W Sydney – Hotel Review

The W Sydney hotel was built on the site of the former iMax theatre in Darling Harbour, inside a huge wave of silver, nicknamed The Ribbon, standing between two expressways. The five-star hotel’s interior is a fusion of neon, copper, mirrors and cobalt-blue accents, inspired by the bustling precinct and shimmering water below. Bursts of waratahs, the state flower of NSW, garnish stairwells, walk-in closets and carpets.

The W Sydney houses five dining options over three levels, with breakfast on offer in the main restaurant, BTWN (referring to the location “between” the expressways and Darling Harbour), and a coffee counter that turns into a dessert hotspot at night. On the 29th floor, the Wet Deck features an open-air, 30-metre heated infinity pool, though you might find most of your attention is focused on the tiles at the bottom of the pool, which are laid in a kaleidoscopic mosaic of jellyfish that glow in the dark. 

Where is W Sydney?

A five-minute stroll from the CBD, The Ribbon is in the heart of the vibrant Darling Harbour precinct, a seven-minute walk from Central railway station, where you can take a 20-minute train ride to Sydney Airport.

What’s near W Sydney?

Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wild Life Zoo are both within easy reach for a day out with the kids. But if you’re after more grown-up fun, Star City Casino in Pyrmont is a 20-minute walk, just over the bridge. The hotel is a short stroll to restaurants in Chinatown, which are among some of the best in the city. If shopping is more your scene, the Queen Victoria Building is where you’ll find designer fashion and accessories, cute cafés and specialty stores – and it’s only two blocks from the W.

Room types

There are 588 guestrooms in total, including 162 long-term studios and suites equipped with kitchens, and all of them are decorated in a plush, playful nod to Sydney. Think Art Deco-style décor accented with deep-blue carpeting, white beds and silver lamps inspired by the harbour – you’ll even find shark-shaped pillows. Highlights include the one-bedroom Extreme Wow Suite on the 27th floor, which is 202 square metres of submarine-inspired luxury. It has its own bar, floor-to-ceiling windows and a massive dining and living area, and exudes a swank James Bond vibe.

Restaurants

There are five dining venues at the W, including BTWN, Living Room, 29/30 Rooftop Bar, Wet Deck and 2am:dessertbar by Janice Wong. All-day restaurant BTWN leans into its location overlooking the dual expressways, with neon lights on the ceiling designed to resemble traffic and murals by Sydney-based artist Sophi Odling on its walls. The 200-seat space serves breakfast from 6.30am to 10.30am on weekdays and 6.30am to 11.30am on weekends and has its own vertical farm with 11 micro herbs – including Greek basil and Red Daikon – which are plucked fresh to accompany your scrambled eggs. The lunch and dinner menu consists of Australian classics with a twist, such as the crowd-favourite kangaroo cheeseburger, which uses hashbrowns instead of buns. It doesn’t have to be 2am to head to the dessert bar, where Singaporean celebrity chef Janice Wong’s original treats, including Warm Chocolate Forest – a lemon-myrtle- infused, warm chocolate and wattleseed brittle tart base topped with tonka ice-cream – are yours for the taking. On the first floor, the Living Room bar offers Asian-inspired fare and cocktails, while the 29/30 Rooftop Bar, upstairs from the pool, features a tapas-style menu and drinks.

Sustainability 

The hotel’s main restaurant, BTWN, is focused on hyper-local produce, drawing from environmentally conscious farms across NSW. The property’s rooftop channels rainwater into 100,000-litre tanks and undergoes filtration before being stored in cooling towers, which maintain the hotel’s temperatures while reducing its environmental footprint. Each room uses 100 per cent LED lighting and there are no plastic packaging or bottles in the mini bars. Bins also have a recycling option and sustainable straws are available to guests upon request. 

Accessibility

Every room and suite at W Sydney has been designed with accessibility in mind, featuring lowered benchtops, larger light switches and signage, an adjustable wardrobe and roll-in bathrooms. Lifts go to each floor and both the indoor and outdoor pools have hoist facilities. There is also wheelchair access to every common area.

Travel for work

There are eight meeting rooms in total, including the Great Room, which overlooks Darling Harbour and can seat up to 805 guests. All spaces are fitted with audio visual technology and the wi-fi is fast and free. A laundry service is available if you need your suit dry-cleaned in a hurry.

Spa and pool

The Away Spa, situated on the second floor, is designed for solo travellers and groups, with a cocktail and juice bar in the centre and a communal space dedicated to manicures and pedicures. There are five treatment rooms where you can choose from a menu of facials – including cryogenic – as well as body scrubs, massages and wraps. There’s also a recovery room, with peach-coloured “pods” and nutritious snacks on hand, as well as a sauna and steam room. The 24-hour gym is on the same floor and its bathrooms are equipped with showers, hairdryers and straighteners so you can leave looking as polished as when you came in. The Wet Deck, a 30-metre infinity pool on Level 29 with glorious views of Darling Harbour, is open from 6am daily so you can get your laps in.

What you need to know

W Sydney recently partnered with Unofficial Run Club for excursions around the city every Thursday from 6am for an hour. Set out from the hotel through Pirrama Park and follow the waterfront’s “W”-shaped path, before returning to the W via Pyrmont Bridge. Open to guests and the public.

SEE ALSO: Our Shortlist of the 17 Best Hotels in Sydney’s CBD