Rydges World Square

Located in the new shopping and entertainment precinct known as World Square, the Rydges (which was converted from the previous Avillion hotel) was still a work in progress at the time of writing. The restaurant had just completed its refurbishment and the bar was waiting for an upgrade; the guest rooms, meanwhile, had been completed to a comfortable (albeit rather blandly furnished) standard. Since it is within easy walking distance of Darling Harbour, Chinatown and the Queen Victoria Building, this hotel is popular with business people and those seeking cheaper (relatively speaking), good-quality rooms. There’s also a large fitness centre and a retail plaza that connects to the lower lobby. Bar. Business centre. Concierge. Disabled-adapted rooms. Gym. Internet (high-speed). No-smoking floors. Parking ($35). Restaurant. Room service. TV (cable/pay movies/satellite). CityRail Central or Town Hall/Monorail World Square/LightRail Central. Rates $460-$580 double. Rooms 443. Credit AmEx, DC, MC, V.