From the lounge space on the 21st floor of Sheraton Grand Hyde Park, the Sydney evening stretches out below me in intricate detail. Above the commuters walking home through the park, the fig tree canopies stretch like cities of leaves, and the towers of Kings Cross blink to life as the stone spires of the cathedral are cast in a buttery glow. Beyond the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharves pushing their historic silhouettes into the harbour, the banks of the eastern suburbs greet the water – green meeting blue – and the ocean horizon cuts a deep navy line into the sky. Sydney’s most iconic landmarks might be out of sight, but there’s so much in this view that speaks to the fabric of the city, from a hotel situated deep within its buzzing heart.
What is Sheraton Grand Hyde Park like?
The Sheraton Grand Hyde Park is a hotel whose name reflects its offering: it’s opulent and old-school in the very best way. And though it would be easy for this hotel to rest on its laurels – with its super-central location guaranteeing its popularity – the team manages to deliver something that’s at once intimate and awe-inspiring, with an endearingly old-school energy. With 558 rooms and 48 suites stretching above the city for 22 expansive floors, this is a hotel that reminds you that you’re in one of the world’s major cities. Arriving into the grand, gold-trimmed lobby, you’ll be struck instantly by its scale. Marble pillars stretch up into the ceiling and a thick, slowly-sloping staircase wraps up the west side towards the mezzanine level, where you’ll find the hotel’s award-winning restaurant (the gem in the hotel’s crown, but we’ll get to that).
What are the rooms like at Sheraton Grand Hyde Park?
The hotel’s 558 rooms vary in size, ranging from relatively compact (40 square metre) standard rooms to the vast, 205 square metre Royal Suite. With marble-trimmed bathrooms and gallery hangs of impressionist art on the chocolate-toned walls, the decor is comforting, and impressively thoughtful for a hotel of such huge scale.
The key hack to making the most of a stay at the Sheraton Grand – besides getting to Sydney Common in time for aperitivo hour – is booking a park-facing room. Not only does this afford you prime people-watching position, but it also means you can watch the sun rise over the city without leaving bed.
Which are the best restaurants at Sheraton Grand Hyde Park?
Occupying a light-flooded space on the first floor of the hotel, Sydney Common is a modern Australian restaurant that’s up there with Sydney’s best. If you arrive around late afternoon, it’s worth heading straight to The Bar at Sydney Common – aperitivo hour runs from 4.30pm until 5.30pm every day, with $12 Martinis and Negronis setting the tone for what’s to come.
With head chef Dylan Bennett on the pans, and a supremely friendly and well-informed team (led by restaurant manager Sophie Kim and the delightful assistant restaurant manager Ernesto) delivering on-point service with charm, Sydney Common is very much a destination in itself. After aperitivo hour, sit down at a table by the window and let the team order for you – highlights from my visits (plural, I keep coming back) have included delicious aged oysters, spanner crab crumpets, pink snapper crudo and a perfectly cooked duck that arrives theatrically on a bed of smoking lavender.
If you’re in the mood for an after dinner drink, one of Sydney’s most reliably fun underground bars – Ramblin Rascal – is just a minute’s walk down the street, but staying at Sydney Common with a round of Fernet Branca isn’t a bad idea either.
Downstairs in the hotel’s lobby, you’ll find The Gallery, ideal for quick bites and light lunches. The Gallery is also the setting for the hotel’s beloved “High Tea on the Park” – the place where teddy bear picnic dreams come true (the hotel has partnered with Build-A-Bear for the ultimate high tea takeover).
The daily breakfast buffet (served in Sydney Common) is one of the most abundant I’ve ever had the pleasure of addressing – with everything from congee to croissants presented in a seemingly endless feast. Omlettes are expertly prepared to order, and there’s a juice station with every kind of fruit and vegetable to help you keep your vitamin levels in check.
What is the service like at Sheraton Grand Hyde Park?
In a hotel of this scale, it would be easy to feel like a cog in a machine, but the team at the Sheraton are genuinely interested in every guest, and do a wildly impressive job at remembering my name.
Is there a gym or pool at Sheraton Grand Hyde Park?
The 22nd floor of the Sheraton is your wellness mecca. Here, you’ll find a 13-metre swimming pool sparkling beneath a glass dome roof, opening up onto a terrace lined with loungers overlooking the park. The spacious 24-hour gym has everything you need for a workout (including on-site personal trainers), but if the sun is shining, it’s worth getting your cardio in via a run through the park towards the Opera House and the Botanic Gardens.
Is there a spa at Sheraton Grand Hyde Park?
There’s a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room connected to the pool, and if you’ve got the time, it’s well worth booking a treatment at the sky-high spa. On The Park Rejuvenation Spa is widely regarded as one of Sydney’s very best – with a range of restorative massage treatments and bespoke facials inspired by the seasons. The team of therapists are masters at the art of massage, and the collagen-boosting gold and lime caviar facial will leave you with a beach holiday glow.
What’s the area like around Sheraton Grand Hyde Park?
The location couldn’t be more central – directly opposite Hyde Park, with key CBD landmarks like the Sydney Tower (visible through the glass roof of the pool), St Mary’s Cathedral and Circular Quay all within easy walking distance. Many of the city’s very best restaurants and bars are within walking distance too, and the Theatre Royal is just a six minute walk.
Why you should book a stay at Sheraton Grand Hyde Park
Although the hotel would work well as a holiday base – in the heart of Sydney’s buzzing city centre, a short walk from the world-famous Circular Quay and within an easy journey from many of the city’s beaches – I think its offering as a business hotel is its calling card. The executive lounge on the 21st floor is a dream office space with a lovely team on hand to keep you fuelled while you work, the rooms are spacious and decorated with a tasteful grandeur, and the constant hum of the park through the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows gives you the sense that you’re part of Sydney's story.
Address: 161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Price per night: From $300 per night.
Closest transport link: St James train station is just a two minute walk from the hotel, and buses leave from just outside connecting you to the Inner West and the Eastern Suburbs (including Bondi Beach).
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