Updated: May 22, 2018
The Westin Sydney – prime location, with luxury and character in historic building.
The Westin offers a range of sumptuous rooms and suites based in and around the old Post Office (which still functions on the ground floor). Most rooms, however, are in the modern tower at the back, allowing full-length windows with extensive city views. The Executive Suites are higher up for superior vistas, while the pick of the bunch, the Martin Place Suite, features a contemporary design and very spacious layout. Within the old three-level building, the Heritage Rooms are more charming, with high ceilings and old-fashioned furnishings, but with the original undersized windows, views are minimal. The overall facilities, such as the pool, spa and gym, are world-class, while the location facing a pedestrian mall in the city centre cannot be faulted.
The Westin Sydney – The Basics
- Location: No. 1 Martin Place, Sydney, probably the poshest address in the city.
- Guests: Mainly caters for business people.
- Pets: Staunchly a ‘pet-free hotel’.
- Views: Nothing much from the Heritage Rooms, but vast city views from most rooms which are in the tower.
- Wi-Fi Internet: Free for all guests throughout the hotel.
- Parking: Self-parking costs A$68 per day; valet parking A$78 per day.
- Phone: 8223 1111
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.westin.com/sydney
- How To Book: Booking.com will have the best rates. Use the website specific to your language, currency, and home-country for easiest use: UK • USA • Français • Deutsch • Nederlands.
The Westin Sydney– Amenities
- Pool: Large and inviting.
- Spa: Heavenly Spa by Westin offers massages, facials and loads more.
- Fitness Center: Decent-sized gym. Jogging maps are available and running gear can be hired.
- Private Pools/Jacuzzis: None.
The Westin Sydney– Food and Drink
- Restaurant: Mosaic is inside the vast historic courtyard. It exudes history and charm, and offers modern Australian cuisine.
- Lounge/Bar: The Bar, Lounge & Room is appropriately named. In the courtyard atrium, it’s ideal for cocktails, light meals and afternoon tea, and features sophisticated music in the evenings.
- Breakfast: Not included. Breakfast can be purchased when booking or separately at the Mosaic Restaurant for A$45.
- Room Service: Available 24 hours.
The Westin Sydney– Rooms
- Room Types: Tower Rooms • Heritage Rooms • Executive Tower Suites • Martin Place Suites
- Smoking Rooms: By Australian law, smoking is forbidden within hotel buildings.
- Best Room: The spacious Martin Place Suite features a contemporary design and extensive floor-to-ceiling windows on level 31 for optimum views.
The Westin Sydney– What’s Nearby?
Nearby Restaurants& Bars
- Postales Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar – in a cellar underneath the hotel, award-winning and popular. 1-minute walk.
- Intermezzo Italian Restaurant – one of many independent cafés in the hotel complex, with handmade pasta and mall-side tables. 1-minute walk.
- Felix – intimate bistro, with French food and wine, and heavenly desserts. 2-minute walk.
- INDU Dining – Indian fusion, with fantastic vibe. 1-minute walk.
- The Bavarian Beerhaüs – German beer, pork knuckles, long happy hours, and entertainment. 14-minute walk.
Local Transportation
Several train stations are within a few minutes’ walk.
The Westin Sydney – The Hotel
The Westin is at arguably the poshest address in Sydney: No. 1 Martin Place, which is along an extended pedestrian mall.
The hotel is based around the old post office building, but most rooms are in the modern tower that soars above it.
The Westin sits grandly above the 19-century post office building, which still functions on the ground floor.
The Westin is based in and around the historic former post office, built in 1891.
The ground floor of the hotel is lined with bistros offering sophisticated street-side dining, such as the Intermezzo Italian Restaurant.
Also in the atrium/courtyard, The Bar is highly sophisticated, and offers breakfasts, cocktails and snacks.
The exterior may be historic, but the inside, from the lobby upwards, is contemporary and chic.
Based in a building over 125 years old, the hotel still maintains its history, with brightly-coloured staircases and chequered floors.
The Mosaic café is in the atrium/courtyard that separates the old post office building and the modern tower. Colourful furniture doesn’t hide the fact that the setting lacks natural light.
Inside the atrium/courtyard, the Mosaic café offers light lunches and afternoon teas.
One of the popular items on the menu at the Mosaic cafe is the chocolate fondue.
Especially popular, whether staying there or not, is the Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea served in the Mosaic cafe.
An atrium spans between the old post office building (with the lobby) and the modern tower (with almost all of the rooms).
The Suites offer double the views of downtown Sydney and beyond from the corner of the modern tower.
Some of the Tower King rooms feature extraordinary views of the Sydney skyline.
The hotel is in the centre of Sydney’s business district, so most street corners are packed with cafés.
Some side-streets in the city centre have been converted to pedestrian malls.
The streets around the hotel are sprinkled with other buildings from the mid- to late-19th century.
Two blocks south of the hotel is the Queen Victoria Building, home to several floors of bistros and boutiques.
About 500m from the hotel (down George Street) is the Queen Victoria Building, justifiably popular for its elegant bistros and boutiques.
From Circular Quay, a path lined with bistros leads 400m to the renowned Sydney Opera House.
About 600m up from (and north of) the hotel along George Street is Circular Quay, with views of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge.
About 800m north of the hotel via George Street is The Rocks, an historical area of quaint cafés and shops.
Plenty of cafés and bars can be found at The Rocks, the original site of old Sydney town.
There is no shortage of places for a pint or two at The Rocks, such as The Orient, which claims to be the oldest pub in Sydney.
Some people take expensive cruises, but the cheapest (and arguably best) way to enjoy the magnificent harbour is by public ferry.
From Circular Quay, only 600m north of the hotel, ferries travel all over Sydney Harbour.