford Street (the epicenter of the city’s gay scene), Chinatown and the Darling Harbour entertainment district are also within walking distance. But when it’s time to see big-ticket sites, you’ll probably want to head for Central Station, which links you to attractions like the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Royal Botanic Gardens via public transport. The same station’s T2 Line serves the airport as well; however, driving typically saves a good deal of time. Shuttle transfers can be arranged through the hotel; if you’ve got your own car, secure parking is available at a discounted rate in a public garage beneath it.

• Two-minute walk to Crown Street 
• Five-minute walk to Oxford Street 
• 13-minute walk to Central Station
• 13-minute walk to George Street 
• 15-minute walk to Sydney Town Hall
• 16-minute walk to Chinatown
• 20-minute walk to the Darling Harbour 
• Eight-minute drive to Sydney Opera House
• Nine-minute drive to Circular Quay ferry terminals
• 10-minute drive to Sydney Harbour Bridge
• 14-minute drive to Bondi Beach
• 18-minute drive to Sydney Airport (depending on traffic) 

Arranged around the pool, this hotel’s 24 rooms are uniformly decorated with functional furnishings and a few contemporary flourishes that help brighten the otherwise conventional look (picture high wood-grain headboards, polka-dotted bed throws and colorful accents). In terms of equipment, all come with air-conditioning, iron/ironing boards, tea/coffee-making facilities, mini-fridges (as opposed to stocked minibars), digital safes, iPod docking stations and flat-screen TVs. White tiled bathrooms, featuring combination shower/tubs plus appreciated extras like hairdryers and oversized vanity mirrors, also remain the same across the board. It’s worth noting, though, that the free Wi-Fi you’re entitled to differs depending on your booking. It’s unlimited for guests who reserve directly through the hotel’s own website; others are given a set daily amount. Note that the rooms -- ranging in size from 323 to 409 square feet -- are well configured to accommodate families or groups of friends; free cribs are available for the former on request, and extra beds can be brought in for a fee.

The Abey offers an indoor courtyard-style pool and hot tub capped by a glass roof along with a well-reviewed eatery, Baccomatto Osteria, both of which it shares with the Cambridge Hotel. The latter -- as its name suggests -- focuses on fresh house-made pasta and rustic-refined Italian fare. Because it also offers an add-on breakfast buffet in the morning and pours cocktails later in the day (classic Bellinis and Negronis among them), the osteria is a triple threat. Other hotel amenities include a round-the-clock reception desk with concierge capabilities; two conference rooms; a main-level computer corner; communal pay-per-use laundry facilities; 24-hour room service; free newspapers in the lobby and at least some free Wi-Fi throughout for all guests. The downside is that there is no gym here, which may be a deal breaker for fitness fans.