Sydney has welcomed its first new-build internationally branded luxury hotel since the city hosted the Olympics in 2000.
The much-anticipated Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour opened its doors last month opposite the International Convention Centre. The hotel is set to play a major role in the revitalisation of Darling Harbour and is the first of over 40 hotels scheduled to open in the city over the next five years in order to support the city’s growing tourism.
A stylish porte-cochere leads guests inside the building. The hotel’s public spaces and guestrooms pay tribute to its maritime location through the extensive use of timber, representing Sydney’s strong wharf heritage, as well as rope and sandstone motifs in the carpets.
The hotel offers 590 stylish guestrooms, including 35 coveted suites, some with outstanding views of Darling Harbour and the city through floor-to-ceiling windows. Suites feature an in-bathroom television, double shower heads, and luxurious soaking tubs for the ultimate pampering experience.
The Bellerive suite is the hotel’s pinnacle of accommodation and features a separate living room, dining room and butler’s pantry. The Club Millesime Lounge, located at the very top of the hotel on level 35, is exclusive to guests staying in the Club Sofitel rooms and suites on levels 28 – 34, and also offers breathtaking views over Darling Harbour and the city.
Along with a cutting-edge design, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour also comes with a 6-star green rating for its sustainability measures.
Three sophisticated bars and the stylish signature restaurant, Atelier by Sofitel will help the hotel to become a hotspot in the city.
French-inspired Atelier by Sofitel on the third floor is the hotel’s restaurant, serving the very best local seasonal produce combined with the culinary techniques that highlight the origin of Sofitel’s French heritage.
The Champagne Bar offers locals and guests alike the largest Champagne bar in Sydney – a bar which includes a special Louis Roederer Champagne from the 2009 vintage in collaboration with artist Philippe Starck, and a special edition 3L Jeroboam of Cristal Brut valued at $22,000 and encased in 24 carat gold-dipped latticework handcrafted by two master goldsmiths over four days.
Sydney, Le Rivage Pool Bar on the fourth floor looks like an idyllic place to laze the day away while sipping cocktails, swimming in the inviting 20m infinity pool or working out in the SoFit gym, all while overlooking the magnificent city skyline, of course.
The hotel’s amenities are completed with nine flexible meeting spaces, including a grand 450-person Magnifique Ballroom.
