Capella Sydney

$58.65 for 2 cups of tea and an afogato last Saturday night. Ridiculous and a rip-off. They then called last drinks at 8.30pm! A huge disappointment. The food and beverage at this hotel is nowhere near what it should be. We won’t be back.

Visiting Sydney for a few days, we stayed in Capella for the first time. We have usually stayed at other top-end hotels in the past. The most outstanding feature setting it apart from others — definitely the best service I have experienced in any Australian hotel. Smooth, friendly, thoughtful, expert and fast. I really enjoyed the place - in my job, before I retired, I was often in the building when it was the Department of Education. The architects have created the rooms, bars and restaurants in an absolutely amazing way in the old place. The McRae Bar is great - named after the architect of the building, including the Sydney Town Hall and Queen Victoria Building) - the cocktails were imaginative and tasty. It’s hard to review a place that is so overall excellent at everything, as it sounds fake - so I would suggest they could improve the In-Room Dining Menu - it was a little limited and less diverse than what a hotel of this quality could offer. A small thing. I will definitely return.

We booked three nights at Capella Sydney in a Premier King Room, our first stay at this hotel. The room was generously sized and felt very comfortable for two. Online I'd thought it looked a touch corporate, but in person it was elegant and inviting, with charming touches. The in-room iPad was great. We used it to arrange dry-cleaning, order ice, request firmer pillows and extra hangers, set the lighting to suit our mood, have room-service dishes cleared, and ask for extra amenities - all effortlessly. The minibar’s non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary. One small note: the minibar chocolates are un-special (a Twix and a Mars bar). Better quality chocolate would be in keeping with the hotel’s milieu. The bathroom was spacious, with sliding doors offering decent privacy. Bathroom amenities were generous. The large freestanding bath was lovely and didn't take too long to fill - there were bath salts, but no bubble bath. One gripe was the wardrobe area: there wasn't enough room for two suitcases, and the small wardrobe was already crowded with hotel paraphernalia, leaving little space for our own things. Annoyingly, opening the wardrobe door blocked the hallway, creaking loudly every time it was opened and left its internal light on if it wasn't shut just so. My real room gripe was the bright bedside night lights (annoyingly reflected in the room’s mirrors) which inexplicably turned on automatically throughout the night but did not automatically switch off – thankfully I had brought a sleep mask, which became a necessity. If we had stayed any longer, I would have reported the problem to the hotel staff. Service was seamless from the outset. We asked the hotel to arrange our airport transfer and were collected promptly in a plush vehicle. At short notice we also asked the Culturist team to organise transfers to see Ninajirachi at the Enmore theatre, and it went off without a hitch – the type of transfer other hotels have struggled with (looking at you, W Brisbane). We leaned on the in-house food and beverage offerings throughout our stay and enjoyed each venue, although the food menu was largely the same and we did experience some service delays. It was still a good experience overall, however, the addition of more menu variety, especially some Asian choices (Thai, Vietnamese or Malaysian) would have been welcome. Our first evening we had a drink at the McRae Bar. The attractive cocktail menu includes Tarot-type Cards with QR Codes explaining both the cocktails and Sydney architectural features. The next day after a lovely walk around the nearby Botanic Gardens, we popped in for a late, lunch at the hotel’s Brasserie 1930. We each ordered a cocktail and, after perusing the menu, shared the Waldorf Salad Bites and Olive & Cherry Tomato Focaccia, followed by the Truffle Egg Custard with Mushrooms and Potato "Risotto" with Butternut Pumpkin. We were very happy with the food - but our cocktails didn't arrive until we were halfway through the meal - we had followed up a couple of times. After arriving back from the show around 11.30pm, having missed dinner, we'd hoped to grab some bar snacks and a drink at McRae Bar. Sadly, the kitchen was closed, and last drinks were being called - but the very thoughtful waitress suggested that she deliver the cocktails to our room, so we could pair them with something from In-Room Dining. The next day our one proper room-service meal - steamed barramundi with mash and spinach – was delicious. We went to sleep after midnight, then woke at 3.45am for the Socceroos' World Cup match against Egypt (followed by Argentina v Cabo Verde then Colombia v Ghana), so we didn't bother with the gym - even booking a spa massage felt like too big an effort. The location is great: a few minutes' walk to Circular Quay and the Opera House, past cafes, a bakery and a specialist chocolate shop, as well as the Gateway centre with its restaurants, food court and the excellent Messina gelato. Two minutes away lie the magnificent Sydney Botanic Gardens and harbour. It is about a ten-minute walk in the other direction to midtown shopping. Throughout our stay, the service was genuinely impressive. Every person we dealt with was personable and welcoming, and each asked - in an authentic rather than rote way - whether there was anything more they could do for us. On departure, the assistance with our bags and vehicle was especially discreet and thoughtful. I would go so far as to say that this was the best hotel service we have ever experienced in Australia. We would very seriously consider staying at Capella again, largely for the elegant room, excellent service and great location. It's the kind of hotel that could genuinely become a home away from home.

We had a wonderful stay at Capella Sydney. The hotel is set in a beautifully restored historic building, right next to the Circular Quay and many of Sydney’s main attractions. The staff were exceptionally kind, professional, and always ready to help. Our room was spacious, beautifully appointed, and equipped with everything we could need. A special mention goes to the bed, which was incredibly comfortable and ensured a perfect night’s sleep.

We had an exceptional stay at the Capella Sydney. From the moment we arrived, the service was outstanding and the hotel itself was absolutely beautiful. The facilities, attention to detail, and overall atmosphere made our visit truly memorable. A special thank you to Piya, who was incredible throughout our stay. She went above and beyond in helping to organize our trip and took the time to ensure every detail was taken care of. Her warmth, professionalism, and genuine care made our experience feel truly special. We would highly recommend Capella Sydney and look forward to returning in the future