Sydney: Hotel Guides

The former Observatory Hotel has had a major makeover to bring it up to a Langham standard, which involved a remodelling of the entire building from the restaurant and bar to the rooms, lobby areas and spa – although the latter needed little touching up. The old Observatory was best known for its day spa, and the hotel can still claim to have one of the city’s finest pampering dens, where massages, facials, pedis and manis are all held in incredibly high regard. Want to go all-out? Book in for the Champagne and Gold Indulgence package, a 4.5-hour full-body pampering session plus Champagne lunch. At the Langham, you’ll also find a sumptuous afternoon tea in Palm Court, modern fare at Kent Street Kitchen and sumptuous accommodation – try for a Harbour-view terrace room.

89–113 Kent Street, Millers Point

House is just how it should be done at this hotel, which has been wooing romantics since well before the Olympics, when it changed name from The Regent. The action starts up at Grain bar, serving up dozens of different whiskies hailing from Japan to Scotland and Ireland to Tennessee. Head for a meal at the gastronomic Pei Modern, under the helm of popular Australian chef Mark Best, or if you’d rather dine entirely à deux, order to your room and soak up the views over dinner. And languorous lovers can rest easy; the hotel’s romance package includes a 3pm late check-out.

199 George Street

You’ll need to stay a few nights to make the most of the foodie possibilities at the sleek new Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour. The hotel’s main restaurant, Atelier by Sofitel, is a French-inspired grill that marries classic Provencal flavours with the best Australian produce, while up in the Champagne Bar you can order in oysters, caviar and charcuterie to accompany a bottle of fizz and fabulous harbour views. There’s also Esprit Noir Lobby Bar, for sandwiches and light meals, and Le Rivage Pool Bar, serving up classic bar food and zesty cocktails. And once you step outside, the culinary options come thick and fast: the neighbourhood is stuffed full of restaurants and bars covering a whole world of flavours, from Shanghai dumplings and Singapore laksa to Hungarian pastries and Danish ice cream.

12 Darling Drive

Despite its glamorous looks and reputation, the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay is a great place to stay with kids. Set just east of the city centre, in family-friendly Double Bay, the hotel goes out of its way to make younger guests welcome, with a good children’s menu and junior version of High Tea in The Stillery Restaurant and plenty of room for rollaway beds and cots in the bedrooms. By night, you can cosy up in robes and slippers (they have mini versions for children) and order in a family movie and bucket of popcorn; by day, it’s just a short walk from here to Double Bay Wharf, where you can hop on a ferry to explore the harbour, or to Seven Shillings Beach, with its soft sand and tidal harbour pool.

33 Cross Street, Double Bay

Sydney locations don’t come more spectacular than this – the Park Hyatt enjoys a prime piece of real estate, right beside the Harbour Bridge and looking out across the harbour and Opera House. It’s convenient, too, within walking distance of the central business, shopping and entertainment districts and the ferry hub of Circular Quay. All rooms meet the five-star brief, with plush fabrics, Bose music systems and a tastefully neutral colour palette, while business-friendly facilities include work stations, free WiFi and five meeting rooms, all with modern technology and specially commissioned artworks. Work done for the day, you can work out in the fitness centre, book a treatment in the spa and relax in the guests-only rooftop pool.

7 Hickson Road

Originally built in 1939, the former HQ for Sydney’s sewerage authority is now one of the city’s most glamorous places to stay, having reopened as Primus Hotel Sydney in 2015, following a two-year transformation that retained and restored many of the original Art Deco features. The striking terracotta façade is still there, as is the stunning lobby, with 8m-tall marble-effect columns and giant glass skylight. Bedrooms blend retro charm with contemporary comforts: there are deco-style light fixtures and geometric patterns, teamed with Nespresso machines and iPod docks. In keeping with the period feel, they serve classic high tea and cocktails in the Lobby Bar while up on the rooftop there’s a cool New York vibe to the outdoor pool, restaurant and bar.

339 Pitt Street

Known for its quirkiness, QT is Australia’s coolest hotel chain. The Sydney outpost, at home in the former Gowings department store and State Theatre buildings, incorporates elements of Gothic, Art Deco and Italiante-influenced architecture – throwing in cool, contemporary design for an achingly hip, smart vibe. Your experience here starts with a freshly brewed cuppa from Parlour Lane Roasters (or a beer on tap), then shave and haircut in the barber shop or a massage and facial in spaQ, before dinner at European Brasserie-cum-Modern Australian eatery Gowings Bar and Grill. Cocktails are to be had at Gilt Lounge before retiring to your room (check out the expansive QT State Suite) where you’ll find bespoke furniture, throws on beds and amongst other things, an emergency bow tie in the mini bar. After all, when it starts here, you never know where your evening will take you.

49 Market Street

Make sure you score a corner table at cocktail lounge Blu Bar on level 36 of Shangri-La’s Sydney outpost, where you’ll be swigging back a martini whilst overlooking Sydney Harbour in a way many locals never have. Take that one step further and book a window table at Altitude Restaurant, which serves up contemporary Australian cuisine alongside top local wines and breath-taking views. Here’s a tip: book a Horizon Club room which won’t just give you a suite with views barrelling down the Harbour and a private check-in inside your room, but also access to the Horizon Club Lounge, which features windows several stories high overlooking the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, as well as evening drinks and canapés, boardroom access for an hour, a complimentary breakfast and drinks and snacks during the day.

176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks