Sir Stamford at Circular Quay

The location is fantastic! However, it lacks the basic items to provide comfortability. We have 3 members and only 2 towels, 2 mugs, 2 teaspoon for usage. There is definitely no microwave in the room or the whole building for usage. The toilet light is on sensor mode and automatically turned off every 4 seconds, whether there is people using the facility or not. My sister afraid of the dark, she literally fell ill. The staff members are exceptionally friendly. Hooray to the staff members.

We had a comfortable relaxing stay but it wasn't exactly 5 star. It did feel like we had gone back in time looking at some of the decor and furniture. But below are some issues we noticed: - Furniture in the rooms needs to be upgraded. It's very worn out. Carpet in reception is very worn out in some places. Good to have the historical majestic feel but some things need to be restored. - TV was old and Foxtel was not available which is not acceptable for a 5 star hotel. - Buffet Breakfast was not worth the extra $39 per person. Would be nice if the breakfast included some halal meat options and more variety like chia seed pudding, Bircher muesli etc. It was al almost basic offering

Great hotel and amazing location. Baby cot was provided and ready. Rooms were huge, confortable and super clean. Hotel has a wonderful ancient atmosphere.

Our room (605) had great space and a lovely view of the quay. The bed was very comfortable. The room appointments were a bit tired and there were a couple of minor maintenance issues, like a malfunctioning balcony lock and a sink issue. I wasn’t a fan of the shower curtains, but that’s what you get in older-style rooms. There was a quadruple power adaptor under bedside table - a small but handy inclusion. I strongly suggest arranging hotel parking with your room because it made life much easier with bags. The staff were friendly and efficient. The breakfast was ok, but probably a 3 out of 5 in quality and variety. I was most disappointed with the fitness centre. The hotel website advertises a “selection of cardio machines,” but three out of four of those machines were non-functional. The sauna was also out of order, but that at least was forewarned on the website. Perhaps their regular clientele aren’t concerned with fitness centres, but it left me with a sour taste and I started noticing more of the tired hotel features. I reported the fitness centre and minor room issues to the hotel. They were quick to respond with an acknowledgement email. I wasn’t expecting a discount, so not really surprised none were offered. On the plus side, the location is extremely convenient - a very short walk to shopping, restaurants, and circular quay. After my experience and reading some of the reviews, I’m a little surprised the hotel is rated at 4.5. For a hotel that advertises itself for internationally renowned classic luxury, I suggest keeping expectations measured and appreciating its history.

Outdated Policies, Embarrassing Service, and Zero Accountability We booked the 3-night staycation package that included parking and breakfast, expecting a relaxing break. What we got instead was a frustrating, outdated, and frankly unacceptable experience. At check-in, we were blindsided by a $200 per day “security deposit” for incidentals—despite no minibar in the room and everything already being pre-paid. After pushing back, it was reduced to $100 per day, but the fact remains: it’s a ridiculous and archaic policy. In 2025, most modern hotels have moved past this kind of guest-unfriendly practice. To add insult to injury, the funds can take up to a week to be returned—leaving me short on money for the duration of the stay. Breakfast was included in our package, yet every single morning we had to stand there awkwardly while staff “checked with reception” because our name was never on the list. It was embarrassing and completely avoidable. This level of disorganisation shows a complete lack of care for the guest experience. While the room itself was clean, the bathroom lighting was shockingly bad—dim, impractical, and clearly not designed with any guest comfort in mind. As if all that weren’t enough, I emailed the hotel after our stay to raise these concerns and never received so much as an acknowledgment. No apology, no explanation—just silence. That’s not just poor service, it’s downright unprofessional. Save yourself the trouble. There are plenty of hotels that treat their guests with respect, operate with modern standards, and actually respond to feedback. This isn’t one of them.