34-52 Harrington St, The Rocks, Sydney, Australia | (586) 210-9239
Located in the Rocks, near Sydney Opera House and CBD
Large rooms with industrial-Southwestern decor
Harbour View Suite has rooftop terrace and kitchenette
Restaurant with continental breakfast buffet
24-hour room service
On-site bar
Event spaces
Free Wi-Fi in bar and restaurant
Garden bar outdoors for weddings
Fee for breakfast
Rooms can be noisy
Fee for Wi-Fi in rooms
Small, limited gym
The 59-room Harbour Rocks Hotel is a historic boutique hotel in Sydney's famous Rocks neighborhood. It stands on the site that once housed Sydney's first hospital, and is housed in a series of 19th-century buildings that were collectively turned into a hotel in 1989. Rooms are spacious and have a stylish blend of dark, industrial-style interiors with pops of orange and rust hues alongside American Southwestern-style bed runners. The on-site restaurant is popular with guests and locals, and, while it's closed for lunch, room service is available around the clock. The upper-middle-range hotel does, however, fall short when it comes to additional amenities -- there's no pool, and the gym is tiny. For guests who want more facilities the Menzies has a pool, a big fitness center, and a hot tub, but it's a much larger hotel that lacks the intimate boutique feel of the Harbour Rocks Hotel.
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Scene
Historic, design-conscious boutique hotel on the site of Sydney's first hospital
The Harbour Rocks is housed in a main colonial building and its six adjoining terrace-style structures, date back to 1887. It stands on the site that once housed Sydney's first hospital; it became a hotel in 1989. Inside, the lobby has a rustic but industrial look, with exposed piping on the ceilings and exposed brick archways. Similar beige brick archways are found throughout the hotel, including in the brown hallways that wrap around a central, open-air interior courtyard. Other common areas include a lush garden terrace decorated with hanging rattan orbs dotted with fairy lights -- the space can also be rented out for weddings. The central location near the tourist attractions at Sydney Harbour and not far from the Central Business District attracts business and leisure travelers alike, and there are a few spaces for meetings and private dining.
Location
Located in the Rocks, an historic neighborhood near the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay
The Harbour Rocks Hotel is located in the historic Rocks neighborhood, a lively and picturesque area just off the Cahill Expressway and a two-minute walk from the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. There are heritage-listed residential buildings next to and across the road from the hotel, and the area is filled with shops, restaurants, and bars, all within walking distance. Circular Quay, a major transport hub for both trains and ferries, is a six-minute walk away. The Sydney Opera House is 15 minutes away on foot, while the Australian Museum and Hyde Park are a 10-minute drive away. The Taronga Zoo is a 15-minute drive away without traffic, while Bondi Beach takes closer to 20 minutes by car. The Sydney Airport takes a minimum of 15 minutes by car (without traffic) and can also be reached by the Airport Line (T2), which stops at Circular Quay. The trip takes around half an hour, door-to-door.
Rooms
Spacious and stylish rooms with an urban industrial-meets-Santa Fe aesthetic and all the requisite modern amenities
The Harbour Rocks Hotel has a total of 59 rooms and suites, all of which are larger than average and have air-conditioning, large flat-screen TVs, safes, minibars, iPod docks, and desks. The decor is modern and stylish, with dark-gray walls (some with painted exposed brick) and black furniture with orangey-tan accents. Beds have blonde wood headboards, and white blankets paired with orange and brown throw cushions and bed runners with American-style Southwestern prints. Bathrooms include white tile floors and walls, rectangular sinks, and either walk-in showers or -- in higher categories -- shower/tub combinations; unfortunately, they lack counter space, with only a small ledge under the mirror for toiletry storage. Studio Suites also have sofa beds, while the one-of-a-kind Harbour View Suite has a separate bedroom with a king-size bed, a sofa bed in the living room, a rooftop terrace, a kitchenette and dining area, and a separate tub and rain shower in the bathroom. Note that some guests have complained of noise through the walls, especially on lower levels, close to the restaurant, bar, and street.
Features
Tiny fitness center, restaurant serving breakfast and dinner, bar with snacks, event spaces, and fee for Wi-Fi
Amenities at the Harbour Rocks are limited, but reasonable for a hotel of its size. There's a small gym with limited equipment that's probably not enough to satisfy hardcore fitness enthusiasts. The hotel's Scarlett restaurant is open daily for breakfast and dinner (but closed at lunchtime); a continental breakfast buffet is available every morning but is only included in some room packages -- those opting for the inclusive breakfast get free run of the buffet, as well as a single option from the à la carte menu. The restaurant reopens at dinnertime and offers a small selection of modern Australian cuisine alongside cocktails and a large selection of domestic and international wines. Room service is available 24-hours a day. The hotel also has a bar that serves burgers and snacks, as well as cocktails, beer, and wine. Those dining in the bar or restaurant get free Wi-Fi access during their meals and drinks. There's also a private dining room for functions or large groups as well as a board room. An outdoor garden bar is also available for rent and can be used as a wedding venue. Parking is available nearby for a fee.
