THE WESTIN SYDNEY
It’s all about location at the Sydney
outpost of the Westin empire. Housed
within the heritage-listed sandstone
walls of the former GPO building,
guests couldn’t be more CBD-central.
Amenities such as a 20-seat
boardroom, five meeting rooms and
elegant conference and event spaces
are well suited to business travellers,
while holidaymakers have easy
access on foot to Sydney’s landmarks.
Tower rooms are well appointed with
standalone glass-walled baths and
signature Heavenly beds, but the
décor blurs to beige. To get a feel
for this exceptional building, upgrade
to an aptly named Heritage room,
carved into the building’s original
contours and kitted out in antiques.
1 Martin Pl, Sydney, (02) 8223 1111,
westin.com
WEST HOTEL SYDNEY
The grace notes in this new-build hotel by Hilton’s Curio Collection are botanical:
a striking white-waratah motif in the lobby, a garden atrium, leaf-patterned
carpets and native flowers throughout. The all-day streetfront restaurant is
named after a botanist, First Fleeter Daniel Solander, and the bar mixes botanical-
leaning cocktails. On the CBD’s western edge and close to Barangaroo, the
hotel has a façade clad in geometric wall panels that create the look of a faceted
jewel, and these panels frame big windows in 182 jewel-toned rooms and suites.
Smart touches include a gym full of natural light and, in rooms, backlit bedheads,
ceiling-mounted Bluetooth speakers, and sound-proofing that ensures it’s as
quiet as a rainforest.65 Sussex St, Sydney, (02) 8297 6500, westhotel.com.au
Westin staf take dietary
requests seriously. There are
no dismissive half-guesses here; if
you request gluten-free, staf will
double-check every ingredient and
guide you towards choices that work.
For $5, guests can borrow
workout gear and running
shoes. Use them in the hotel’s health
club or on a harbour circuit past
the World Heritage wonder of the
Opera House.
The real star at the breakfast
bufet in Mosaic restaurant
($45) is the view of the lofty GPO
atrium. But the food, especially the
noodle soup, also hits high notes.
In-room dining is packed with the
classics plus a “sleep well” menu
loaded with nap-friendly nutrients.
The Bar, Lounge & Room is
the place for signature Westin
cocktails including the Brookvale
Stormy: dark rum with fresh lime and
Brookvale Union ginger beer. The
minibar gets points for its Roederer,
perfect for impromptu indulgence.Inhale fresh air and disconnect
from the city over a meal or
drinks in the atrium “jungle”, a clever
use of vertical space and natural light
between towers.
Attention to small details is
impressive. Light switches have
USB ports. The light over the clothes
rail is shaped like a bird. And there’s
a (free) muesli bar and bag of popcorn
with machine-made cofee in rooms.
All-day dining in Solander, a
good-looking room with marble
parquet floors and velvet-upholstered
chairs, starts with a small, well-chosen
breakfast bufet ($28) including chia
puddings, and apple and wheatgrass
presses. Or settle in with a full
breakfast ($39) starring a textbook
eggs Benedict.
The jade-green terrazzo bar and
backlit wall glow like jewels
from the streetfront. Cocktails take the
hotel’s botanical theme literally, with
house-made bitters, infused spirits and
syrups in the rather ambitious likes of
Beetroot Mojitos and Nettle Gimlets.WHERECBD.COSTFrom $340, without breakfast.AT A GLANCE416 rooms and suites, adjoining rooms; bar,
restaurant, pool, day spa, health centre, paid valet and self-parking.IN ROOMFree WiFi, Bose sound system,
bath, pillow menu, Westin White Tea Heavenly toiletries.BEST ROOMSBuilt into the original sandstone GPO
building, the Heritage rooms are the pick if you’re after character and charm.
WHERECBD’s western
edge.COSTFrom $328,
without breakfast.AT A
GLANCE182 rooms and
suites, adjoining rooms;
bar, restaurant, gym,
paid self-parking.IN
ROOMFree WiFi, smart
TV, Bose Bluetooth
speakers, cofee
machine, some baths,
Biology Smart Skincare
toiletries.BEST ROOM
The King Barangaroo
Suite has harbour
glimpses, a living room
and a tub for soaking.Solander Bar.Mosaic restaurant.GOURMET TRAVELLER 165