The art-filled bolthole in downtown Sydney also features dining venues by celebrity chef Luke Mangan.

Built during the late 1930s as the headquarters of Sydney’s metropolitan water board, a heritage-listed art deco structure in the CBD is now home to Kimpton Margot Sydney. IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxe boutique brand opened its newest property this week following a significant renovation of what was once the Primus Hotel. Located on Pitt Street, a short stroll from Hyde Park and the landmark Queen Victoria Building, Kimpton Margot Sydney also puts guests in close proximity to the hip inner-city neighborhoods of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst.

Behind the terracotta-tiled facade, the original Scagliola pillared lobby has been preserved but updated with bold patterns, plush furnishings, and brass fittings for a contemporary twist. The building’s art deco roots provided the inspiration for the redesign of the 172 rooms and suites, most of which have bathtubs (all come stocked with Mr. Smith amenities). At the top of the line is the 160-square-meter Celebrity suite, whose facilities include an open-plan living and dining area as well as a butler kitchen. Guest quarters feature wall art sourced from around the world, and close to 600 pieces adorn the property’s nine levels; an installation by local artist Tony Twigg takes pride of place in the high-ceilinged lobby.

Kimpton Margot Sydney’s handful of bars and restaurants are overseen by famed Australian chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan. At all-day dining venue Luke’s Kitchen, chefs dish up globetrotting fare that play up the multicultural appeal of modern Australia: the menu features prawn toast served with wild-caught Tasmanian spanner crab meat salad and entrees like seared tuna with black bean tabbouleh and grilled baby corn. A signature main course designed for sharing is the dry-aged Wollemi duck and vegetables in an Indonesian coconut curry laced with garlic, ginger, and star anise.

Meanwhile, Cellar By Luke is a cozy ground-floor eatery that offers a daily degustation menu and seats patrons beside walls of Australian and international wines. Set within the lobby are The Wilmot Bar, complete with plush velvet loungers and a menu of botanical flavored cocktails made with Australian ingredients, and Pantry At Margot’s, a café that serves coffee, loose-leaf teas, and freshly baked pastries.

A staple at every Kimpton hotel, Social Hour promises complimentary tipples for guests between five and six p.m. each day. Expect a rotating selection of drinks, from boutique Australian wines to the signature Margot cocktail to a G&T from Four Pillars, a small-batch gin distillery in the Yarra Valley. The setting for Social Hour changes by the day; it might be hosted in the lobby, on the mezzanine surrounded by artworks, or at the rooftop pool bar.

While there isn’t a spa, the hotel has teamed up with Sydney wellness studio Egg of the Universe to offer in-room yoga workouts available on TV, with mats and accessories supplied on request. Guests can also explore the Kimpton’s surroundings on four wheels thanks to free bike rentals from Dutch brand Lekker.

Doubles from US$236; kimptonmargotsydney.com