Shangri-La Hotel Sydney

This was my second time staying in Shangri-La Sydney and once again, it was a wonderful experience. The staff are warm, professional, and attentive. Our room was clean, quiet, and very comfortable- perfect for relaxing stay. We also visited the Blu Bar, which had a great atmosphere and excellent service. Thank you to the team for another enjoyable visit. Looking forward to next time.

We stayed in a Horizon Club Opera house room. The few was great. Room was clean. And the Horizon club service was amazing. The staff were very attentive and helpful. Only downfall was when I booked it said one of the perks of the horizon club was late check out, upon availability. When I asked it reception she told me I would have to call in the morning as they had to wait to see if the room is still available tomorrow. I wasn’t looking to check out a lot later. Just an hour. I wouldn’t book this room and expect that perk in the future.

We recently stayed at the Shangri-La Sydney to celebrate our anniversary. While there were some highlights, overall the experience fell short of expectations for a 5-star property. Positives: The location is excellent, offering stunning views, and the bed was very comfortable. Blu Bar on 36 was a standout. The bartender with the ponytail (can’t remember his name) who was particularly friendly and accommodating made our night. We also appreciated the thoughtful touch of complimentary champagne to mark our anniversary. Areas for Improvement: On arrival, we were asked to pay a large deposit, which was not mentioned in our booking confirmation or any of the hotel’s correspondence. We were also “upgraded” to a city/Opera House view room, despite booking and paying for a Darling Harbour view, which is typically more expensive. While the view was pleasant, it was not what we had originally chosen. The rooms themselves appear dated and could benefit from refurbishment, and the bathroom amenities were surprisingly limited. Housekeeping entered to clean while we were still in the room, despite us requesting they return in just a few minutes, which felt intrusive. Additionally, the steep hill up to the hotel makes access with luggage difficult. In summary, while the Shangri-La Sydney offers beautiful views and some thoughtful touches, the inconsistencies in service and facilities meant our stay did not quite meet the standard we had anticipated.

Congratulations to Annie Orla Mulroney for managing the Horizon Club so very very well. Still the best hotel in Sydney I'm the afternoon when the sun sets over the city.

Having stayed at the exceptional Shangri La in Singapore and the dated but good Shangri La in Vancouver, I was expecting something similar in Sydney, but it couldn’t have been more different. The rooms are dated and very dusty with lumpy beds. The views are nice though! The customer service is lacking and my experience with a dismissive manager discoloured the experience. The location is good though, although if you have mobility challenges I would walk the Cumberland Street approach, as it’s a gentler incline. There were a number of issues which made it a miserable 10 night stay, but to the credit of the GM, he did respond back with some detailed feedback. Overall it’s a very average hotel at a premium price, that is not of the Shangri La standard. It feels like it has been under invested in for some time and there is a weird culture overall. Find somewhere else.