Anyone who knows good hotels knows the Shangri-La. The renowned hotel brand is synonymous with bringing a touch of luxury and peace to urban sanctuaries in more than 20 countries around the world – and the Shangri-La Sydney is no exception. It’s one of only two Shangri-La properties in Australia (the other’s in Cairns), with a third Melbourne hotel in the works.
I know I live in one of the most beautiful harbourfront cities in the world, but sometimes it takes watching the sunset on the 36th floor of a famous hotel to remind me just how incredible Sydney really is. The Shangri-La’s biggest selling point is its unobstructed 270-degree views of Sydney’s glittering jewels – the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. But the panorama doesn’t stop there – it extends from the Blue Mountains in the west all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the east, meaning you can watch both sunrise and sunset without leaving your window (if you’re in one of the Horizon Club Premier Sydney Harbour Rooms).
Why stay at Shangri-La Sydney?
The unparalleled views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House are a good place to start. You can admire them from the sophisticated Horizon Club guest lounge on level 30, the top-floor bar and restaurant (which is also open to walk-ins), or from one of the harbour-facing rooms and suites. These are some of the biggest in Sydney, complete with every five-star luxury you could ask for. The hotel also houses a heated indoor pool, health club and one of the fanciest day spas in the city.
If you’re all about convenience, the Shangri-La is right in the heart of the action. The hotel stands tall in the historic Rocks precinct, steps from Circular Quay and an easy walk to the beautiful waterfront Barangaroo Reserve. Ferries and cruise ships putter around below you like toys in a bathtub, reminding you just how much goodness our city beholds.
What are the rooms like at Shangri-La Sydney?
Soaring 36 floors above the harbour, this towering hotel is home to 565 rooms and suites divided into five categories: Executive Rooms, Premier, Deluxe Rooms and various Suites. While the building exterior may look a little dated, a multi-million dollar 2015 renovation gave the interior a luxe refresh, with a fresh palette of gold and blue décor, specially commissioned carpets and bespoke artworks.
Each room evokes classic luxury with huge plush beds, marble bathrooms featuring vanities with illuminated mirrors, and the largest windows of any harbourfront hotel in Sydney. The premium rooms boast cushioned window seats, inviting you to sit back and soak in the sweeping views – whether you’re gazing out over Darling Harbour, the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge or the glittering expanse of Sydney Harbour. Like any five-star stay, you can expect a premium mini-bar, espresso machine, Bluetooth media hub, pillow menu and fluffy Shangri-La bathrobes.
We were lucky to stay in a Horizon Club Premier Sydney Harbour Room on level 35, which granted us access to all the Horizon Club perks – think complimentary canapés and beverages, VIP check-in, shoeshine services and ironing (for those travelling in style). The top five floors are exclusively reserved for Horizon Club guests, and the views from up here are arguably the best in the whole hotel. Our room was incredibly spacious, and the real wow moment for me was being able to watch both the sunrise and sunset from the exact same spot – all from the comfort of my incredibly bouncy bed.
What is the Horizon Club like at Shangri-La Sydney?
The Horizon Club on level 30 has been dubbed “Australia’s most sophisticated club lounge in a five-star hotel” – and it certainly lives up to the hype. The private lounge underwent a multi-million dollar renovation in 2015, which enlarged the space by 20 per cent – and it now boasts uninterrupted 270-degree views of Sydney Harbour, which you can admire from the soaring 13-metre-high windows.
A spectacular chandelier made of three brass rings hangs in the atrium and is visible from many points on the foreshore, fulfilling the architect’s original vision of the building as a ‘lighthouse’. Drenched in natural sunlight, the lounge offers Horizon Club guests a light buffet breakfast, afternoon tea of scones with jam and cream, and evening canapés with beverages – all included as part of your stay.
If you fancy one of the primo seats in the lounge with northern views out over the harbour, we recommend getting in early – and remember there’s a smart-casual dress code. But even if you don’t get the window seats, you’ll be just as happy marvelling at Barangaroo foreshore lit up by lamp posts and the impressive engineering marvel where the Cahill Expressway emerges from the city’s sandstone foundations, gracefully curving around Fort Street Primary School.
Which are the best restaurants at Shangri-La Sydney?
Talk about a breakfast of champions. Shangri-La Sydney’s aptly named Horizon Club up on level 30 offers an Asian, continental or whatever-you-like brekky buffet with views of Sydney Harbour, the Bridge and the Opera House. Non-club guests can enjoy a buffet breakfast at Café Mix downstairs, featuring more than 150 menu items – from sizzling bacon and sausages to freshly baked pastries, seasonal fruit, handmade jams and raw, unfiltered honey from the Shangri-La’s rooftop apiary. The buffet breakfast is priced from $59 for adults and $25 for children under 11.
While here, you’ll want to visit the hotel’s famous top-floor venues: Blu Bar on 36 and Altitude restaurant. Blu Bar might not be the city’s cheapest place to get a drink, but it’s one of the most spectacular. Nothing makes your problems feel miles away like downing an extremely boozy Old Fashioned at a great height.
Set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most beautiful natural landscapes, Altitude takes inspiration from Australia’s native ingredients. You can choose between a signature five-course chef’s tasting menu, with pairings from the award-winning 500-strong wine bible. Or opt for an elegant two- or three-course lunch or dinner, featuring suckling pig cooked three ways with abalone, grain-fed Angus beef tenderloin with beetroot puree, or a mushroom medley risotto finished tableside with fragrant truffle shavings. It’s not uncommon to witness a proposal while dining here, and for those seeking privacy, there’s an intimate dining room in a glass box overlooking the city – perfect if you want to pop the question in peace and quiet.
What’s the high tea like at Shangri-La Sydney?
Perched on level 36 of the luxurious Shangri-La, this might be the highest high tea in all of Sydney. We recommend tackling the three-tiered snack tower from the bottom up. The menu is seasonal, but may include things like smoked salmon blini, Wagyu and mushroom pies, honey cheesecake and a chestnut chocolate mousse. The standard high tea starts at $88, but you can add free-flowing premium sparkling wine to your experience for an extra $30 or French Champagne for an additional $70. A vegan high tea menu is also available.
What is the spa like at Shangri-La Sydney?
Timeless elegance and classic luxury are at the heart of the Shangri-La brand, and those values are held dear at Chi, The Spa on level two. After stepping out of the lift, you’ll enter a serene sanctuary of hushed voices, dark earth tones and soft lighting that sets you at ease almost straight away.
The spa is an intimate establishment, featuring only six treatment suites (two have double occupancy, for couples or friends looking to enjoy the experience together). All the treatments here blend Australian healing techniques with botanical ingredients and influences from Asian and Middle Eastern therapies. You’ll find classic massages and facials, as well as a couple of body scrubs, wraps and wellness retreats.
What are the gym and pool like at Shangri-La Sydney?
If you’re visiting Chi, The Spa, it’s worth arriving early to make the most of the facilities before blissing out entirely. Shangri-La Sydney’s Health Club features a well-equipped gym with more than 15 cardio machines, plus a range of free weights and strength machines. Next door, you’ll find a heated indoor swimming pool with an adjacent whirlpool hot tub for ultimate relaxation. If the pool area is busy, you can find peace and quiet on the secluded sundeck. It may not have an award-winning view, but the chance to catch some rays away from the hustle and bustle below is nothing to complain about. Or you can finish off with a sweat sesh in the sauna.
What’s the area like around Shangri-La Sydney?
The Shangri-la Hotel Sydney has a prime position in the historical area of the Rocks, within walking distance to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, and ferries to Taronga Zoo and Manly. But don’t forget to take a stroll through the beautiful waterfront Barangaroo Reserve just to the west of the hotel, and explore the brand new bars and restaurants of the adjacent Streets of Barangaroo.
Why you should book a stay at Shangri-La Sydney?
If you believe, like most locals do, that Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, then staying at the Shangri-La Sydney is a heck of a way to experience it. You’ll be perfectly placed to explore all the city’s greatest landmarks, have easy access to public transport, can enjoy world-class dining across multiple floors, and can relish in the five-star luxuries of your spacious room.
Address: 176 Cumberland St, The Rocks, Sydney
Price per night: From $305 per night
Closest transport link: Ferry, train and light rail stations at Circular Quay – just a four-minute walk away