Stepping into the cavernous, Gatsby-coded lobby of Kimpton Margot Sydney, you’ll find it hard to believe that this hotel has only been open since 2022. Thick, scagliola pillars stretch up to the glass-panelled ceiling, velvet booths curve around polished marble tables, and Art Deco-style light fixtures arc their brass stems into the space like luminous prehistoric plants. This doesn’t feel like a new inner-city stay, and there’s a comfy soulfulness in that – it’s a hotel that honours the centuries-old approach to hospitality and reminds you why it’s sometimes a good idea to forgo the Airbnb in favour of a space that makes you feel like a princess.
What is Kimpton Margot Sydney like?
The vibe of the hotel is old-school grandeur with a playful, epicurean twist. Housed within a heritage-listed building (once the head office for Sydney Water) in the centre of the CBD, it makes a solid base for travellers visiting Sydney for the first time – steps away from most of the city’s best theatres and an easy stroll to Hyde Park. In so many ways, the Kimpton Margot has all of the features you’d expect from a five-star city hotel: luxe rooms, excellent dining options and high-spec facilities. And with 172 rooms, it’s a relatively large hotel – but there’s an intimate atmosphere here and a sense that decisions have been made to maximise fun. Despite its international brand affiliation (Kimpton is a sub-brand of IHG Hotels), there’s a boutique energy that – along with the rooftop pool and bar – sets the Kimpton Margot apart from other big-brand CBD stays and qualifies this one for a place among Sydney’s best staycation options for locals looking for a night in the city’s beating heart.
What are the rooms like at Kimpton Margot Sydney?
Spread across nine levels, rooms at the Kimpton Margot range from relatively compact twin rooms to 160-square-metre suites. Ours was a King Suite, home to a spacious lounge room, wildly comfy feather-down bed and an elegant tiled bathroom complete with deep, chrome-trimmed bathtub.
Not all rooms come with a bath, so check your room category when you’re booking, but you’ll see the same tastefully classic aesthetic throughout – with Art Deco numbers framing each doorway and a rotating curation of art by local artists lining the walls. Custom robes designed by local artist Georgia Draws A House hang in the wardrobes, and Nespresso machines, smart TVs, chess boards and well-stocked minibars are standard.
Surrounded by towers in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, natural light isn’t a big feature here – windows open up onto the street or a central courtyard. If big city views are what you’re after, this isn’t the hotel for you.
Which are the best restaurants at Kimpton Margot Sydney?
The foodie offering at Kimpton Margot has been brought to life by acclaimed celebrity chef Luke Mangan, whose approach elevates seasonal Aussie produce with French and Asian techniques and flavours.
Just off the lobby on the ground floor, Luke’s Kitchen is the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, serving up a seasonal menu of modern Australian dishes like spiced crumbed quail and chilled king prawn salad with Yarra Valley salmon roe. Luke’s Golden Chocolate Bar is a must-order for dessert: a golden shell encasing a liquid caramel filling (when he launched the dish, Luke launched a Wonka-esque initiative by hiding golden tickets worth up to $50,000 in some of the desserts).
If you’re looking for a more casual set-up, the lobby is home to a 1930s-style bar: The Wilmot. This is your go-to for daytime coffees and light bites, as well as casual late-night snacks. The beef tartare comes crowned with a quail egg and jewelled with furikake – order the double serving.
At Harper Rooftop, Mediterranean-inspired share plates are the go – with a menu stacked with a careful curation of perfectly salty snacks: fresh focaccia and taramasalata crowned with pickled cucumber and pork scratching, and fried lamb croquettes with a zingy pomegranate dressing. It’s worth noting that this is where you’ll find the hotel’s pool, so if you’re really leaning into holiday mode, order an Aperol Spritz and a plate of oysters and enjoy them from your daybed in the sun.
Breakfast is served in Luke’s Kitchen and is a delightfully refined affair. A welcome break (in my opinion) from the sprawling buffet breakfasts seen at most of the city’s larger hotels, breakfast here starts with a juice shot and a fruit bowl or pain au chocolat, followed by an option from the à la carte menu (it’s got all of the Aussie breakfast staples; I’d suggest the chilli scrambled eggs).
What is the service like at Kimpton Margot Sydney?
Mirroring the Gatsby-esque aesthetic, service here is generous and epicurean. At 5pm every day, guests are invited to join “Social Hour” – with free-flowing drinks and snacks served at various locations around the hotel. The hotel is also dog-friendly – good news for dog-owners and travelling dog-lovers alike.
Is there a gym or pool at Kimpton Margot Sydney?
The rooftop pool – on an elevated platform just above the Harper Rooftop Bar – is one of the city’s best hotel pools, flanked by a row of sunbeds and surrounded by towers. It’s definitely long enough to clock a few lengths and the perfect place to catch some rays in the heat of the day.
In the lobby, you’ll find a fleet of Lekker bikes which are available for guests to borrow, and there’s a well-equipped gym and yoga studio in the basement.
Is there a spa at Kimpton Margot Sydney?
There’s no spa on site, but you can book an in-room treatment if you’re super keen for a self-care experience without leaving the hotel. Otherwise, plenty of Sydney’s best day spas are within walking distance or a short journey away via the metro.
What’s the area like around Kimpton Margot Sydney?
If you’re looking for a well-located CBD stay for a culture-fuelled weekend, this is as good as it gets: less than twenty minutes’ walk from the Art Gallery of NSW, the Australian Museum, the Capitol Theatre and the City Recital Hall (to name a few). Gadigal metro station is a minute’s walk from the hotel, and there’s a bus stop a few minutes’ walk away with a direct line to the beach. Personally, I don’t think you’ll find the soul of Sydney’s community in the CBD, but it’s a great place to stay if you want easy access to the city’s top attractions.
Why should you book a stay at Kimpton Margot Sydney?
This is a grand CBD stay with boutique energy and one of the best hotel pools in the city.
Address: 339 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
Price per night: From $314
Closest transport link: Gadigal metro station is a one minute walk from the hotel.
Book now: Over here.