Home > Sydney > Novotel Sydney Darling Square Review
Updated: November 23, 2020
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Novotel Sydney Darling Square – A practical, affordable, and completely renovated hotel.
Not to be confused with the sprawling sister hotel at Darling Harbour, this is located in Darling Square, about 1.5 km away. The rooms throughout this functional hotel are similar, with only the size and views differing. The Standard Rooms are unfussy but spacious enough, and for families, an extra single bed can be squeezed in or the sofa bed can be converted. Rooms face Darling Square or the Chinese Garden of Friendship across the flyover. And don’t worry; the double-glazing is very effective. The overwhelming attraction is the location and proximity to the International Convention Centre, with the city center just a short walk away. Local transport is limited, but Chinatown close by is packed with authentic eateries.
Novotel Sydney Darling Square – The Basics
- Location: On Little Pier Street, Darling Square; a shortish walk to Darling Harbour, Chinatown, and the CBD.
- Guests: Mostly business people, especially those attending the Convention Centre.
- Pets: Not allowed.
- Views: Faces other buildings across the square, or an overpass and the Chinese Gardens at a distance.
- Wi-Fi: Free for all guests.
- Parking: A$46-55. Some parking onsite available, but not guaranteed.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: 8217 4000
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: novotelsydneydarlingsquare.com.au
Novotel Sydney Darling Square – Amenities
- Pool: Heated and indoors, but more for doing laps than relaxing.
- Spa: None.
- Fitness Centre: Small but adequate, with enough equipment.
- Private Pools/Jacuzzis: None.
Novotel Sydney Darling Square – Food and Drink
- Restaurants: Pumphouse Sydney Bar & Restaurant is historic and atmospheric. An open-air, traffic-free location offering modern Australian cuisine and 100+ varieties of beers. • Pier St Kitchen is an airy and bright brasserie on the ground floor, ideal for coffee and breakfast.
- Breakfast: Buffet breakfast costs an extra A$32.
- Room Service: Available 24 hours.
Novotel Sydney Darling Square – Rooms
- Room Types: Standard King Room • Standard Twin Room • Deluxe King Room
- Smoking Rooms: By Australian law, smoking is forbidden within hotel buildings.
- Best Room: The spacious Deluxe King Rooms provide the best views (of the Chinese Gardens) and some complimentary extras.
Novotel Sydney Darling Square – What’s Nearby?
Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars
Very close to Chinatown, with plenty of options:
- Golden Century Seafood Restaurant – Popular for dim sum and live lobsters.
- Old Town Hong Kong Cuisine – Stylish and large, with a wide variety of dishes; perfect for pork buns and Peking Duck.
- Yang San Park – Korean barbecue meals with great service.
- Braza Darling Harbour – Fun Brazilian-style vibe with roasted meat on a spit and buffets.
Local Transport
- A 5-minute walk to the light-rail network (with limited stops), or 10 minutes on foot to the Central train station with connections all over the city.
Novotel Sydney Darling Square – The Hotel
The hotel has recently undergone a major refurbishment.
Major refurbishment has improved the facilities and standards considerably.
The Novotel is part of a substantial redevelopment of Darling Square, about 1.5km south of the main area of Darling Harbour, with its plethora of shops, cafés and bars.
On the ground floor of the hotel, the Pier St Kitchen is ideal for breakfast, light lunch and coffee.
The indoor pool is long, but not especially inviting.
All Standard Rooms are spacious and comfortable, but the views are unremarkable.
Splashes of colour and thoughtful decor make this hotel nicer than most in the area.
The windows are often small, and views from the lower floors are not worthwhile.
Rooms on the higher floors offer decent views, with an overpass in between.
The bathrooms have been wonderfully renovated.
Views of the Chinese Garden of Friendship are intersected by the busy Pier Street overpass, but the rooms are remarkably quiet.
Part of the hotel complex is The Pumphouse, a superb place for a meal and/or drink. Away from the main road, it’s quiet and ideal for people-watching.
The hotel is in the southern part of the Darling Harbour area, dominated by the International Convention Centre.
One attraction of this hotel is its proximity to the International Convention Centre.
Just across the hotel is the quaint Chinese Garden of Friendship.
The Chinese Garden of Friendship features waterfalls, fish ponds, exotic plants and a café for a cup of Chinese tea.
Another attraction of the Novotel is its proximity to Chinatown, less than 200m to the east.
Like all Chinatowns across the world, there are numerous places to eat and buy takeaway food.
Both entrances to Dixon Street, the main pedestrian mall through Chinatown, have an archway.
About 1.5km north of the hotel is Harbourside, one of two major shopping malls in the Darling Harbour precinct.
Harbourside is a multi-level centre packed with places to eat, drink and shop.
Numerous classy and surprisingly affordable cafés and bars line both sides of Darling Harbour, a delightful 1.5km stroll north of the hotel.
Along the eastern side of Darling Harbour is another busy shopping mall: Cockle Bay Wharf.
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