Capella Sydney is the best hotel I’ve ever stayed at, the most luxurious. But this is not a flashy chandeliers-and-knockout-views type of luxury. This is quiet, confident, understated elegance. Every single detail has been thoughtfully considered. Everything is beautiful, yet also practical and has been designed with guest comfort at the forefront. This is a new level of luxury I haven’t experienced before.
Why stay at Capella Sydney?
If you can afford it, stay. At least once. It’s been built in the old sandstone Department of Education and Agriculture buildings, and while all facilities are modern, they’ve done the most wonderful job of retaining the sense of heritage.
The hotel’s colour palette is all serene, earthy tones, but big pops of colour from artworks save it from looking “beige”. Art is a big thing at Capella – they have a collection that ranges from the ‘Meadow’ wildflower-like lights that bloom and close from the ceiling in Aperture bar and restaurant to Aboriginal artworks, and installations that depict Sydney history. Each room features unique, original artworks that mean every space is slightly different.
The hotel offers curated experiences designed by the culturist team to help you explore the hotel and Sydney. They have a Wellness Centre featuring a stunning lap pool, vitality pool, sauna and steam room, Auriga Spa and gym, and you can even do Fluidform pilates sessions in your room. And they have an impressive collection of restaurants and bars. You don’t even have to leave the hotel for an experience-packed stay – but you really should, because you’re right in the heart of Sydney, near some of the city’s best stuff.
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What are the rooms like at Capella Sydney?
There are Deluxe, Premier, Tower and Skyline Rooms, and from what I can tell, they’re all exquisite. I’m in a Premier Room with a super-king bed, and the room is huge (they average 50 sqm). I’d like to move in and stay here forever (pretty please). These rooms have an urban aspect (I have a view of the pretty old domes at the top of the building across the road), heritage features, and a white, deep-soaking bathtubs (my favourite thing in the room).
There is smart lighting and blinds, and you have an intuitive tablet you use for in-room dining, to check mini-bar prices, and access guest services (such as complimentary laundry pressing).
Everything about the room is elegant and comfortable. My bed is covered in beigey-white Italian Frette linen, which feels so luxurious, I don’t know how I’m going to sleep in my bed at home after this.
The bathroom is huge – it features the bath, which, while in the bathroom, looks out over the beautiful bedroom, too, so you don’t feel closed in. There are double sinks, a large shower with rain-shower head, custom Bamford toiletries, a Dyson hairdryer, and bathroom lighting that can be tailored to your mood.
The rooms also have an actual wine fridge, a shiny Nespresso machine, an electric kettle disguised as a traditional Japanese kettle, an in-room safe for your valuables, Bose bluetooth speaker, 55-inch TV screens with streaming services, and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.
Where to eat and drink at Capella Sydney
Aperture
While Brasserie 1930 is the hero eatery in terms of the food, Aperture is the ground floor gathering space with those famous lights that hang from the ceiling. Actually, they’re not just lights, they’re an artwork called Meadow – by Dutch artists Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta of Netherlands-based art practice DRIFT. It’s not surprising to hear they were inspired by wildflowers. Nineteen pastel-coloured lanterns elegantly bloom then fold back up. People come to Aperture for a drink and a snack, just to see this installation. That said, they also serve a lovely menu here. I start with a Yuzu Negroni (starring Four Pillars Yuzu Gin with Campari and rosso vermouth) – beautifully bitter and refreshing. I order the Sashimi Plate with Mount Cook salmon, hiramasa kingfish and yellowfin tuna. I also have the prawn spaghetti with chilli, olive oil and parsley (which is all glossy in a rich prawny bisque). Aperture is also known for their Lode x Aperture Afternoon Tea. The venue is open all day, from brekkie through to dinner and nighttime drinks.
This restaurant by the Bentley Group team – chef Brent Savage and sommelier Nick Hildebrandt, who are also responsible for some of Sydney’s best restaurants such as Eleven Barrack and King Clarence – is, as they put it, “a restaurant that redefines what an Australian brasserie is”. To them, that's all about blending world-class culinary craftsmanship with the finest local produce. Basically, modern Australian dining at its best – and the perfect restaurant for any visitor to Sydney. I loved the elegant pairing of native Australian ingredients into sophisticated and delicious dishes made using classic techniques (think spanner crab tart with finger lime; and Aquna Murray cod with paperbark oil, smoked clam and roasted onion butter). In the mornings, guests can enjoy their choice of either a buffet breakfast or a la carte offering here. I ordered the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and truffle hollandaise, yum.
McRae Bar
McRae is Capella’s cocktail bar. They take their cocktails seriously here – the drinks menu is inspired by the ‘First Golden Age of the Cocktail’, so they’re as much about visuals as flavours. The bar is named after George McRae, the architect of the charming old Department of Education building (completed in 1912); he also designed Sydney’s stunning Queen Victoria Building.
Capella Living Room
As if there weren’t already enough venues on the ground floor of this hotel, there’s also a lounge bar exclusive to guests. Enjoy a welcome drink here, and at 4.30 to 5.30pm daily, go for the “Afternoon Swill”, where you get to enjoy complimentary drinks (your choice of Eucalyptus Gimlet, wine or sparkling) while enjoying canapés and the lounge’s art collection. Get there promptly to make sure you nab a table.
In-room dining
You can also order room service straight to your room from the tablet 24 hours a day – we were tempted by the bolognese toastie on the late-night menu, but we’d already indulged enough at dinner that evening.
What’s the service like at Capella Sydney?
The service has got to be one of the things that sets Capella apart from other luxury hotels. It’s all the little touches. When you’re served your complimentary welcome drink and also Afternoon Swill, you’re given a moist washer to freshen up with. Placed next to the bath in your room on a stool, there’s a little egg light and bath salts ready for use. During their evening turndown service, they leave you dreamy scents for your pillow and another one to roll onto your pressure points. They offer complimentary pressing of five laundry items during your stay.
You can also enhance your experience at Capella by booking an experience curated by the hotel’s Culturist Team. Find out more over at the Resort Programming section of Capella Sydney’s site. They even have experiences for kids.
As you move throughout the hotel – through the lobby, venues, wellness centre and spa, staff are warm and friendly, and make all guests feel very special.
What facilities does Capella Sydney have?
What facilities doesn’t the Capella have? To start, there’s the Wellness Centre, which is where you’ll find Auriga Spa, the pool, steam and sauna rooms, the gym and a pilates space.
The pool is a long, heated lap pool, surrounded by lounges and with a hot Vitality Pool (mineral bath) at one end. There’s an ethereal feel in the pool area, thanks to crisp, white walls amplified by natural light that comes from windows above. By the pool, there’s an area with mats where you can do pilates or yoga.
Auriga Spa is a serene space for facial and massage treatments – I tried the 60-minute Sensitive Repair Energy Balancing Facial. I fell asleep at some point as the facialist smoothed on layer after layer of organic, nutrient-rich oils and gave me a gua sha massage. I ended the session with glowing skin and zen.
There are also separate-gender steam and sauna rooms, experience showers and an ice fountain.
The gym, open 24 hours, is full of Technogym equipment. The hotel also has a partnership with Fluidform, so you can do an exclusive series of 20-minute Pilates workouts – filmed on-site at Capella Sydney – in the comfort of your room, or even with a Fluidform trainer. You can grab the pilates gear you need from the Wellness Centre to take back to your room.
As mentioned, there are several venues on the ground floor: Aperture, Brasserie 1930, McRae Bar and the Living Room.
And there are hotel programs created by the Culturist Team – including curated morning, history and architecture walking tours of Sydney, QVB architectural tours, art tours and more. Find out more over at the Resort Programming section of Capella Sydney’s site.
What’s the area like around Capella Sydney?
You’re perfectly placed to enjoy the best of Sydney’s city. The hotel is near Circular Quay, where you can get some of the best views of Sydney Harbour that take in the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge – or hop on ferries or trains to explore other parts of the city. This also means you’re close to The Rocks (Sydney’s historic heart), the Royal Botanic Gardens, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
There are several very popular restaurants and bars near the hotel – our favourites are underground Italian restaurant Neptune’s Grotto (make sure you book ahead), New York-style steakhouse Clam Bar, pintxos bar Deux Frères and cocktail bars Disco Pantera and Apollonia.
You can also easily hop on the super-speedy Metro fast rail service from Martin Place station – an area that also has some great restaurants and bars, including multi-storey venue The International, and Latin American restaurant Morena.
Who should book a stay at Capella Sydney?
Anyone who can afford it. If you want to stay right in the heart of the city, in a luxurious, comfortable place, with access to excellent food and drink, surrounded by art, with all the mod-cons and facilities, you will love it here.
Address: 24 Loftus Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Price per night: From $747
Closest transport link: Trains & ferries at Circular Quay; Metro at Martin Place
Book now: Click here
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