Is Sydney’s Park Hyatt Hotel The Coolest Hotel in Australia?

The Park Hyatt Sydney is one of Australia’s leading five star hotels with some of the most spectacular views of both the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

In a country largely lacking super luxurious city hotel experiences, Sydney’s Park Hyatt Hotel, resting on the edge of the water in Sydney harbour is the landmark hotel.

It is a stand out in all categories including location, service, rooms, cuisine, covid-safe practices and amenities.

The Park Hyatt Hotel is one of Australia’s most sumptuous, elegant, polished city five star hotels, with epic, uninterrupted, unrivalled views of the opera house, harbour bridge and skyline.

The fresh, subdued, natural interiors, rooftop pool, tranquil spa, and impeccable service make this a global-style Australian-flavoured luxury stay.

Overall Rating: 9.5/10 

In these times when a five star hotel city stay in Europe is out of reach for Australians, the Park Hyatt Hotel Sydney is the next best thing.

Australia has never been renowned for absolute luxury of a European standard, but this is one of the few hotels where you will still find true five star luxury.

Covid measures are in place with touch-key entry, a la carte breakfasts. Plenty of extra cleaning and attention to detail can be seen everywhere from the NYC Le Labo bath products to marble finishes and luxe Australian artisan chocolates in the guest rooms upon arrival.

Veuve Clicquot is the house standard French Champagne,  and half bottles can be ordered on arrival or in fact at any time, as can single glasses at breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The Location Rating: 9.5/10

This is as city-central as a stay in Sydney gets with the best of Sydney’s incredibly opulent water views. The hotel is absolute waterfront in Sydney’s Rocks precinct, steps from the edge of the CBD.

It is cusped neatly between the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, with the CBD a short walk away. The Museum Of Contemporary Art sits next door.

The hotel is only 5 stories high, which is a gift for hotel guests, as the view of the Opera House is a unique one, unblemished, uninterrupted and almost at the same level and height as the hotel.

Looking across at her white sail-like structure, and the art deco arches of the bridge is an incredible vantage point that can be seen from most rooms and most certainly from the elegant roof top spa and magnificent rooftop pool.

The hotel is about 20 minutes drive from Sydney airport.

Service & Facilities: 9/10

The lobby and general ambience and flavour hotel feel is one of elegant minimalism and a touch masculine, with neutral brown, beige earthy tones showcasing the views outside, captured at every turn by extensive floor to ceiling windows.

The facade is carved out of Sydney sandstone, and the entire curved building sits next to the spotted gum (a native tree) board walk, also built by Park Hyatt where the public and hotel guests are able to take strolls at all hours of the day.

Don’t judge the hotel on the driveway upon arrival – it is a bit tight, but it is ultimately not an issue at all.

Australian artists including sculptor Robert Bridgewater and GW Bot’s works are on display throughout the hotel.

Australian black and white photography by Robert Billington and local paintings by artist Tim Johnson have been hand crafted and uniquely purposed for the hotel.

During the pandemic The Living Room is the only restaurant open, and is a fine place for a meal or snack at any time of the day or night.

I stayed in an Opera Deluxe Room room on the southern side of the building, and the whole experience was first-rate.

The gym is on the fourth floor, and has fabulous new cardio and weights equipment – and is cleaned regularly throughout the day.

One of the unique aspects of this inner city hotel is that it is super quiet. The silence is only broken by the gentle horn of ferries or boats on the water, or the Bose speaker which you can easily connect to the bluetooth on your phone for in-house music of your choice.

Service is intimate and spot on. The concierge are a highlight.

The Rooms: 10/10

All hotel rooms are flooded with light and feature floor to ceiling windows.

I stayed in an Opera Deluxe room which had two large balconies overlooking the Sydney Opera House and the Bridge around to the left.

The grand, spacious marble bathroom has a huge, deep bathtub which looks through the bedroom and over the balcony to the opera house. Is there a better way to view The Opera House than from the bath whilst soaking up Le Labo products, champagne in hand?

There are optional sliding plantation shutters if you prefer bathing in private which can be slid across in front of the bath for complete separation and privacy.

The bathroom has double sinks, a separate toilet and separate shower with a choice of overhead rainfall shower head or a hand held shower.

The Le Labo Bergamot 22 products were a highlight and refilled daily. There was even a set of scales and the mandatory fresh robe and slippers.

In these times, having a large dining table instead of a study desk made me feel like I could stay in the room indefinitely. This room is what pandemic lockdown dreams are made of.

Food & Drink: 7.5/10

Cocktails are limited at this time due to Covid-restrictons (and I do miss the hotel’s fabulous bar being open), but those on offer are still of a high standard, and the wine list is huge with wines from every corner of the globe and for every budget.

During the pandemic, only The Living Room Restaurant is open with sensibly spaced tables and a limited but well thought out fine dining dinner menu featuring the best of local sourced ingredients, with added daily specials.

A three course meal can be ordered for $80 which is very well priced for the quality, location and views.

The Living Room has floor to ceiling windows along one wall facing the ocean, allowing diners to surround themselves with beautiful water views, and relaxed, luxe interiors.

Breakfast is served in the lounge behind the reception area, directly next to the boulevard wrapping around the hotel and surrounding ocean. The a la cart menu includes a bakery basket, fresh fruit platter, and coffees, with choices of gourmet eggs cooked various ways, as well as porridge.

The killer views are the ultimate way to start the day, and I didn’t tire of them.

Summary: The landmark Hotel was built 29 years ago, and was renovated in 2012. The hotel is regularly maintained, so everything feels fresh and new. This is a hotel for affluent, discerning guests looking for privacy, luxury and an oasis of calm.

Insider Knowledge:

Renae says: One of my favourite hotels in Sydney for champagne, a bath and a sleep-in.

Who should Stay here: Couples.

Who shouldn’t Stay here: I can’t think of anyone who would not love it.

Location: Absolute waterfront in the heart of Sydney’s CBD

Best culinary delight: The Marrow entree at The Living Room Restaurant. Delicious.

The Highlight: Waking up to the Opera House view from the plush King beds.

The lowlight: The Prices are high in peak season, and pray you don’t end up in a room without a view.

Insider Knowledge: The mini bar has Australian made cuvee chocolate which is made to match wine – deliciously decadent.

Awards: Has won multiple awards over the years including 2019  Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards – #1 Top 5 Australia and New Zealand City Hotels, 2019  Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards Hall of Fame Honoree – listed in T+L’s World’s Best Awards for 10 consecutive years 2019  Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards – Best Business Hotel in Sydney, Virtuoso Best Of The Best and so on.

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