Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection

The hotel is set in a converted warehouse that was built in 1912 and many of the original parts of the building have been retained and used as part of the hotel's interior design. The lobby of the hotel immediately sums up its quirky, nautical style. The walls are clad in reclaimed wooden planks, the industrial elevator doors are covered in rivets, and there are exposed beams and ceiling joists throughout the hallways and public areas. There is a funky and vibrant atmosphere throughout the hotel. The lobby has a bar attached to it, and people mill about and have casual meetings in the lobby and bar area. The weekday crowd is somewhat corporate, with guests looking for a professional and cultural vibe, while leisure guests are more apparent at the weekends.

As the name suggests, the hotel is located on Pier One in Sydney Harbor. This means it has fabulous views of the famous Harbour Bridge, and hotel guests can walk to the bridge in a couple of minutes. There are some excellent waterfront restaurants and bars in the surrounding streets and lots of parks and green spaces too. The Rocks, an upscale neighborhood of restaurants and boutiques, is just behind the hotel, a five-minute walk. The King George V Memorial Park is a five-minute walk, and the Sydney Observatory and Observatory Hill Park are an eight-minute walk. It's a 10-minute walk to Circular Quay No. 6 Wharf, and a 15- to 20-minute walk to the iconic Sydney Opera House. Sydney Airport is a 20-minute drive from the hotel depending on traffic.

Guest rooms have a modern white and gray color scheme with natural materials used throughout, such as wicker side tables and tweed soft furnishings. Many rooms have exposed steel and wood beams in the ceiling, or parts of the building's original brick walls show through. Large windows make the rooms light and bright, and waterside rooms have fantastic harbor views. Many rooms have sharp whitewashed contemporary furniture with luxe white marble tops, and carpets come in shades of gray, giving them a plush feel. All rooms have a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, air-conditioning, coffeemaker, iPod dock, bathrobe, safe, and minibar. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi is not free. The individually decorated bathrooms are spacious and stylish. There are various room categories available to suit different budgets, including many different suites, some of which have a huge freestanding bath, a large private deck, and a flat-screen TV that rises up out of the foot of the bed.

The hotel’s Gantry restaurant and bar specializes in seafood and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. It has a good cocktail menu and an extensive wine list with some excellent Australian wines on offer. Guests are able to eat and drink outside on the restaurant’s terrace, which has fantastic panoramic views of Walsh Bay. 24-hour room service is also available, but breakfast is not included in room rates. The hotel has a modern fitness center with a range of cardio equipment and weights, and also offers other fitness options like outdoor yoga and bootcamp on the wharf during the warmer months. In-room spa treatments are available. There are eight meeting rooms on-site and a ballroom with fantastic views, which is popular for conferences and weddings. There is also a computer station and Wi-Fi, although it’s not free. Paid parking is available and pets are welcome too.