Hilton Sydney – Hotel Review

There are few bigger hotel brands in the world than Hilton and with that name recognition comes high expectations. Hilton Sydney, in the thick of the CBD on George Street, doesn’t disappoint. After a recent refresh of all guest rooms and suites, the hotel feels modern and user-friendly, an ideal stay for business travellers, weekenders and those looking for a longer-term home away from home. Read on for the full review.

With a world-class restaurant, bars for every mood, the country’s biggest hotel gym and a location fit for shoppers, sightseers, wheelers and dealers alike, Hilton Sydney delivers on the promise of its internationally-renowned name – and then some.

Where is Hilton Sydney?

Right in the heart of the CBD, accessible via George street on one side and Pitt street on the other, the hotel is ideally placed for shopping, sightseeing and transport links. A cab or ride share will get you to Sydney Airport in about 20 minutes.

What’s near Hilton Sydney?

The heritage Queen Victoria Building is across the road, it’s an easy 20-minute walk to Circular Quay, and major department stores David Jones, Myer and Westfield Sydney are just blocks away. 

Room types

All 587 rooms and suites were redesigned and relaunched in early 2021 and the result is a clean, contemporary aesthetic. There are smart TVs, cloud-like beds and elegant furnishings you’d expect from the brand but wood paneling, a neutral colour palette and space-maximising layouts make each space feel homey and comfortable for a single night or longer stay. The new family room category offers two adjoining rooms for those travelling with kids or friends, while corner rooms have an extra window and boast the most expansive views of the city skyline.

Restaurants and bars

Glass Brasserie (pictured above) is now as much a Sydney restaurant as it is a hotel restaurant, with locals dining regularly alongside guests. On the Hilton’s second floor, the classically styled space has a wall of glass that offers a unique perspective on George Street – looking down on the new tramline that runs through the city centre, and across the road at the intricate detail of the Queen Victoria Building’s sandstone façade. The menu is European influenced, with kingfish or pan-roasted WA scallops to start, and mains from the grill such as Riverina beef fillet with black barley risotta and, pan-fried potato gnocchi with parmesan and lemon. For dessert you can’t skip the house special liquorice meringue roll with lime and mint – nothing like the rubber-bullet liquorice that many people turn their noses up, it is subtle, light and irresistible. The hotel has two bars – Zeta Bar on level 4 and Marble Bar below street level – the former a bright, contemporary space with outdoor terrace, the latter an old-school Heritage-listed den with moody lighting, leather Chesterfield sofas, brass and marble accents and classic cocktails.

Travel for work

With 28 flexible meeting rooms, in-house AV by Encore Technologies and multiple exhibition and conference spaces, Hilton Sydney’s business credentials are as well suited to corporate travel as its CBD location. All rooms have desks, phones, smart TVs and wi-fi connectivity.

Pool, gym and spa

If the largest hotel gym in Australia doesn’t appeal (that’s okay, you’re on holidays), the indoor pool offers a low-key workout. Alysium Day Spa has a menu of massages – from hot stone to remedial – and a unique jetlag treatment in which aromatherapy oil blends and massage techniques are used to rebalance and rejuvenate the body and mind after a long flight. Enjoy time in the spa and sauna before or after your treatment.  

What you need to know

The hotel’s upper floors reveal a glimpse of high-rise patios and gardens you’d never see from street level.

SEE ALSO: The Best Hotels in and Around Sydney’s CBD