27 O'Connell St, Sydney, Australia | (618) 248-8274
Located in the CBD, a short walk to Circular Quay and The Rocks
Contemporary rooms with comfy office chairs and separate showers/tubs
Large fitness center with variety of machines
Two restaurants, one with a popular afternoon tea
Eight meeting rooms in variety of sizes
Long, narrow indoor lap pool with steam room
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Valet parking only (for a high fee)
Fee for breakfast
The Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney is a luxury, executive hotel in Sydney's Central Business District (CBD) that caters primarily to business travelers. A variety of lodging options are available, from smaller, more affordable rooms with comfy office chairs and work desks to a Presidential Suite with a kitchen and dining/meeting room. There are also a swimming pool, steam room, well-equipped gym, and two restaurants, one of which offers a varied breakfast buffet and popular afternoon tea. The hotel has eight event spaces for up to 200 people, and offers free Wi-Fi throughout. Travelers looking for more extensive business facilities may want to check out the nearby Sofitel, which has a massive ballroom for up to 1,200 guests, though lacks a pool and charges for Wi-Fi.
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Scene
Contemporary business hotel in historic CBD building
The elegant sandstone building that houses the Radisson was built in 1856, and was originally the location of John Fairfax & Sons, publishers of the Sydney Morning Herald. It opened as the Raddison Blu in 2000, and was redesigned 10 years later. Today the hotel is a popular stop for business travelers, owing to its conference facilities and central location. The structure's crowning glory is arguably its massive cupola, under which guests must pass in order to reach the lobby -- an opulent space with loads of marble, subtly lit ceiling panels, oversized mirrors and modern paintings, shimmering red rugs, and a shelf lined with beautiful pottery. A screened-off sitting area with blond-wood floors and plush, beige chairs offers a place for guests to lounge or hold informal meetings.
Location
Located in a commercial part of CBD, a short walk to Circular Quay and The Rocks
The hotel sits directly in the Central Business District. There aren't too many restaurants or cafes in the immediate vicinity -- though there is some ongoing construction that can be noisy. It's a 10-minute walk to The Rocks neighborhood and the Museum of Contemporary Art, and about a 15-minute walk to the Sydney Opera House, Australian Museum, and Hyde Park. Taronga Zoo and Bondi Beach are both about a 15- to 20-minute drive from the hotel. The Sydney Airport is a 15-minute drive, or about 30 minutes by T2 train, which stops at Circular Quay, a five-minute walk away.
Rooms
Rooms and suites with plain but stylish decor, some with jetted tubs and Nespresso machines
The Radisson has 336 rooms and 26 suites; adjoining and accessible rooms are also available. The standard Atrium Rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, tea and coffee facilities, and work desks. Bathrooms are outfitted in white marble and granite, with separate showers and deep tubs; some have shuttered windows that open into the rooms. Deluxe Rooms offer balconies, while Business Class Rooms on the 10th floor include access to the chic Business Class Lounge and free breakfast. Suites with jetted tubs and Nespresso machines are available; the Presidential Suite has a full kitchen. Decor throughout the rooms and suites is modern and minimal, and -- unsurprisingly -- somewhat corporate: wood-paneled headboards, crisp white bedding with brown throw pillows, beige-patterned carpeting and chairs, wood-laminate furnishings, and colorful modern paintings.
Features
Two restaurants, afternoon tea, several meeting rooms, and lap pool
The hotel has two restaurants and 24-hour room service. The Bistro Fax Bar serves a daily buffet breakfast with international dishes (for a fee), and an afternoon tea service that attracts overnight guests and Sydney locals alike. The more sophisticated Bentley Restaurant & Bar serves modern European and local cuisine (and tasting menus with vegan items) for lunch and dinner, though is closed on weekends. There are eight meeting rooms, the largest of which can fit 200 people; audio-visual equipment is readily available, as are wedding services, and the Bistro Fax can be rented out during the day. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. The large fitness center offers weight machines, treadmills, exercise bikes, and a rack of free weights. The hotel's two-lane, 15-meter lap pool sits below an atrium-style skylight, and next to a shower and steam room. Valet parking is available, but the fees are high, even by CBD standards.
