Queen Victoria Building

Step inside the Queen Victoria Building, and Sydney’s modern rhythm gives way to a slower, grander kind of beauty. Just a 7-minute drive or 18-minute walk from Hotel Woolstore 1888 , this landmark stretches across an entire city block — a 19th-century Romanesque wonder filled with stained glass, sweeping staircases and one-of-a-kind discoveries.

Once built to celebrate a young queen’s reign, the QVB now celebrates craftsmanship in all its forms. More than 140 boutiques fill its galleries, from Australian icons like CAMILLA, known for its hand-painted prints and global storytelling, to Coach and Polo Ralph Lauren, where timeless design still rules. Tucked between luxury storefronts, you’ll find artisan jewellers, bespoke tailors and rare finds like The Art of Dr. Seuss Gallery, where imagination meets fine art.

A pause worth savouring

Even shopping here feels like an experience to be lingered over. Start your visit with coffee and croissants at Manon Brasserie, a grand café and wine bar with Parisian flair, or end your afternoon with a decadent high tea beneath glittering chandeliers at The Tea Room QVB — a Sydney tradition in itself. And before you leave, stop by Haigh’s Chocolates, Australia’s oldest family-owned chocolate maker, for something sweet to take back to your room.

Every visit reveals a new detail: the colour in the dome’s glass, the hum of live music in the arcade, the feeling of walking through a building that’s both elegant and alive.

For those curious about the stories behind the stone, the QVB History Tour offers a guided look into its creation, near loss, and remarkable restoration — a reminder that heritage, like good design, never truly goes out of style.

Return to your boutique hideaway in Pyrmont at Hotel Woolstore 1888, treasures in hand and a little of that timeless QVB spirit still lingering with you.

Image credit: Destination NSW