Recently, my boyfriend and I decided to take the weekend off from home renovations and treat ourselves to a weekend in Sydney. We narrowed our list down to a few hotels that had a view, were affordable and also pet friendly. The top of our list was the W Sydney. A fairly new hotel, not even a year old, opened in October last year, which still has the new feeling. It’s a great place to stay if you are after modern style, a vibrant atmosphere and in a prime location.

Accommodation and Amenities

Upon arrival, ascending on the escalator we were greeted in the foyer by the snap of a Polaroid photo. Whilst check in was at 3pm, when we arrived at 4pm our room was not yet made up. Our disappointment was quickly eroded when we were offered three complimentary drinks at the stylish Living Room overlooking Darling Harbour. I tucked into the delicious Espresso Martinis, whilst my boyfriend opted for pints of Resch’s beer, accompanied by some savory treats. They went down very easily considering the price tag and turned out to be an unexpected relaxing way to start out stay, accompanied by great music and a welcoming atmosphere.

When we did eventually make it up to our room a couple of hours later we were impressed by the comfortable size of the room. We had booked the ‘Spectacular King Room with Harbour View’. A huge extra large double bed centered in the 35m square room with a whale placed on the bed to tie in with the marine theme. Expect a massive television which offer’s a range of channels, music and movies. There was a day bed to lounge on and a swivel seat in front of the floor to ceiling glass window overlooking the Harbour. Definitely a place that oozed the relaxation vibes. Amenities such as an minibar, ironing board, robes, slippers, and a GHD hair dryer ensured that every comfort was taken care of. The bright, quirky and cheerful design is based on the notion ‘The Larrikin’, that represents the extrovert, but is not too serious and has a sense of humor and opinion. The walk in robe with inflorescence bursts of red and pink waratah flowers was my favourite. So daring but it works.

The bathroom was equally impressive, offering both a shower and a bath tub with Momo toiletries. There are instructions for the bathroom taps and the room lights as they are a little different from what we are used to. The water pressure was a minor drawback but you can’t have everything hey.

The hotel's two pools were a delightful surprise, one with on either side of the hotel. With the rooftop pool transforming into a vibrant wetbar at night while soaking in the Sydney skyline. It might be best to make a booking though if you plan to take a visit later at night. We were frowned upon when we asked just to take a look.

Dining and Entertainment

When it comes to dining, the W Sydney does not disappoint. However be prepared for the large queues for breakfast at the hotel restaurant on level 3, Btwen, or they do offer in room dining as a convenient option. We opted to eat out for both breakfast and dinner as there are plenty of waterfront dining options and bars in close vicinity along Cockle Bay Wharf, King Street Wharf and Barangaroo. We made the short walk to Planars for dinner and were impressed by the service, quality of food and location.

We had an early dinner, grabbed some Gelatissimo for dessert and were back in our room to watch the Saturday night Darling Harbour fireworks over Cockle Bay at 8:30pm. Fireworks never disappoint and they put on a great show.

We woke up to a wet Sunday morning, but thankfully there was no rush as check out was not until 11am, so we took our time getting out of bed. We went for a walk around the bay and enjoyed breakfast at Cafe Alma by Chambers, which just around the corner, helpfully suggested by the doorman. The coffee was particularly good, and the corn fritters were a good way to start the day.

Local Attractions and Convenience

The W Sydney is convenient to exploring the nearby museums. You have the Maritime Museum, Sea Life Sydney, and Wildlife World. These attractions were within easy waking distance. The W Sydney is also a great base if you have anything on at the International Convention & Exhibition Centre (ICC) and makes for a great photo at night with the lights on. If you have a longer walk in you, Barangaroo is not too far.

Getting there is easy too, via public transport you want to catch the train or Ferry to Darling Harbour and walk around or we parked at the Wilson Harbourside parking station. We booked online for only $31 for the night. It was only a ten minute walk to the hotel from there. Whilst out walking nearby we noticed the First Darling Quarter parking station which was advertising $25 overnight. Or if you are after convenience, W Sydney offer valet parking for $90 a night.

Overall, our experience at the W Sydney was highly positive. With its reasonable pricing and a plethora of amenities, it caters to both leisure and business travelers looking for a touch of luxury without breaking the bank. From funky decor and quirky touches to excellent service and convenient location, it ticked all the boxes for a memorable stay in Sydney and whilst we never ended up taking our dog along for the weekend, we love that it is pet-friendly.

Perfect for both a weekend getaway or a longer stay, the W Sydney offers a unique blend of style, comfort, and convenience. If you're planning your next trip to Sydney and are looking for a hotel that combines affordability with luxury, the W Sydney should definitely be on your list of considerations.

Whilst relatively new and they are still ironing out all potential problems, we couldn’t fault it. Have you stayed at W Sydney yet? What were your thoughts? We would love it you joined our conversation and left a comment below.