With its stunning harbour, iconic landmarks, and vibrant culture, Sydney is a city that exudes luxury at every turn. For travellers seeking the pinnacle of comfort and elegance in Sydney, look no further than the W Hotel.
Debuting last month, it is the third grand opening this year for hotel conglomerate Marriott Bonvoy, who bought the W Hotel brand in 2016. It joins several other deluxe establishments in the newly built ‘The Ribbon’ in Darling Harbour, where it will offer a unique blend of opulence, impeccable service, and breathtaking views.
The new Sydney location marks the largest W Hotel in the world, with 588 luxury guestrooms. To further emphasise the grandeur of the hotel, the rooms have been categorised into six tiers: Wonderful, Fabulous, Spectacular, Marvellous, Wow and Extreme Wow. The first level refers to the hotel’s standard rooms, which have a starting price of $700; these are furnished with either a king or two double beds with a walk-in closet and en-suite, as well as a seating area with a minifridge and deluxe coffee machine.
Meanwhile, the other types of rooms offer more available floor space and give guests a choice in what view they have in their room. With the hotel sitting on the bank of Darling Harbour, guests can choose either a brilliant view of the city or a magnificent view of the harbour (Wonderful rooms are only available with a city view). On the higher end, at an estimated $1,200 per night, the W Hotel also offers apartments with between 1 to 3 bedrooms, a separate living and dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen. All rooms were designed to have an elevated marine theme to reflect the hotel’s waterside location and Sydney’s infamous beaches. They feature different shades of blue and cool tones, with pops of gold and coral to compliment the space.
A similar colour scheme features across the hotel to create a cohesive look throughout all the communal spaces. Furthermore, the W Hotel collaborated with local artists, designers, and creatives to develop a style that represented the essence of Sydney. One of the artists was Sophi Oldling, who painted the mural featured in one of the hotel’s three gourmet restaurants, BTWN. Helmed by head chef Chris Dodd, this restaurant is heavily inspired by its urban surroundings, focusing on flavours featured in the city’s many night markets and utilising New South Wales produce. With services running from the early morning into the late evening, the BTWN offers a broad a la carte menu with standouts like the poached Aquna Murray cod with pickled Eden mussels or the spicy Musset Holdings mushroom ragout. The restaurant also offers an extensive drinks menu, with signature cocktails and a curated wine list showcasing some of the best wines in New South Wales.
From the late evening to the early hours of the morning, BTWN morphs into the late-night dessert bar, 2 a.m. In collaboration with Singaporean pastry chef Janice Wong, the menu experiments with the balance between sweet and savoury to create a late-night dessert experience like no other. Meanwhile, for an even more tailored array of beverages, the W Hotel has two bars that guests can choose from. The first is called the Living Room, an Asian-inspired lounge with a focused menu of sake, soju, and small bites. There is also 29/30, a double-level bar that showcases the most phenomenal views of the harbour, accompanied by a series of wines, cocktails and Basque-inspired tapas.
A third bar, the WET Deck, is located on the top floor, next to the 30m infinity pool. This rooftop pool venue is inspired by the vibrant ocean life native to Australia, featuring unique lighting and mosaic art evocative of the corals in the Great Barrier Reef, while the pool showcases a giant mosaic jellyfish motif on the floor. In addition to the infinity pool, the W Hotel offers a variety of high-quality amenities for guests, including 1300 square meters of event space, a gym, and a spa. All guests are given complimentary access to the Fit Gym, a state-of-the-art fitness centre with a variety of Technogym equipment and free weights. For those seeking a more rejuvenating experience, the Away Spa offers a refreshing sanctuary in the middle of the city. This space was designed by Bradley Eastman to provide a relaxing oasis for guests to experience independently or while socialising, featuring five different treatment rooms: circular treatment pods for manicures and pedicures, experience showers, a sauna and steam room, and a beauty bar made for guests to socialise while being treated.
Sydney’s latest luxury hotel is not merely a place to stay but an immersive experience that makes it stand out. Whether it’s the awe-inspiring views, the impeccable service, or the sumptuous amenities, the new W Hotel offers a distinct taste of extravagance for guests to indulge in. For those looking to experience the very best of what Sydney has to offer, the W Hotel is the perfect place to stay.