Capella Sydney

I had great expectations for the Capella Sydney before my arrival and I am delighted to say they have all been exceeded! The heritage hardware is beautiful - all the historical features lovingly restored while enhanced with modern amenities. The bedroom was the perfect sanctuary after a busy day in the city; the bathroom perfectly outfitted with a spacious shower (great water pressure - which was a surprise considering this is not a new-build) and a fantastic free-standing bath; and the public spaces thoughtfully designed so they were clearly separated but yet seamlessly blended into a beautiful whole. I especially enjoyed the Living Room, a signature Capella offering, where I could relax over a cup of coffee while the Capella Culturalists looked after my requests. However I was even more impressed that after a short couple of years the hotel has managed to assemble such a capable team! I arrived in a taxi that dropped me across the road, and as I walked towards the property one of the bellmen walked briskly towards me and addressed me by my last name (impressive homework!) - what an arrival! I was promptly checked in by the warm front desk associates - very personal and sincere and set the tone for the rest of my stay. The Culturalists were all extremely helpful - full of local knowledge and therefore allowed me to have some of the most delicious meals. And the restaurant teams were awesome too. I had lunch at Aperture after I checked in and had a lively chat with Vincent; and every morning my breakfast was accompanied by a healthy dose of hospitality delivered by the team at Brasserie 1930. Food was consistently amazing - I had one of the best Wagyu burgers at Aperture! It is no wonder that the Capella Sydney is ranked amongst the top hotels in the world. I am looking forward to my next stay!

The Capella Sydney is inside a beautiful and modernized historic building conveniently connecting Circular Quay with Sydney's CBD. At first glance, this checks the boxes of a true luxury property, a closer look reveals reasonable doubt. Welcome was friendly, but our upgrade in line with a GHA Titanium status took a lot of unnecessary discussion based on prior research. Also payment via GHA Discovery Dollars proved to be complicated, at the same time advance payment did not seem appropriate at a hotel, which claims to be one of Australia's best. The room itself was beautiful, with an impressive 180 degree view window front facing Sydney's main bay as well as the Royal Botanical Gardens. Also, space was present in abundance and decor was pleasant. The minibar being included for non-alcoholic drinks, and daily hand-written cards were further enhancement of the room. Furthermore, the washlet and the very comfortable bed deserve praise. Nonetheless, maintenance and cleanliness did not meet basic standards with the closet door making strange noises and a used sock as well as a used bottle of water from the former room occupant found on the first day. Also, the bathroom shelf below the mirror had not been cleaned properly for quite some time. The sofa pillows had to be removed due to ugly stains on them. The welcome gift being a slice of cake celebrating our anniversary seemed a little small considering our loyalty to the GHA Discovery programme. When these shortcomings came to the management's attention, a bottle of champagne, unfortunately uncooled, as well as macarons were sent to our room, which we still appreciated. The breakfast was OK in quality and selection, it was still one of lower standard compared to other breakfasts we enjoyed on our recent trip. Breakfast service was inconsistent, with some members of the team being friendly and attentive, a special shout-out to Sanjeep in that regard, others ignorant and reluctant to offer beverage refill. When it comes to dinner at Brasserie 1930, product quality was good, but again, no drinks were offered after the first being emptied, and some of the waiters showed a questionable attitude. A concept that must be reconsidered is the Living Room, especially for the Social Swirl. Due to the limitation of space at the Living Room, service is reduced to a minimum during the Swirl, which makes guests feel hardly welcome. Maybe including alcoholic drinks in the daily refilled minibar would be a better option than offering everybody an option nobody can be really happy about. Still, the high-quality Australian wine at the Swirl must be complimented. For the public restrooms downstairs, we reported a broken door lock on the first day, which had not been repaired after day five. All this was shared with Assistant Director of Rooms Sam, and he took our feedback absolutely well and made sure of a very smooth and pleasant check-out - including taking the dinner costs from our final check. We left with a good feeling - also because of Phoebe from the front desk team, who conducted the check-out. She had been there for us constantly during our stay, even delivering medicine and a cute plush toy whale, when she discovered one of us did not feel quite well. Also, she was always ready for a small chat and her approach to service simply touched our hearts. Another shout-out to Hung, who shared many insider tips with us and made sure we were able to experience our Capella Moment, a real deep-diving tour through the Royal Botanical Gardens, which we enjoyed a lot. Unfortunately, no one had informed us about that option in the beginning. We stored our luggage at the Capella for one night after check-out and were disappointed at a very rude handling of the luggage return when we came to pick it up. At first, nothing was found, since luggage was not stored under the main booking name or room number, but under the accompanying name, then, after rudely presenting us the suitcases, we were left alone in the storage room - no goodbye or offer of help for transportation. Only after pulling the luggage to our Uber by ourselves, a friendly colleague offered his help with the luggage. We informed him about the rude send-off by his colleague and contacted Sam via email about it, who even refunded us one night of our stay and sincerely tried everything to make us come back. We appreciate this type of problem-handling very much and feel gratitude for the excellent work of some at Capella Sydney, but still need to admit we would probably choose other options for Sydney next time, namely the Park Hyatt, which gave us a far more pleasant impression. Capella Sydney just seems not to meet its own luxury standards yet. We dearly hope senior management will take steps to change this impression in the future.

Our First time in Sydney and Capella Sydney delivers an exceptional luxury experience from the moment you arrive. Housed in a beautifully restored heritage building, the hotel blends timeless elegance with contemporary sophistication in a truly seamless way. The rooms are spacious, calm, and impeccably designed, offering outstanding comfort, refined materials, and a sense of quiet exclusivity rarely found in a city hotel. Every detail feels considered, from the lighting to the bedding, creating a perfect retreat after a day in Sydney. Service is a standout: professional, warm, and genuinely attentive without ever being intrusive. The staff go above and beyond to personalize the stay, whether assisting with reservations, transport, or special requests. The spa and wellness facilities are world-class and provide a peaceful sanctuary in the heart of the city. Dining, including breakfast, is of a very high standard and complements the hotel’s refined atmosphere beautifully. Capella Sydney is for sure a hotel you want to return to. Thanks Capella staff🙌🙌

Oceania was my 7th continent and since it is so far, my daughter decided to cover as much as possible. We booked 4 direct flights, LA to SYD, SYD to PER, PER to AKL. Based on my reviews Capella seemed to be in the perfect spot to get around and an identified as a wellness hotel, so I booked. I got spoiled in Shanghai with being picked up by a driver, so we added a driver (great choice) and took an Uber back to the airport. We arrived early in the morning, so our room was not available. They coordinated a tour with a guide that explains the buildings and structures in the city. It was so hot, I lasted only the first half but my daughter stayed and it proved to be very interesting. Oceania was my 7th and last continent to visit, so my daughter and I decided to cover as much as possible. We booked 4 direct flights, Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD), SYD to Perth (PER), PER to AK (Auckland). Based on my reviews Capella SYD seemed to be in the perfect spot to get around and an identified as a wellness hotel with great reviews, so I booked. I got spoiled in Shanghai with being picked up by a driver, so we added a driver through Capella (great choice) and took an Uber back to the airport. We arrived early in the morning, so our room was not available. They coordinated a tour with a guide that explains the buildings and structures in the city. It was so hot, I lasted only the first half the tour, but my daughter stayed and it proved to be very interesting. Our room was beautiful and large and plenty of bottled water was always available. They have the softest towels, wish they had a gift store at the hotel so I could have bought some. I knew based on the description of the Australian food, not to expect a foodie experience (I eat fish, poultry, veggies everything well-seasoned). For our first meal I ordered a chicken sandwich in the hotel and it came with French fries. We found out during our trip every meal came which French fries, and since I do not like fried foods, I only tried a couple. So, if you love French fries, you will be very happy. However, the good news, was I included breakfast and I experienced my first beet juice that was very good, along with a Flat White. The buffet breakfast started at 6:30am with a lot to choose from. The whole staff at the hotel were extremely nice and attentive to your requests. Luke Murdoch, the Capella Culturist, was very helpful in suggesting places to see and where to eat. His best suggestion was Manly Beach (on the fast ferry), since Bondi Beach had just had experienced the deadly shooting. Another great suggestion was the Sydney Botanic Gardens, which is walking distance from the hotel (we ate lunch at the Botanic House, an Asian cuisine which was good, we just over ordered). Based on my experience I would definitely consider this hotel brand for future travel. Next review, Como The Treasure Perth. Non-hotel reviews dropping in Yelp.

The exceptional team at Capella have a personable and professional way of making each guest feel special, valued. To be remembered and so warmly welcomed a year since my last visit, including with room preference (thank you Sam), was deeply appreciated. Flawless. Art, cleanliness, ambiance, breakfast, pool, spa, the bed (!) sleep quality, concierge and curated offerings. While the bar was reserved by several business groups during my stay, the Capella guest living room and cafe offer alternate spaces. Capella appears to balance business and public access/use, without compromising leisure guest experience. Impeccable management and one of the best for a start to finish seamless guest experience. Thank you Capella!