The Capella Sydney has quickly emerged as a true gem in the crown of the city’s luxury hospitality offering, providing a hotel experience that is the cherry on top of any stay in town. In our humble opinion, this five-starred property is nothing short of spectacular.
The hotel boasts an ideal spot, located just moments from the waterfront of Sydney’s iconic Circular Quay, Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the vibrant shopping offerings. Yet, it’s a haven of tranquillity, with no evidence of the hustle and bustle of the city once you walk through the doors of this beautiful sandstone historical building.
Evidence of the impeccable, personalized attention that sets Capella Sydney apart appears even before your arrival: having filled in a pre-stay survey, we received an email from Camille from the hotel’s Culturalist team, with bespoke suggestions from their resort program which is made up of a wide range of experiences celebrating local arts, heritage, wellness and gastronomy, brought about by knowledgeable experts. Activities include guided morning runs, architecture and history walks, storytelling experiences about Aboriginal heritage, tastings and art workshops.
Upon arrival at Capella Sydney, this flawless service continues, from staff remembering your name to the smallest of details for your stay, anticipating their preferences before you even voice them – the level of personalized attention makes the property stand out from the crowd.
The sophisticated design and indulgence of the rooms are impressive, with an abundance of space, volume and natural light, often unheard of in city-central hotels. Our bathroom was almost big enough to do cartwheels in, with a huge rain shower and a wonderfully deep bath. There was even a little bit of Kent in Capella, with lavish amenities from natural skincare brand Haeckels, a company that hails from Margate (and has been all the rage in London!).
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Sophisticate | SYD | GMT +10 |
| While you’re Out There |
| Take the boat from Circular Quay to Watson’s Bay and hike the South Head Heritage Trail, a beautiful scenic walk with panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, the city skyline, the Tasman Sea, North Head and the historic Hornby Lighthouse. On the route, you can enjoy a cooling swim at boujie Camp Cove or abandon clothing at nudist Lady Bay Beach. |
The sumptuously soft beds provide levels of comfort needed for a trip that could have been marred by insufferable jetlag. On this occasion, we were only in town for five days, so an uninterrupted good night’s sleep was imperative… and the super quiet rooms and beds you can just sink into were just as good as any anti-jetlag pills or potions.
Many an hour can be spent zen-like at the hotel’s Auriga Spa, a sanctuary of tranquillity. Although we didn’t have time to try any treatments (can you believe it!), we did note the impressive spa menu. Instead, some time spent enjoying the swimming and vitality pools which are surrounded by spectacular stone columns, provided the perfect start for a busy day ahead. More energetic guests could be seen taking advantage of the well-equipped gym and yoga platform at the Capella Sydney.
Sydney’s culinary offering is world-renowned and the hotel’s dining offering could overshadow many of the city’s top restaurants. Celebrating the best in Australian produce, Brasserie 1930 presents meticulously crafted tasting menus to inventive à la carte options. We found every dish a wonderful collation of locally sourced ingredients prepared with precision and flair, each expertly paired with amazing local wines.
There’s also the rather spectacular McRae Bar, with its dark walls and theatrical décor, which offers an elegant cocktail experience. The passionate and knowledgeable barman took time to go through the spirits on offer (many of which are sourced from the region) and produced the most wonderful cocktails. If our dinner reservation hadn’t torn us away, we could have been there for quite a while…
In a world where luxury can sometimes feel ostentatious, the refined elegance and genuine hospitality of Capella Sydney sets it apart. Without a doubt, our stay at the hotel stands as a testament to the fact that true luxury is not just about extravagance, but about creating memories for guests to cherish long after they’ve checked out.
Photography courtesy of Capella Hotels
