Novotel Darling Square Hotel in Sydney, Australia

SDSydneyBest Hotels › Novotel Darling Square Review
Updated: January 11, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Little Pier Street, Darling Square.
• Hotel website: novotelsydneydarlingsquare.com.au
• Hotel phone: +61 (0)2 8217 4000
Check prices for Novotel Darling Square

Review of Novotel Sydney Darling Square Hotel.

The Novotel Darling Square hotel features spacious, family-friendly rooms close to the city center.

Novotel 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 a mile 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.

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Novotel Darling Square – The Location

  • Area: On Little Pier Street, Darling Square; a shortish walk to Darling Harbour, Chinatown, and the CBD.
  • Address: 17 Little Pier Street, Darling Square.
  • Nearest Transport: Bus – Powerhouse Museum, Harris St (500m), Tram – Paddy’s Markets (400m) and Exhibition Centre (400m).
  • Handy to: Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, China Town.

Novotel Darling Square – The Basics

  • 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.
  • Parking: A$46-55. Some parking onsite available, but not guaranteed.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: +61 (0)2 8217 4000
  • Email: H3021@accor.com
  • Website: novotelsydneydarlingsquare.com.au

Novotel 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 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 Darling Square – Rooms

  • Room Types: Standard King Room • Standard Twin Room • Deluxe King Room • List of all Rooms
  • 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 Darling Square – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

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 Darling Square – The Hotel

Newly-Renovated Novotel Darling Square Hotel

The Novotel Darling Square hotel has recently undergone a major refurbishment.

Newly-Renovated Novotel Darling Square Hotel

Major refurbishment has improved the facilities and standards considerably.

Darling Square Neighbourhood

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.

Pier St Kitchen in the Novotel Darling Square

On the ground floor of the hotel, the Pier St Kitchen is ideal for breakfast, light lunch and coffee.

Indoor Pool at the Novotel Darling Square

The indoor pool is long, but not especially inviting.

Spacious Rooms at Novotel Darling Square

All Standard Rooms are spacious and comfortable, but the views are unremarkable.

Spacious Rooms at Novotel Darling Square

Splashes of colour and thoughtful decor make this hotel nicer than most in the area.

Room Views from Novotel Darling Square

The windows are often small, and views from the lower floors are not worthwhile.

Room Views from Novotel Darling Square

Rooms on the higher floors offer decent views, with an overpass in between.

Renovated Bathrooms at the Novotel Darling Square

The bathrooms have been wonderfully renovated.

Views from the Novotel Darling Square

Views of the Chinese Garden of Friendship are intersected by the busy Pier Street overpass, but the rooms are remarkably quiet.

The Pumphouse at the Novotel Darling Square

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.

International Convention Centre at the Darling Harbour

The hotel is in the southern part of the Darling Harbour area, dominated by the International Convention Centre.

International Convention Centre at the Darling Harbour

One attraction of this hotel is its proximity to the International Convention Centre.

Quaint Chinese Garden of Friendship

Just across the hotel is the quaint Chinese Garden of Friendship.

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.

Authentic Chinese Cuisine in Chinatown

Another attraction of the Novotel is its proximity to Chinatown, less than 200m to the east.

Several eateries in Chinatown

Like all Chinatowns across the world, there are numerous places to eat and buy takeaway food.

Traditional Archways at Chinatown Entrances

Both entrances to Dixon Street, the main pedestrian mall through Chinatown, have an archway.

Shopping Malls in Darling Harbour

About 1.5km north of the hotel is Harbourside, one of two major shopping malls in the Darling Harbour precinct.

Leisure activities at Darling Harbour

Harbourside is a multi-level centre packed with places to eat, drink and shop.

Cafes and Bars in Darling Harbour

Numerous classy and surprisingly affordable cafés and bars line both sides of Darling Harbour, a delightful 1.5km stroll north of the hotel.

Shopping in Cockle Bay Wharf Mall

Along the eastern side of Darling Harbour is another busy shopping mall, Cockle Bay Wharf. Check rates and availability: Novotel Darling Square

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