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There’s something about a staycation that Christina and I always relish. Perhaps it’s the change of scenery or the ostentatious promise of room service. Maybe it’s the luxury of a big, modern bathroom (ours is impressively small and outdated).

Or perhaps it’s just the opportunity to play tourist in our own city.

Sydney’s certainly suited to a staycation. And our hotel is in the perfect spot for it too.

The Porter House, which is in Accor’s rare tranche of MGallery Collection hotels, is on Castlereagh Street between Park and Bathurst Streets. This means you’re not only a stone’s throw from Hyde Park (we can see the obelisk from our room window), but you’ve also got the city right at your feet.

Close to Town Hall and Gadigal stations, down the road from Chinatown — and even closer to Thai Town — you’ve got transport, food and drink already sorted. You’ve even got Darling Harbour and George Street entertainment quarters just a short walk alway.

But that’s if you can drag yourself away from the hotel.

Sydney Hotels — The Porter House

Stepping through the front door of this heritage building, which started out as a tobacco factory in the 1870s and then a famed leather merchants, you can feel the artisanal history of the place.

But this is only half of the Porter House, home to the hotel’s drinking and dining options (five floors of them!).

Next door, in a modern 36-floor tower, the Porter House occupies the first 10 floors with a range of room types and suites.

After checking in at reception, which is interestingly right at the back of the old building past the enticing bar and booths of the hotel’s ground-floor bar (click here to skip to the bar experience), we head up to our room, which has been very generously upgraded to a Junior Suite.

And although this may not be the biggest hotel suite in the world, it’s packed with beautiful design, clever features and exciting surprises.

Our Room

Split into four living areas, the suite begins in the lounge room, appointed with luxurious leather furniture and a coffee table in white marble and warm copper. It also has the biggest TV we’ve seen in a hotel room.

Next is the dining room and minibar. A table and chairs are set up in front of one of the building’s signature curved windows, which architect Angelo Candalepas of Candalepas Associates designed to reference the brick arched windows of the heritage building next door.

Also in this room are the beautifully leather-finished wardrobes that hide a multitude of surprises.

Behind one door is a state-of-the-art Nespresso machine with designer espresso cups and a drawer of elegant stemware. Behind another is the bar fridge, though this is sadly empty apart from milk.

Another wardrobe provides plenty of hanging space, another has more drawers that contain the room’s safe, and impressively, rather than the usual hairdryer and iron, a clothes steamer and hair straighteners. Nice touch.

The bedroom, which is separated by twin pocket doors that slide dramatically across the doorway, is dominated by a wonderfully comfortable king bed, hugged by a sleek leather bedhead.

This bedhead houses touch panels that control the lights and also the curtains, which is quite cool. There are more of these panels on walls around the suite.

We also note that the bedside power points take not only regular plugs but USB and USB-C jacks too.

There’s also a tablet by the bed that controls everything from the TV, lights and thermostat to ordering room service and setting the do not disturb.

Finally, the bathroom opens off the bedroom to a twin vanity and lovely Appelles toiletries. To the left is the toilet door, but to the right is the spacious shower with rainfall and regular heads in gleaming copper finishes.

But it’s through the next door that really surprises.

In its own dedicated space is a bath tub so deep and sumptuous you half expect Venus to rise from the bubbles and claim it as her own.

And the piece de resistance: the mirror in front of the bath hides a TV screen that is only visible when you turn it on. Very slick.

Porter House Hotel – MGallery’s Cellar Door

Rather than have your run-of-the-mill hotel lobby bar, the Porter House has done something brilliant.

This is Bread And Wine, the cellar door for Handpicked, a winery that crafts wine from the best growing regions in Australia and around the world.

You can sit and have a wine tasting or enjoy a whole bottle, just like a regular cellar door. And having a space in this beautiful 19th Century building, with its vaulted ceilings and exposed beams, makes the experience even more evocative.

The cellar door has a range of wine flights you can choose from like ‘Chardonyay!’, which gives you four different Chardonnays to try, and ‘Rarely Single’, which is a showcase of Handpicked’s most sought-after wines.

You can also add a cheese pairing to go with each wine, and there are charcuterie boards you can order if you feel like a bit more to eat.

Click here to go back up.

Seasonal Events

The Porter House runs regular seasonal events and specials that are fun. For our winter getaway, we enjoy the Red Affair package.

Along with our lovely room, we get a ‘Quick and the Red’ wine flight and cheese pairing, which includes generous pours of four Handpicked reds — the perfect salve to winter’s chill.

This offer is for one person; an additional wine flight and cheese pairing will be at extra cost.

Health and Fitness

Upstairs on the roof, you’ll find the well-equipped gym. One whole wall is a folding glass door, which means you can work out in the open air.

Round the corner is a narrow lap pool if you feel like a dunk.

The Cafe

As well as breakfast options in Dixson & Son on level 1, the ground floor also has the Porter House Grounds cafe if you just want a quick coffee and croissant to get your morning going.

The Porter House Hotel – MGallery is an ideal place to stay in Sydney whether you’re visiting or on a staycation.

We stayed at the Porter House Hotel as media guests, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post Sydney Staycation — Porter House Hotel – MGallery appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Most cities around the world spoil you for choice with their hotel options, but only a few offer something really special. So before you book any old place to stay, remember that this isn’t going to be just somewhere to base yourself to explore the city.

It’s more than just a place to rest your head.

And it’s where you can really dial up the romance factor and look for somewhere really unique to stay.

Check out our video walkthrough of Pullman Sydney Hyde Park’s Park Suite by Coco Republic.

This suite overlooking Sydney’s Hyde Park has had a designer makeover from Coco Republic to create true luxury in the best location.

The Park Suite by Coco Republic

High up on the 20th floor, the grand double doors to the Park Suite open onto a sophisticated yet welcoming apartment.

From the outset, you know this is a room several cuts above the average hotel room.

Aside from the separate living room, kitchenette and spa bath adjoining the bedroom – and the astonishing views across Sydney’s favourite park of course, it’s the details in the styling that Coco Republic, has brought to the room that make the difference.

Most striking is the feather-leaf structure of the Mulbery Pendant chandelier, suspended above the glass dining table.

It sets the tone for the rest of the suite.

Artworks on muted grey-tone walls, ornamental objects on stingray hide patterned furniture and beautiful lighting from this icon of Australian interior design create a sense of finesse and quality.

With the use of detail and design the Park Suite by Coco Republic is a unique space in the hotel, but that’s not to take anything alway from the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park.

Making the most of the Park Suite by Coco Republic

To be honest, we were in a quandary once we’d finished making ourselves at home in this beautiful suite.

With Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Chinatown, Potts Point and the CBD literally at our feet, Christina and I were very tempted to go exploring, hunt out a few new bars, check out some dinner options.

But this room really is the perfect romantic getaway.

Promising ourselves another trip to the city soon, we bunkered down and made the most of this suite.

It’s one of those places that the more you look, the more you find, from fun gold lobster and thumbs-up ornaments to tribal bowls, statement furniture and the detail in the soft furnishings.

And of course there’s the spa bath to enjoy too.

Dinner options

There’s something about room service that really makes a stay in a beautiful hotel room even better. And the menu at the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park is as extensive as it is tempting – everything from pizzas to beef rib bourguignon, fish and chips to laksa.

And the quality coming from the kitchen doesn’t disappoint either.

Christina decided to try the 300g beef sirloin, which was well-cooked and came with broccolini, the creamiest mash and a side of béarnaise.

I have an affliction that, whenever I have room service, I have to try the house club sandwich. Every hotel does it slightly differently (the Pullman club sandwich has fried egg in it!) and the history to this room service stalwart is fascinating.

The sandwich also comes with wonderfully crunchy hot chips.

We also decided to try the Pullman’s pleasingly generous cheese platter, which has thick wedges of cheddar and blue cheese – both Australian – and plenty of crackers, dried fruit and nuts.

With the final morsel of cheese gone, we settled down on the comfy sofa in front of the 55” smart TV, we pretended this place, with its incredible views and decadent decor, was ours.

Other features of the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park

With its impressive entrance on College Street across the road from the Anzac Memorial, the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park has a modern, high-end feel. The three-storey light feature, which hangs through atria into the lobby, and the beautiful flower display at the bottom, break up the big reception area.

Also on the ground floor is Bar Thirty6 while upstairs on level one is Windows on the Park Restaurant, where breakfast is served daily.

But it’s the roof that has the real wow factor.

As well as the fully equipped gym, which has amazing panoramas out across the city, this is where the hotel pool is.

Looking down on Hyde Park and far out over the city’s skyline, the pool also has views east over Surry Hills and Darlinghurst to the harbour, Rose Bay and its neighbours.

Even for those not staying in the Pullman’s exquisite Park Suite, this pool and sundeck make staying at this hotel special.

But after a languid dip in the fresh air and watching the sun dip orange and ruby behind the buildings, being able to slink into your designer room and soak up the view in such luxury makes for a truly memorable city stay.

We stayed as media guests of the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park. Our opinions remain our own.

The post How to lift your romanic staycation game – Pullman Sydney Hyde Park’s designer suite appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

I’m pretty sure it didn’t take long to come up with the name for this excellent pop-up bar. Panorama sums up this unique space at the top of the InterContinental Sydney completely.

From the floor-to-ceiling windows and the wrap-around balcony, you get an impressive 270-degree view of the city, the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, and as far east as Manly and the Heads.

To the west, you glimpse Barangaroo, the Anzac Bridge and the entrance to the Parramatta River, while the views north across the glittering harbour are simply expansive.

Occasionally your eye is drawn by the movement of a ferry rolling into Circular Quay just below.

It’s the quintessential Sydney view.

Ordinarily this space is not open to the public. Exclusively for InterCon guests staying in the Club Level rooms and suites.

They can’t even bring guests here.

But over the summer and perhaps a little longer, this pop-up puts aside its pickiness and swaps Club Level happy hours and private breakfasts for elegant cocktails, exquisite grazing platters and a superb wine list.

Panorama Lounge Bar – level 31 InterContinental Sydney

There’s a lot to like about Panorama. The dramatic views from anywhere in the room, the outdoor seating and the balcony.

The excellent service and staffing you’d expect from a high-end hotel with the warmth of a small bar.

Perfectly made cocktails, delicious food options and an impressive wine and drinks menu – especially for a pop-up.

Plus the exclusivity makes you feel very special too.

To get things started, we order a couple of cocktails; a fresh, zippy Summer Rose for Christina – with a base of Four Pillars Negroni Gin, and a Woodford Reserve old fashioned for me.

We then eye up the one-page food menu. It’s an excerpt from Cortile – the hotel’s main restaurant in the beautiful atrium on the ground floor – with some real highlights on offer.

Split into two with grazing options on one side, and ‘small bites’ and desserts on the other, the menu once again reminds you that in spite of the grandeur of its surroundings, Panorama is essentially a small bar.

The lighter bites remind me of pintxos – smoked chicken tacos, prawn gyoza-style dumplings, chargrilled chorizo and lamb kofta. And while these all sound tempting, we end up opting for the Chef’s Tasting Platter – a selection of charcuterie and cheese from the rest of the grazing menu.

I think we’ve chosen wisely.

The board comes laden with Tasmanian smoked salmon, jamon serrano, Italian salami, Bay of Fires cloth-bound cheddar, Charltons Choice buffalo milk blue, Adelaide Hills double brie and char-grilled sourdough.

Add to that grisini, housemade pickles, dried fruit, quince paste, muscatel grapes, and a bounty of lavosh and apricot macadamia crackers, and that’s dinner for two.

In fact, I get the feeling the kitchen has taken note of Christina’s tips on making the perfect platter!

It takes us quite some time to get through all of this, and as we work the sun sets gently between the Harbour and Anzac bridges, and we turn to the wine list.

An excellent Chardonnay and Shiraz later, and the final vestiges of the evening light disappear along with the remnants of the platter.

We leave Panorama reluctantly and make our way back to Circular Quay and our ferry.

Looking back at the city, the InterCon and its pinnacle bar shine back at us amidst the motley line-up of towers lining the foreshore.

It’s an evening to remember.

Don’t wait too long to visit Panorama Lounge Bar

As I mentioned, this is a pop-up bar, so get in while you can. Who knows what the hotel’s plans are for Panorama Lounge Bar beyond mid-2021?

Monday-Saturday 4.30pm-late, Sunday 3.30pm-9.00pm – reservations required

And to say that bookings are essential is not putting it lightly for Panorama.

If you don’t have a booking, the maitre d’ simply won’t unlock the glass door to the bar and there’s $50pp deposit that counts towards your bill at the end of the night.

Reserve your table here. 

We dined at Panorama Lounge Bar as guests of InterContinental Sydney.

The post Panorama Lounge – the secret rooftop bar of the InterCon Sydney appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

This article has been written in partnership with Hotels.com

We’ve said it before, but Christina and I love a staycation. Playing the visitor in our hometown really appeals to us. Plus if you forget to pack something, you can just nip home for it!

Sydney probably has more than its fair share of exceptional hotels. So – with our wedding anniversary coming up – finding a stay in the city to celebrate has been a priority.

But then again, we’re always on the lookout for a chance for a fun staycation in Sydney.

If you’re on the hunt for a celebratory staycation spot or you’re visiting Sydney and want a shortlist of the good stuff, keep reading.

We’ve put together a list of what we think are the best hotels for romance and style in Sydney. And if you book online, there are plenty of savings to be made.

7 romantic city stays for a special Sydney getaway

1. West Hotel Curio Collection

65 Sussex St, Sydney

Perfectly located on the reverse side of Darling Harbour and close enough to Chinatown to walk to dinner, the West Hotel is a great option for a fun night in the city. It’s part of the Hilton Group, but there’s nothing of the cookie-cutter corporate in this hotel.

Rooms are interesting and comfortable, and management here have an eye for design and bespoke. A recent initiative with Australian designers and floral decorators saw one of the rooms in the West Hotel transformed into an incredible forest scene, where you could Sleep Amongst Botanics.

The restaurant and bar – Solander – at the West Hotel is also excellent, with a confident food menu and elegant lighting to make for a romantic date night dinner.

Check prices for West Hotel Curio Collection here.

2. Skye Suites Sydney

300 Kent St, Sydney

Skye Suites are the quiet achievers in hotel terms. This suite-only hotel chain and its purpose-built properties are hiding in plain sight all over the place. The Skye Suites Sydney is right in the heart of the city.

The design of this hotel is beautiful, with comfortable rooms that are perfect for a romantic weekend – or a much longer stay if you’re visiting for a while.

But it’s really the subterranean pool that makes this hotel sing. Designed by award-winning architect Koichi Takada, the white fins across the ceiling and down the wall give the room a mysterious, luxe feel.

Check prices for Skye Suites Sydney here.

3. Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park

161 Elizabeth St, Sydney

Recently upgraded, this Sheraton is now officially Sydney’s first ‘Grand’ hotel, and the title comes with lavish touches to make any stay here amazing.

Views out over Hyde Park and the city are unparalleled. And the decadence of the rooms, bars and restaurants inside this hotel make the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park very worthy of a romantic stay.

Check prices for Sheraton Grand Hyde Park Sydney here.

4. Little Albion Guest House

21 Little Albion St, Surry Hills, Sydney

Tucked away in the laneways of Surry Hills, the Little Albion boutique guesthouse is a cosy home from home. Each of the rooms and suites is individually styled and decorated, and finer touches like the T2 tea, help-yourself Nespresso machine and Molten Brown toiletries make this little place quite special.

There’s even an honesty-system cocktail bar in the lobby where you can mix your own drinks, then jot down your room number and what you’ve taken.

For our video walkthrough look at the Little Albion Guest House, click here.

Although the Little Albion is made up of a converted school house and church from the 1900s, inside is a blend of elegant 1920s chic and 1970s glamour. It’s a beautiful spot and perfect for romance.

Check prices for Little Albion Guest House (now Crystalbrook Albion) here.

5. Four Seasons Sydney

199 George St, The Rocks, Sydney

The Four Seasons is in the ultimate Sydney location. Close to Circular Quay, the Rocks and the city’s bar district, you’ve got so much on your doorstep here. Plus, if you choose your room well, you get an iconic view out over the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

As well as exclusive use of the rooftop pool, you also have access to one of our favourite bars in the city Grain, plus the hotel’s excellent restaurant Mode.

Mode also acts as the hotel’s breakfast restaurant, which is well worth getting out of bed for. Check out our full review of the Four Seasons Sydney here.

Check prices for Four Seasons Sydney here.

6. The Langham

89-113 Kent St, Millers Point, Sydney

Long listed as one of Sydney’s premium hotels, the Langham in its discreet situation is a haven for style and sophistication. Sandwiched between Observatory Hill and Barangaroo, its Rocks location means you’re tucked away for a very intimate, secluded staycation.

Talking of sandwiches, the Langham’s club sandwich is a national-best award-winner – as is much of its food. The restaurants and bars here are luxuriant, refined and beautiful.

And for beauty and relaxation, the Langham’s subterranean sanctuary Day Spa by Chuan is unbelievable.

Check prices for The Langham here.

7. Park Hyatt Sydney

7 Hickson Rd, The Rocks, Sydney

The Park Hyatt Sydney is in that Venn diagram sweet spot of a being luxury hotel, a waterfront property and being centrally located in the heart of Sydney city.

Its bar and restaurant look out over Campbell’s Cove, which leads on to unprecedented views of the Opera House and Circular Quay. Meanwhile, the Harbour Bridge looms over your left shoulder as you look out at Sydney Harbour.

Rooms have that elegant, low-key luxury you get in a sophisticated, top-class hotel, and every room has its own private balcony.

But up on the Park Hyatt’s roof – quite literally its crowning glory – is the hotel pool. Daybeds, loungers and the pool itself look down on the harbour and Sydney Opera House. Quite a place for a dip.

Check prices for Park Hyatt Sydney here.

Having too many options for where to stay in Sydney is a great problem to have. Each one of these places offers all the romance and luxury you could hope for – either as a beautiful staycation or for an out-of-town visitor seeking something special.

In this situation there’s no such thing as being spoilt for choice – how could any of these hotels possibly spoil anything?

The post 7 romantic city stays for a special Sydney getaway appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

As December settles in, everyone starts going a little crazy. And it’s not something I’ve only just noticed. It happens in the northern hemisphere too. I remember it well when I was growing up in the UK.

But perhaps because this month not only represents Christmas to many of us, and on a personal note quite a few birthdays for us (including and especially Christina’s), December always seems more hectic than it used to be.

It’s one of the reasons we were so excited to be invited to one of Sydney’s newest city hotels – a beautiful place right in the heart of the CBD.

Aside from that, this week we’re flying around everywhere with a local restaurant celebrating its 2nd birthday, Christina celebrating her birthday too, meeting up with friends, Japanese restaurants, steak restaurants, Italian restaurants… get ready for a big one!

We hope you enjoy this Weekly Edition.

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

ReccoLab – an instant institution in Rozelle in Sydney’s Inner West – is a pretty special restaurant. Run and owned by Antonio Zambarelli, also a Sydney institution in his own right, this is an Italian eatery with a difference.

And today, Signor Zambarelli is proud to announce ReccoLab’s birthday with an Aperol spritz party and impressively authentic aperitivo.

Chef and owner of ReccoLab, Antonio Zambarelli, once had his name above the doors of venues like Home and Tank – anyone partying in Sydney in the ’90s and early ’00s will remember with affection.

These days though, Antonio’s brought things back to the old country. In fact ReccoLab gets its name from his hometown in Liguria. The town of Recco, just down the road from Genoa on the Italian Riviera, is also the birthplace of a particular type of focaccia dish – focaccia con formaggio, which is baked right here on the ReccoLab premises in the very pizza oven behind my drink!

It’s also the only place in Australia that makes this particular dish.

Because ReccoLab is not only a restaurant (actually a perfect example of a modern Italian osteria) but also a bakery, the food that comes out of the kitchens here is superb. To show off their skills and to celebrate the restaurant’s birthday, Antonio and his crew are throwing an aperitivo party.

Aperitivo is a wonderful thing to come from Italy.

At its simplest, aperitivo can be a bowl of complimentary nuts that comes with your drink in bars. At its best, you find bars and osterias offering a delicious range of goodies from pizzas to olives all within the price of your drink. It’s a bit like happy hour but instead of half-price drinks, you get food.

If that’s not the Italian way I don’t know what is!

ReccoLab’s aperitivo has everything from pizza and charcoal bun bocconcini sliders to proscuito, mortadella and the house-baked focaccia. Delicious!

Make sure you get down to ReccoLab at 120 Terry Street, Rozelle if you’re after one of the most authentic Italian food and cultural experiences in Sydney.

After the last couple of weeks, we thought Sydney had finished with its storms and silliness, but tonight it looks like it’s back.

Let’s hope the weather keeps it together while we’re out though*. Christina and I are off to check out a new hotel – Skye Suites – in the heart of the city.

*The weather did not keep it together. Hail storm with ice chunks the size of tennis balls!

We manage to enjoy our big balcony at Skye Suites before the storm comes, but the views from our flour-to-ceiling windows out over Kent Street of the hail and lightning are perfect.

Skye Suites at 300 Kent Street offer 73 rooms – all of which are suites with lots of space and comfort. Ours – a 1-bedroom deluxe suite – is 57m² and has a kitchenette with microwave, dishwasher, cooker hobs and a dining table. And Kevin Murphy bathroom amenities, of course.

Best of all, if you book directly through the Skye Suites website, you get free access to the daily minibar in the room, which includes the pod-style espresso machine.

It’s perfect for longer stays in Sydney if you’re here for business or pleasure. I can imagine my mum and dad being very happy here when they come to visit.

The bedroom, which is separated from the living room and dining area by a Japanese-style sliding wall, is big enough for a queen bed, wardrobes and a second access point to the balcony. The bed’s a bit smaller than we were expecting, but it’s still very comfortable.

The suite is full of tech though, like the concierge tablet next to the bed. You can set multiple alarms from here, plus book your next visit, view your account, and check the news and weather.

The air conditioning and lighting is sensor-operated, your mobile can act as the door key instead of a hotel card and the free wi-fi is quick.

And check out the power points: double USB points. At last!

Separating the two wings of this newly-built hotel is an ope-air atrium that looks down on reception below. The opening is covered with a sail, but it’s great that fresh air can come into the hotel like this.

We both just love the design of this part of the hotel. Visually impressive and a clever way to bring the outside in without compromising on privacy.

On street level, we find the dedicated entrance to Skittle Lane – a newly refurbished part of Sydney that is now full of great eating places and convenience stores.

This is a part of the city we’ve never seen before.

We explore Skittle Lane looking for dinner, and then extend our search into the city. We’re spoilt for choice being so close to Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Pitt Street and even Chinatown if we feel like a walk.

But possibly the best and certainly the most striking feature of this Skye Suites hotel is the pool.

Designed by award-winning architect Koichi Takada, the pool and spa make excellent use of the space. The white fins in the wall and ceiling add shape, depth and a sense of luxury to the pool room. The gym behind the pool is well-equipped too.

We’re kind of in love with this pool though. And the spa bubbles forever.

This hotel is the perfect romantic getaway for Sydneysiders looking for a staycation in the city or visitors who are after more comfort than your average hotel provides. And the rates for what you get are very reasonable.

Today Christina’s pretty excited: it’s her BIRTHDAY!!

To get the ball rolling, Christina and I head to Pyrmont for an ice cream at her favourite place in Sydney: Messina. It’s a pretty good start.

This evening, Christina’s mum, sister and nephews have come over for dinner at a little local pizzeria: Capello’s. It’s a beautiful old sandstone building in Balmain and the food is always good.

This caprese salad is delicious, as is calamari fritti we have for entree.

But the main events – the pizzas – are awesome. The base is perfect, the toppings generous and the style is just how we like it. It’s somewhere between a Roma crispy base and a Napolitano one – soft and doughy.

For ur next dinner out, tonight we’re with our awesome friends Stevie and Mel from Stevie English Hair fame, and Paul and Ewelina from Sustainable Salons.

This is somewhere between a birthday dinner for Christina and Christmas dinner for all of us, but either way it’s a good one. We’re at Gogyo Japanese restaurant in Surry Hills and I’m pretty excited. This place does one of the best ramen bowls in the city.

This is Gogyo’s signature ramen bowl. It’s a rich dark miso base but with a special charred quality that gives the dish an extra level of umami. Full of pork, egg and noodles, this is a great dish.

Stevie and Paul go for the habanero ramen bowl, which is basically a ball of pork mince full of extremely hot chilli. It’s a challenge and a delicious one at that, but I think I’ve chosen wisely with this one.

Tonight, Christina’s at home while I hit the town with the lads. We’ve come to Elements Bar and Grill in Darlinghurst for a meat fest.

Set on the hallowed grounds of where much-loved Universal used to be, this restaurant has big shoes to fill. Its halloumi fries are a good sign that things will stand up here. The reduced balsamic drizzle is a lovely touch.

The charcuterie tower is pretty good too – top level of cured meats, roasted marinated capsicum and goat curd and a lower level of dips, tapenade and olives. The bread is also good.

We also order the beef short rib, but it’s surprisingly chewy in spite of the waiter removing the bones just with his (gloved) hands. To be honest, we wonder why he’s taken out the rib bones – or ‘nature’s handles’ as we like to call them.

Our mains come and I’m pretty excited. Two of us have ordered the dry-aged wagyu charcoal smoked burgers, and they come under their own glass cloches full of smoke. I love the theatre behind this food.

The other two have ordered the Elements ‘signature steak on stone’ fillet. The steaks arrive sizzling on a hot stone embedded in the wooden board they’re served on. They come with a choice of seasoning too, with the idea that you can finish your steak how you want it.

Off comes the cover of my burger – both my mate and I have gone for a Classic American BLT, but with an extra burger patty and extra cheese. We’ve chosen very wisely. The burgers are hearty, smoky and delicious. The meat is juicy, and there’s enough sauce and cheese to make sure the burger’s not too meaty.

My steak-cut chips that come with the burgers could have done with a bit more cooking, but otherwise I’m very happy.

The other two lads however aren’t as impressed with their steaks. The hot plates – though an effective gimmick – have over-cooked their meat. It also means the steaks haven’t had chance to rest, so the flavour’s not there. And they don’t like the idea of seasoning the steak themselves, which I get.

Service tonight has been a little slow too, and it looks like the kitchen has had trouble keeping up. The sides of fries the guys order for their steaks don’t come out until everyone’s finished. To his credit though, the owner, who’s waiting our table, is apologetic and talks us through our experience.

I’d definitely come back here for a burger, and the meat they have here looks impressive too. But I won’t be ordering the hot plate signature dish.

To finish things up for the week, we’ve got a delivery of new, festive Nespresso coffee styles to try. It’s the perfect way to lead us into the Christmas break.

They also go perfectly with my special macadamia shortbread biscuits that you have to try. Amazing!

Nespresso have created three new coffee capsules for Christmas: the Paris Black, the Paris Praline and the Paris Macaron. I really like the Paris Black, which is rich, dark and strong, and is perfect as an espresso or with a little milk. It’s absolutely like the coffee you get in Paris.

Paris Praline – full of hazelnut notes – and Paris Macaron – reminiscent of the classic French almond-flavoured petit fours – are surprisingly sweet, but work well with milk as lattes. I wonder if they would be good used in dessert dishes too.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this Weekly Edition and that you have an awesome Christmas.

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

The post New Sydney hotel suites, birthday parties and Christmas dinners appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

There’s something quite soothing about falling asleep beneath a canopy of flowers and foliage. Especially when you’re nestled in an incredibly comfortable bed in one of the world’s most hospitable hotel lines.

West Hotel, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, only opened in December 2017, but feels like it’s always been part of the Sydney landscape.

So we were excited about our stay and to see one of Sydney’s newest hotels’ latest collaboration with creative minds and local talent.

The stay includes a package that’s perfect for a surprise romantic night away with your loved one. We’re talking special drinks, snacks, a gift and of course breakfast included.

West Hotel’s Sleep Amongst Botanics designer room take-over

Whittling away at the sharp white lines and linen you usually find in the rooms at the West Hotel, Aussie textile and design team Bonnie and Neil have brought dashes of colour and form straight from the garden.

Lush throws and cushions covering the bed pop with bright hues of nature, while artwork on the walls and pots on the table tie in to the most striking element of the room: the ceiling.

Sydney-based floral stylists The Hunted Yard have installed a draping greenery full of flowers that flows down the headboard and out above the bed turning the room into a leafy Sistine Chapel.

On the table is an automatic diffuser that sends a mist of summery fragrances from Air Aroma into the room to complete what’s probably going to be the best glamping experience you’ll ever have.

The rest of the Sleep Amongst Botanics package

Apart from the incredible experience the decorations in the room bring, when you book this package, you get a lovely skincare giftpack from Biology.

Downstairs in Solander Dining, the hotel’s beautiful bar and restaurant, West Hotel takes your sensory summer experience to the next level. Choose your complimentary cocktails and bar snacks from the Summer of Gin menu, which the hotel has worked with Sydney distillery Archie Rose to create.

The cocktails – Lemon Myrtle Fizz and Chai Bramble – both featuring Archie Rose’s Signature Dry Gin. The former is citrusy and surprisingly creamy thanks to a touch of coconut cream. The latter owes a delicious herbaceousness to the house chai and a sharpness from the fresh lime and walnut bitters.

As for the snacks, you can choose one of either the gin-infused chicken wings, gin-cured salmon or grilled gin-basted prawns.

We had the salmon and the prawns, which were delicious.

The next morning, after you’ve arisen from your beautifully serene night’s sleep outside yet inside amongst the flowers and greenery, you of course have free rein of the hotel breakfast, which is both plentiful and satisfying.

What’s in the room?

It’s clearly a modern room full of well-thought-out touches like USB ports next to the bed (on both sides), a kettle that is easy to fill, has a long enough cable to plug in easily and that doesn’t take a fortnight to boil.

There’s also a Nespresso machine with complimentary capsules, free minibar snacks and the bathroom has complimentary toiletries from Biology.

For tech, the room is fitted out with a Bluetooth-enabled audio-visual suite. And the over-sized TV (the room’s not that big) is very smart. It has a Google Chromecast device that lets you stream your favourite shows from Netflix or whichever other broadcast service you use.

And the (free) wifi in the room definitely has the guts to deal with the bandwidth too, which we very much appreciated.

The perfect location

West Hotel is on Sussex Street, right in the heart of some of Sydney’s most fun entertainment sectors, not to mention plenty of shopping opportunities in the city.

With King Street Wharf, the Streets of Barangaroo and Darling Harbour on its doorstep, West Hotel is perfectly placed for a romantic stay whether you’re visiting the city or a local.

And there’s always room service, one of the many pleasures of a hotel stay, if you want to enjoy your room for as long as possible.

West Hotel’s Sleep Amongst Botanics

West Hotel Curio Collection by Hilton, 65 Sussex Street, Sydney

Package cost: $332 per night
Offer runs: December 2018 to mid-January 2019
Included in the package:
– Deluxe room fitted out with designs from Bonnie and Neil, The Hunted Yard, Biology and Air Aroma
– Cocktails and snacks at Solander Dining in collaboration with Archie Rose Distillery
– Breakfast at Solander Dining
– Skincare gift from Biology
– late checkout

Christina and I love a staycation, exploring our city through the eyes of a visitor. But for some reason our stay in West Hotel and its fun feature room felt more like we were waking up in a different city than any we’ve stayed in before in Sydney.

We travel a lot, so we’re used to waking up in different places and knowing where we are. So it was a pleasant surprise when the morning found us momentarily wondering exactly where we were.

Perhaps it was the leafy welcome of the undergrowth above the headboard, maybe it was the flowery scent from the diffuser. Or maybe it was just that with all that extra decoration and detail, it didn’t feel as much like a hotel room as it normally does.

We stayed as guests of West Hotel Sydney.

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Surry Hills – arguably Sydney’s coolest suburb – sits right on the gap between the city and Sydney’s Eastern suburbs towards the coast. It’s the part of Sydney that we called home for over a decade, and so it holds a place close to our hearts.

From gritty urban to gentrified urbane, Surry Hills has seen a great deal of rapid changes in recent years.

And the days of Surry Hills’ gloomy, derelict past still fray the hems of its well-tailored present-day outfit. It’s probably this edge that has made this particular suburb so very likeable.

For a long time, it was the undiscovered cool part of Sydney – but now pretty much everybody knows about it.

That hasn’t stopped it being cool. In fact, there are more small bars cafes and restaurants opening up than ever before.

However, the one thing Surry Hills was missing for a long time was somewhere to stay that fit the rest of this eminent suburb’s hipster aesthetic.

Now alongside the coolest bars and restaurants in Sydney, some of the coolest boutique hotels are popping up.

One of these spots is the Little Albion Guest House.

Take a look around as we walk you through with our video.

Little Albion Guest House

Visiting the Little Albion Guest House feels like you’ve been let in on a local secret. There are no signs to it and as you walk down a tiny alley, you’ll see a small gate that belies the true scale and design to be found inside.

With a mix of 1920s glamour and 1970s boheme, Little Albion Guest House is the perfect boutique hotel that fits into the Surry Hills persona as if it’s always been here.

Melding the old with the new, the architects have created a perfect blend from the old school yard and church buildings on the southern side to the new buildings on the northern side.

And although the design is very cool, the welcome is very warm as we arrive. The Little Albion still manages to give that comfort of a home away from home.

The rooms

There’s a range of different room types spread out across the buildings – from small crash pads for a night in the city to the Little Albion’s suite ‘Big Albion’, where you can relax and stay for longer.

Our Standard Room had a large bed, a generous bathroom with a beautiful freestanding bath and stunning rain shower, and one of the biggest TVs we’ve seen in a hotel room.

As well as looking good, our standard room is functions beautifully too. A lot of care has gone into the details here and it shows.

There’s enough space in our room to relax and work too. Amenities include a robe and slippers, sweet treats from Whisk & Pin, T2 tea and a Kitchenaid kettle.

Service and facilities

From where you check in, there’s a sunken lounge in the lobby area and a small patio outside where guests can also relax.

There’s also a beautiful little rooftop terrace, where you can even see our old home from! The wrought iron furniture gives the space a pretty Parisian summer feel.

Downstairs you’ll find an espresso machine, free to use any time of day as well as the cutest honour bar. Set up like a local small bar’s mixologist station, you can craft a cocktail or if you’re feeling lazy, you can pour out one of the bottled pre-mix cocktails from the fridge.

Alternatively, grab some wine or a local craft beer and relax downstairs or take them back up to your room.

The neighbourhood

Once you’re all checked in, you can exit directly onto Albion street or sidle through the side lane of Little Albion St, and then you’ve got Sydney’s best cafes, bars and restaurants in walking distance.

If you’re not sure where to go, the hotel will happily share some insider knowledge from their ever-increasing list of uber-cool venues to wine, dine and unwind. But for our sake, you should stop in at our old local, The Royal Albert, and try some great Aussie craft beers and sample their drool-worthy dumplings and burgers.

Little Albion Guest House

21 Little Albion Street
Surry Hills, Sydney

We’re thrilled to see the standard of accommodation in Surry Hills grow and whether you’re a leisure traveller or in Sydney for business, the Little Albion Guest House is in a brilliant spot.

We’re big fans of staycations and love playing tourist in our own city. There was something so cool and comforting being back in our old stomping ground Surry Hills that you feel like a local.

We’re adding the Little Albion Guest House to our list of where to stay in Sydney and we definitely recommend you check it out the next time you’re looking to stay in town.

And if you wanted to make it one of the most spectacular stays, it’s possible to rent the entire place out. You can book The House out either directly or via a world-first collaboration with AirBnB.

We could imagine hiring the whole building for an epic anniversary party or a special birthday where all of your guests could party into the night.

Do you love a staycation in your own city? Is a visit to Sydney on your bucket list?

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I used to think that hotel restaurants were for guests of the hotel only. I thought the only reason you would eat in one was because you either had a voucher with your stay or you couldn’t be bothered to leave the hotel.

As for Christina, she loves room service – I mean loves, but above that, I don’t think she saw much value in hotel restaurants either.

We stand corrected.

The following 3 hotel restaurants are so good they don’t feel like they’re part of hotels at all.

But not only do these places feel like restaurants in their own right, they deliver such an experience that few venues in Sydney – or perhaps even globally – can rival.

3 super romantic Sydney hotel restaurants

Est. – of the Establishment Hotel

Sleek, stylish and the most incredible service you’ll ever find. Est.’s food is off the charts good – Executive Chef Peter Doyle is clearly in his creative element here.

Choose between 2, 3 or 4 courses and then pick which dishes you want from the menu. You can even have 4 desserts if you want.

We came here for our anniversary recently and we had 3 savoury dishes. It worked out well because they brought out beautiful little cakes and sweets for our special night.

You can find the details of our meal here.

Check out our review of the Establishment Hotel here.

Mode Kitchen and Bar – of the Four Seasons Sydney

More laid back that Est. but no less built for romance, Mode’s food is just wonderful. Head Chef Francesco Mannelli has infused this modern restaurant with a classic Italian flavour.

The restaurant, which also magically transforms into the Four Seasons’ breakfast area in the mornings, was designed by friends of ours, Luchetti Krell. Their concept has created a space that resembles the inside of an antique jewellery box.

The little compartments around the restaurant create lots of private spaces that give you that extra level of romance.

The last time we were in Mode, we were lucky enough to try the new autumn menu. You can see the details for that meal here.

Once you’ve finished your meal, you can also head over to Grain Bar, another little gem that’s part of the Four Seasons Sydney, but which feels like a cool whisky bar all of its own.

Check out our hotel review of the Four Seasons Sydney here.

Solander Dining and Bar – of West Hotel Sydney

Somewhere between Est. and Mode in its formality, Solander is the new kid of this trio. Part of the West Hotel, which is the first new-build hotel in Sydney in a long time, Solander has the sleek, modern feel you’d expect from a new, high-end inner-city restaurant.

The food here is a wonderful blend of modern Australian cuisine with influences from around the globe. However, the food always seems to come back home to Australia with uses of native plants and proteins in every dish.

Beautifully lit and elegantly furnished, Solander really pours on the romance.

For more details of the food on our visit to Solander, click here.

So there you have it. Restaurants that are part of good hotels can make absolutely perfect spots for a romantic dinner. With the three we’ve looked at, there’s definitely a bleed through of excellence between the hotel and the restaurant.

And parallels between the quality of a hotel and what you’d expect its restaurant to be like are easy to draw.

The service, ambience, style and the incredible quality of food in these places all come together to create a wonderful, romantic dining experience.

Where is your first port of call when you’re looking for somewhere for a romantic dinner? Do you have a favourite Sydney venue? What do you think of hotel restaurants? Tell us in the comments!

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When it comes to staycations, you’re always likely to be a bit more critical of where you’re staying. You know the area, you know the people and your expectations tend to be a little higher than if you were staying somewhere new.

So for our stay in the Four Seasons Sydney, we had our microscopes out ready to inspect one of Sydney’s most premium hotels.

Four Seasons Sydney, Mode restaurant and Grain Bar

Like all good hotels, the Four Seasons Sydney isn’t just about the hotel; its new restaurant Mode, and whisky and cocktail bar Grain complete the experience.

Here’s what to expect when you stay and dine at the Four Seasons Sydney:

Four Seasons Sydney – location

If it’s convenience you’re looking for, it doesn’t get much better than the Four Seasons Sydney. In a quick walk, you’ve got the CBD, Circular Quay train station and main ferry terminal, and best of all, The Rocks.

The Rocks is the oldest part of Sydney and has some amazing pubs and historic buildings to check out. There’s also a great market here at the weekend that’s a must-see.

Four Seasons Sydney – our hotel room

We were lucky enough to be staying in one of the hotel’s Junior Suites overlooking Sydney Harbour.

The Junior Suite is everything you’d expect from a world-class hotel: stylish yet professional. Plus there’s that understated luxury of space that makes all the difference: the room is 570ft² (53m²), an enormous, comfy bed and a well-equipped neatly-appointed spacious bathroom.

And of course there’s the view. Being able to see both the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House at the same time is very special. Waking up to this view is almost as impressive as going to sleep to it.

Seeing the comings and goings of the ferries from Circular Quay and feeling the city thriving beneath you is amazing.

Pro tips

– Room 15 on each level has the harbour view.
– Although the hotel provides ‘multilingual’ power adapters, there are no USB charging points in the room. However, you can plug into the USB point at the back of the room’s (pleasingly large) smart TV.
– Bring your swimmers – the rooftop pool and bar area is pretty cool and not to be missed.

Four Seasons Sydney – Mode Kitchen and Bar

Many top hotels have restaurants attached to them, and room service as standard. However, the newly established Mode Kitchen and Bar is where the Four Seasons Sydney shifts gears to nose in front of its competitors.

It has also changed how we feel about hotel restaurants, which are usually only there for busy people on work trips or guests who don’t feel like going too far from their room.

But Mode, discreetly at the back of the hotel’s grand lobby, is a dining experience in its own right. In fact, a large number of the diners here are not guests of the Four Seasons.

The elegant 1920s feel to the place makes you quickly forget you’re a few steps from the hotel’s front desk. The only thing to remind you that you are is the level of service here that mirrors the Four Seasons brand.

From the moment we walked in, manager Simone made us feel incredibly welcome, and our Italian waiters Alessio and Stefan gave the meal an authentic impression. In fact, Mrs Romance brought a tear to Alessio’s eye when she chatted with him in Italian.

As for our meals, here’s the playlist:

Entrées

– Beef tartare – tender, wholesome, spectacular texture and plating – especially with such a difficult food to make look good
– Zucchini flowers – perfect balance of textures with crispy pancetta and creamy ricotta
– Kingfish sashimi – macadamias, marinated red onions, sultanas, olive oil – light, fresh and generous plate. It’s understandable why this is a signature dish here.

Mains

– Lamb shoulder, Japanese eggplant and sticky thyme glaze – the eggplant is almost liquid it’s so well cooked and the lamb falls apart as your fork touches it.
– Yellow fin tuna, seared cos lettuce, fresh peas and radish – the tuna transcends what meat tastes like – not like fish, not like chicken, pork or red meat; tender, flavourful and fresh. Your knife simply sinks in as you cut. Perfect.

Desserts

Desserts here are good, but I wouldn’t say the best part of the restaurant.

– Dark chocolate delice & raspberry sorbet – worth getting just for the sorbet.
– Lemon tart – fresh and zingy yet good sweetness. The pastry was a little soft but sweet.

By the way, if you stay in the hotel, you get to eat in Mode Kitchen and Bar anyway. Breakfast is served here, and it’s bloody excellent!

Pro tips

– Mode has a pretty good cocktail list, but if you see a cocktail on Grain’s menu next door, Mode can get it for you.
– Grain also does some amazing desserts that are well worth thinking about rather than Mode’s.

Four Seasons Sydney – Grain Bar

Beautifully lit and artfully styled, Grain fools everyone who comes here into thinking it’s an independent small bar of the likes of Eau de Vie in Darlinghurst or even Baxter’s in the city.

It certainly doesn’t feel like any hotel bar I’ve ever been to. And according to Bar Manager Roderick Boerma, the majority of his patrons are walk-ins and not hotel guests.

Meanwhile, the staff are all invested in the drinks they make and the food they serve, and treat everyone with the same high level of professionalism.

The bar itself is impressively stocked with mainstream and Aussie craft spirits, beer and wine to accommodate all tastes.

Clever use of timber and leather decorate the bar and the interior, and provides those soft surfaces to reduce unpleasant acoustics. The well-chosen music is kept at that perfect level.

And the lighting is so forgiving that if you don’t use this place as a date night, you’re missing an opportunity.

In fact, the only sign that this bar is part of a hotel is you can room-charge your tab when you’re ready to leave.

Pro tips

– Talk to the bar staff about what drink you like and do not overlook their signature drinks. The Mr Watson No.2 is exceptional and the My Life Is A Movie is one of the most complex cocktails I’ve ever drunk. It’s like you’re drinking a popcorn cocktail.
– Check out the food menu – the desserts are insanely good, but so are the savoury dishes. If you don’t feel like a sit-down dinner at Mode, Grain will certainly have something to satisfy you.
– Score a seat at the balcony overlooking the street for some awesome people watching and also the ability to spy out the rest of the room while you drink.

Staying at the Four Seasons is something everyone should experience at least once. It really is wonderful. It would make that special occasion even more special.

Even just dinner here for a long-awaited date night is something special. In fact, dinner here and then a surprise stay in the hotel would be a pretty romantic thing to do.

But even if you just pop in to Grain for a quick drink one evening, you’ll see that this is more than just a hotel. It’s a special part of Sydney.

Have you had a hotel bar or restaurant that surprised you? Tell us about it in the comments.

We stayed and dined as guests of Four Seasons Sydney

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With so many factors at play, finding that perfect place to stay is always hard. Budget, location, services, room type… sometimes you just want a local to come and tell you this is where you should stay.

Well, perhaps we can be of assistance?

You see, when you stay in a hotel in your hometown – have a little staycation, see more of the city – you get to see where you live from a totally different perspective.

And we love staycations!

Recently we had friends come and visit us, so we had to look around to find the best places for them to stay in Sydney.

Here are our tips on where to stay in Sydney, no matter what type of holiday you’re planning.

Where to stay in Sydney – our Sydney hotel cheatsheet

Five-star accommodation

If you’re looking for optimum romance factors and the highest level of what Sydney hotels can offer, here are our picks for the luxury end of where to stay in Sydney.

1. The Park Hyatt

With Sydney’s best views and the only balconies for five-star accommodation, the Park Hyatt is your pick.

Click here to see the latest room rates at the Park Hyatt.

2. The Four Seasons

Holds a great spot by Circular Quay and it’s our pick because of Grain Bar next to the lobby. It doesn’t feel like a hotel bar but you can still room charge your drinks! Here’s our full review.

Click here to see the latest room rates at The Four Seasons.

3. The InterContinental

The InterContinental is a real institution in Sydney, and is well located right in the CBD and close to the harbour. Try and stay at the club level so you can enjoy the lounge upstairs.

Click here to see the latest room rates at the InterCon.

Where to stay in Sydney for Boutique service

Here are some more quirky options of where to stay in Sydney. They’re still at that high end, but with a really interesting view or service. We love to find places like this in other cities – they tend to give a completely different feel to the place we’re visiting.

1. The Little Albion Guest House

In the hidden backstreets of Surry Hills – arguably Sydney’s coolest suburb, the Little Albion Guest House is a beautifully styled blend of 1920s chic and 1970s unique. Its 35 rooms range from cosy crash pads to sumptuous suites and the location will not only make you feel like one of the in crowd, it’ll also leave you in the heart of the fun part of town.

Click here to see the best rates for the Little Albion Guest House.

2. The Hotel Palisade in The Rocks

Right next to the Harbour Bridge in the most historic part of Sydney, this hotel has been recently refurbished and is home to a fantastic cocktail bar on the rooftop. This boutique hotel is the ideal place to stay for incredible views and a great location.

Click here to see the best rates on the Hotel Palisade.

3. The QT Hotel

While they aren’t offering any views being right in the heart of the city, the QT offers fantastic rooms and excellent service. We love the in-room espresso martinis. We do love how QT hotels look and feel. They put a lot of effort into their quirky yet stylish brand.

Click here to see the rates for the QT in Sydney CBD.

4. The Old Clare Hotel

Also recently renovated, the Old Clare is right at the heart of the new art scene in Chippendale. There are fantastic restaurants around including Kensington Street Social and Spice Alley – plus check out that rooftop pool and bar at the top of the hotel.

Here’s where you can check rates and book at the Old Clare.

5. The InterContinental Double Bay

If you’re looking for a hotel in the Eastern Suburbs, the InterContinental has it all. Fantastic rooms and service, a great rooftop pool, an amazing gin bar called The Stillery and located in a very chic harbourside suburb with great boutiques, bars and restaurants all around.

Click here for rates at the InterCon Double Bay.

Where to stay in Sydney by the beach

Sydney’s all about its beaches, so why not stay right near one? Here are our top picks for beachside hotels.

1. QT Bondi Beach

he new QT at Bondi while not offering any views is in one of the most prime locations at Sydney’s premier beach. The fun décor and room service make up for the lack of views in the rooms; plus you can be on the beach in seconds for your early morning swim before the rest of the tourists arrive.

Here’s the link to check the rates at QT Bondi Beach.

2. Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach

With most rooms overlooking one of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches, the Crowne Plaza is perfect. You’re also close to shops and restaurants, and public transport that will take you into the city in about 15 minutes.

Here’s where you can check rates for Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach.

3. The Sebel at Manly Beach

Manly is almost like where Sydney goes on holiday. You right on one of the best surf beaches in Sydney with all kinds of shopping and bars nearby.

Find the best rates for the Sebel at Manly here.

4. Q Station – Sydney Harbour National Park

A quirky option but right on its own small harbour beach. The Q Station – or Quarantine Station – offers unique historical accommodation with a great restaurant right in the harbour. You’re only a five-minute drive to Manly to explore everything there and a daily ferry runs straight from the wharf at the hotel.

Check out more of the facilities and rates for Q Station here.

Mid-Range Accommodation in Sydney

1. The Cambridge Hotel, Surry Hills

Probably one of the most underrated hotels in Sydney for its location, quality and price point, this one’s right in Sydney’s coolest most popular suburb.

Here’s where you can check rates for the Cambridge Hotel.

2. The Vibe Hotel

Offering great mid-range accommodation, The Vibe has locations in North Sydney and in the city, which is perfect for short stays.

Here are the rates for staying at the Vibe Hotel in the city.

Budget Accommodation in Sydney

Sometimes all you need is somewhere safe to leave your stuff and a place to lay your head at the end of a long day exploring. They may not have the romance of other places, but these budget tips will save you bucks.

1. Sydney Harbour YHA

You can’t beat the Sydney Harbour YHA Hostel in The Rocks for budget accommodation with harbour views! Not bad for a hostel.

Here are rates for Sydney Harbour YHA.

2. Sydney Travelodge

If budget is key but hostels aren’t your disco, consider the Sydney Travelodge. The location is amazing, though I can’t really vouch for the rooms. It’ll be basic and not as cheap as a hostel.

Here’s the link to rates for Sydney Travelodge.

AirBnB

Of course, the other option willing to fit all budgets is AirBnB. Our friends recently rented an incredible house at Bronte looking out over the sea and it’s a great option if there’s a few of you or if there’s just one of you.

This is a link to our profile where we can give you $45 off your first AirBnB booking. Our little gift to you!

We hope this round up has helped you book your accommodation in Sydney – and here’s a list of our favourite things to do while you are in the city too.

Do you have a top hotel recommendation in your hometown? Have you stayed anywhere else in Sydney you think should be on the list? Tell us in the comments!

Images courtesy of respective hotels’ Facebook pages and by Mrs Romance.

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