"A sexy, modernist warehouse conversion on the water at Woolloomooloo, with a fabulous cocktail bar and a trendy crowd."
The grey and blue exterior of Blue Hotel in Sydney look like a warehouse – not surprisingly, since that's exactly what it used to be, built on a pier overlooking Woolloomooloo Bay. Much of the wharf's original timbers and industrial structure, and some of its old machinery, has been left exposed to wonderful effect, and the luxury hotel’s décor is stylish and amusing.
The facilities
The Atrium is as blue as the name suggests, with big blue armchairs and ottomans, and masterful lighting giving the impression you're sitting at the bottom of the ocean. Other public areas are dramatic in pinks and purples, with metal lamps hanging in profusion from the ceilings. Is the look 1970s retro or spaceship futuristic? Hard to tell, but after a few killer cocktails at the trendy Water Bar, one of Sydney's best, you might not care. Another big plus for this luxury hotel is the location. You're right on Sydney Harbour here; a stroll through the Botanical Gardens will bring you to the Opera House, and the CBD is just a short taxi ride away.
The rooms
There are so many different room types at this luxury hotel that booking might well be a long process of confusion. Never fear: really there are only two types of room: normal or loft style, with the rest determined mainly by what you want to look out on: the marina, the pier, the dockyards or (but don't admit it if you do) inland towards the local suburb.
What the 100 guestrooms at this luxury hotel have in common is a fresh décor of electric blue and grey, bringing modern style but retaining the historic industrial look of the wharf building. Rooms are spacious, but their long, narrow design gives them the feel of a ship's galley – perhaps that’s not a bad thing, given the location. Sit on your chocolate-brown faux suede and gaze out at the harbour, and you could almost imagine yourself on a cruise liner.
The touches of luxury are everywhere: cordless phones, coffee plunger, goose-down duvets, video players and broadband internet access, Aveda toiletries. Go for a loft room if you can; these split-level apartments are huge, and have a separate lounge and work area.
Address: The Wharf at Woolloomooloo, Sydney, NSW, 2011, Australia
Rates from:
AUD 250
Booking info
Departure: Sat 18 Oct 2008
No. adults: 2
Check Availability
Who stays here
Blue hotel serves a young, hip clientele.
Not suitable for
- Lovers of nightlife who can't afford innumerable taxi fares; Sydney's entertainment districts are more than a walk away
Awards
"World's 100 Best Spas", Conde Nast Traveller 07; "Gold List", Luxury Travel Magazine 06; "Gold List", Conde Nast Traveller 06
Children
Roll away beds and cots are available and should be requested at the time of booking, fees may apply.
Eating in
This might be the only hotel in the known universe without a breakfast buffet, but your à la carte fare is complimentary. As for the evenings, with a bar this cool, who needs food? Eating is so yesterday, but if you insist, Blue Café at the heart of the wharf will see you through as you tap on your wireless Internet with well-manicured fingernails. Bring your own laptop.
