InterContinental Sydney

The InterContinental Sydney stands as a distinguished luxury hotel, recognized as a Michelin Key Selected property, offering a blend of historic grandeur and contemporary elegance. Recent extensive refurbishments, including a $120 million transformation, have elevated its rooms, public spaces, bars, and restaurants, drawing inspiration from the Australian landscape, Sydney Harbour, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The InterContinental Sydney generally receives very positive feedback, with an overall rating often around 4.4 out of 5 stars based on numerous reviews. Guests frequently describe their stays as wonderful, exceptional, and outstanding, highlighting the perfect location, beautiful hotel, and exceptional staff. It is often considered a top luxury hotel choice in Sydney, offering a blend of comfort and sophistication.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise the InterContinental Sydney for several outstanding features:

• Location: Its unparalleled position in Circular Quay, adjacent to the Royal Botanic Garden, and just minutes from the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, is frequently cited as unbeatable.
• Views: Many rooms and public areas, particularly the Club InterContinental lounge and Aster Rooftop Bar, offer breathtaking panoramic views of the Sydney Harbour, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge.
• Design & Ambiance: The hotel, built around the historic 1851 treasury building, seamlessly blends heritage architecture with modern, luxurious interiors. The recent refurbishment introduced a cool, comfortable, and inviting vibe with lush carpets, velvet fabrics, and a soothing color palette of blues, greens, and creams.
• Amenities: Key amenities include six restaurants and bars, a modern fitness center, a spa, and a heated indoor pool on the 31st floor with exceptional harbor views. The exclusive Club InterContinental Lounge, also on the 31st floor, is a significant highlight, offering personalized service and five-star cuisine with stunning vistas.

3. Room Quality

Rooms at the InterContinental Sydney are generally described as spacious, contemporary, and quiet, with many offering gorgeous views. They feature a neutral color palette with accents of deep red or soothing blues, plush bedding (including "InterContinental Cloud Beds"), and high-end amenities. Amenities typically include a desk with outlets, a flat-screen TV, coffee/tea service, and a generously stocked mini-bar. Many rooms include comfortable window-side chaises for soaking in the city or harbor views.

Bathrooms are often described as pleasant and clean, with black-and-white tiled floors or grey marble surrounds and vessel sinks. While some standard bathrooms may feature combination shower/tubs with cloth curtains and may not offer anything "special" for a luxury property, recently refurbished bathrooms boast large rain showers (though some note varying water pressure) and luxury Byredo toiletries, which are a highly appreciated touch.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel offers a diverse range of dining options across its six restaurants and bars.

• The Conservatory: This restaurant hosts a very good buffet breakfast, including eggs, pastries, fresh fruit, cereals, cheeses, juices, barista-made coffee, and Eastern options like bao buns and stir-fries.
• Club InterContinental Lounge: For guests with Club access, breakfast is served on the 32nd floor (Level 31 according to some sources), and the lounge also offers brilliant afternoon tea and evening canapés, which some guests find substantial enough for dinner.
• Aster Rooftop Bar: Known for its unique ambiance and panoramic city and harbor views, it's a popular spot for cocktails and small plates in the evening, though reservations are often required, and access might be exclusive.
• The Treasury: Offers an all-day dining menu with Australian botanicals, from breakfast items to more serious dishes, in a romantic and glamorous setting.
• Other options include The Meat and Wine Co. for classy lunches and dinners, 117 Dining for nightly dinners, and Cortile's for high tea. While breakfast is extensive, it is generally not included in the room rate and is considered pricey.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at InterContinental Sydney are frequently praised as exceptional, friendly, welcoming, attentive, and helpful. Guests report that staff members go "above and beyond" to ensure a great stay, from reception to concierge services. The hotel aims for "True Hospitality" and a supportive environment for both guests and employees.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel boasts an unbeatable central location in Circular Quay, making it ideal for both tourists and business travelers.

• Attractions: It's just a block from the harbor, directly between the Circular Quay and the Royal Botanic Gardens, and minutes away from the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Rocks area is also nearby.
• Transport: Circular Quay Station is a four-minute walk, and Wynyard Station is an eight-minute walk, providing easy access to trains and ferries for exploring other parts of Sydney. It's also suitable for those going on cruises due to its proximity to Sydney Harbour.
• Accessibility: The hotel offers ramp access, accessible entrances, public toilets, and restaurants. It also provides braille on lifts and in public areas, services for hearing-impaired guests, and wheelchair-accessible rooms with appropriate features.

7. Value & Pricing

The InterContinental Sydney is positioned as a luxury property, and prices are generally high. While many guests feel the experience is worth the cost, especially given the prime location and exceptional service, some recurring fees can add up. Room rates for a Harbour Bridge Room can start from AUD$495 per night. Standard rooms are noted to be ample but not overly generous in size. IHG One Rewards members may receive complimentary Wi-Fi, but for non-members, it is an extra fee. Breakfast and parking also incur additional, often pricey, fees.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring criticisms include:

• Extra Fees: Breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi (for non-IHG members) are often extra and can be expensive.
• Standard Bathrooms: In some rooms, particularly before or outside of the recent renovations, bathrooms were considered fairly standard and not particularly luxurious for a five-star property, sometimes featuring shower curtains instead of glass enclosures.
• Rooftop Bar Access: Hotel residents sometimes report not having access to the Aster Rooftop Bar unless pre-booked, which can be a disappointment if the bar is full.
• Generic Room Decor (prior to renovation): While recent refurbishments have updated the rooms, some older reviews noted the decor could feel generic.
• Service Inconsistencies: Isolated incidents of slow or chaotic service have been mentioned, particularly in ground-floor bars or at check-in.
• Food Temperature: In some dining experiences, issues with food being lukewarm have been reported, attributed to the distance between the kitchen and dining areas.

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