Shangri-la Sydney Hotel Review, The Rocks

Imagine you have just arrived in Sydney after a long haul flight. Tired, weary and jetlagged, you are in need of respite and tranquility. Your limousine pick up was swift as was your check-in to the hotel. You’re being escorted to your room, and this is the view that greets you.

Shangri-la Sydney, Actual View from Grand Harbour View Room

The Shangri-la Hotel in Sydney is a five star hotel located at the historic area known as the Rocks within walking distance to Circular Quay and the CBD. The luxurious hotel offers harbour views from every guest room, no matter which room options you choose.

The Darling Harbour View rooms overlook the expanse of Darling Harbour and is the least expensive of the three options. The Opera View Room offers a view of the Sydney Opera House with a partial view of the city. This room type offers best view of Circular Quay, with boats, ferries and Captain Cook cruises coming in and out of the harbour. The Grand Harbour View offers an unparalleled view of both the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge with almost 80% water views.

Grand Harbour View Room with window seating

The Shangri-la Hotel Sydney has undergone major renovations in October 2011 with 477 of its guestrooms and suites refurbished. The décor is modern oriental, taking in an Asian hospitality colour scheme with touch of Australiana. There are cherry blossoms on the bed head, on the floor and on the carpet integrated with Australian brown and yellow tones.

Guest room

The spacious rooms have extra luggage storage, wide drawers to ensure you can store your belongings with ease and a desk beside the window. Purpose-built window seating was installed where you could sit, relax, read a book, enjoy a drink or simply gaze by at the captivating view below and get as close to the city as you can.

Writing desk by the window

All bathrooms have marble tops with a bathtub, a separate shower with a luxuriant shower head and toiletries that are replenished nightly.

Marble bathroom

Separate shower

Marble bathroom, toiletries

A gift of fresh fruit and chocolates on arrival  is a welcome touch, as are the tasselled bookmarks which are left on the bed by the turndown service. In keeping with being environmental friendly, there is an option to reuse sheets and towels if you desire.

All floors are keyed and all rooms have free and fast wifi. Universal plugs make it easy to use any electrical appliance. You’ll also find an iHome dock, Bluetooth media hubs and sensor air conditioning, though you can adjust it manually to our comfort level if need be. In short, your stay is made so comfortable that you will find it difficult to leave.

Breakfast at Café Mix

Breakfast is served at Café Mix on Level 1 and offers a smorgasbord of cuisines to suit many tastes from the fruit and yoghurt, to pastries and croissants, and cooked breakfast. Choose from truffled scrambled eggs or spicy chorizo scrambled eggs, corn cakes with avocado, quiches, rice noodles in XO sauce, just to name a few.

Breakfast at Café Mix

The fruit juice bar is impressive as is the fruit bar. A selection of cooked eggs can be ordered to taste, including Eggs Benedict which are delivered to your table.

Horizon Club

The Shangri-la offers a Horizon Club option with many features designed to make your stay for business or pleasure as comfortable and as swift as possible.

Horizon Club Lounge

You can enjoy a VIP check-in and check out service, spacious rooms on the upper floors and an extra level of personalised service. Access to the private Horizon Club Lounge entitles you to a complimentary buffet breakfast which can be enjoyed over Grand Harbour panoramic views of Sydney.

Afternoon tea at the Horizon Club Lounge

Complimentary afternoon tea is also served at the Lounge, and you can partake in tea, coffee and a selection of sweets between 2 pm and 5 pm.

Cocktail hour at Horizon Club Lounge

In the evening, as the lights over the harbour twinkle, cocktail hour at the lounge offers a range of alcoholic beverages and canapés from 6pm to 8pm.

Hotel Facilities

The hotel’s facilities include a fully equipped gymnasium, a heated swimming pool and spa overlooking a garden setting. Dinner at Altitude restaurant on level 36 is not to be missed, along with pre-dinner cocktails at Blu Bar on 36.

Shangri-la Sydney is one of the few hotels in the world and the only one in Australia which offers the CHI spa experience, a haven that offers a range of CHI massages and treatments based on authentic healing methods shared by many Asian cultures.

When it comes to choosing a hotel in Sydney, the Shangri-la’s prime location, harbour views from every room, free and fast wifi and the level of comfort in the room make it an ideal choice whether it’s for an overnight stay or a longer visit. The harbour views will captivate whether you take a peek at sunrise, watch the ebb and flow of life during the day and take that ‘one more look’ at the twinkling harbour before you draw the curtains at bedtime.

Grand Harbour View at Dawn

Next in the Shangri-la Sydney series:

• CHI Spa experience at Shangri-la Sydney
• Dinner at Altitude restaurant
• Cocktails at Blu Bar on 36

Shangri-La Hotel Sydney
176 Cumberland St
The Rocks  Sydney Australia
T: (61 2) 9250 6000    F: (61 2) 9250 6250
http://www.shangri-la.com/sydney/shangrila

Gourmantic enjoyed a short stay the Shangri-la Sydney as media guests.