This was published 14 years ago
The Sebel Pier One Sydney review: Creature comfort
Pampered dog's life ... a trampoline bed for pets.Credit: Domino Postiglione
Emily Dunn treats her puppy to a night on the town with all the trimmings.
There are certain things a traveller learns to expect when overnighting in a luxury hotel, such as fluffy robes, a generous breakfast and a blissful sleep-in.
Our night at the Sebel Pier One Sydney at Walsh Bay ticks two of these boxes but not the sleep-in.
We have become the besotted owners of a puppy who, at eight weeks old, already appears keen to discover the delights of Sydney beyond her own backyard. So we are treating her to a night on the town with a De Vil Pets Pamper Package at the Sebel Pier One, one of the few large-scale Sydney hotels that caters for man's best friend.
The hotel website promises "your dog will be spoilt" but things get off to a cool start for Jet when she is forced to wait outside while one of us checks in – dogs aren't allowed in the public areas of the hotel.
This small issue is soon forgotten as a friendly concierge escorts us – around the perimeter of the hotel – to our room with a sliding glass door opening onto the wharf. In the shadow of the Harbour Bridge, we have views across the water to Milsons Point and Luna Park.
It is a crisp night in the city but, inside, our room is cosy and warm with modern furnishings and heritage architecture.
There's a queen-sized bed for us and, for Jet, a trampoline bed with a large soft mattress, a water bowl and a room-service menu listing gourmet dishes such as poached salmon with beans or T-bone steak with chunky vegetables for a set price of $20.
As Jet scampers around the room, we unpack her overnight bag of favourite toys and leash before heading outside for a walk. We are greeted in the doorway by one of our neighbours, a friendly daschund. Judging by the tight fit of his red coat, the daschund looks as if he has indulged in a few too many weekends away with his owners, who are enjoying a glass of wine on the deck.
It turns out the threesome are frequent visitors to the Sebel. The nearby Observatory Hotel in the Rocks and Lilianfels in the Blue Mountains are also favourites, though they both cater only for smaller dogs and on the proviso they are "fully domesticated". The Sebel welcomes dogs of "any age and any size".
With thanks and a farewell sniff to the daschund from Jet, we explore the neighbourhood attractions. We pose for photos outside the Park Hyatt Hotel next door, with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House in the background, and wander through parks and playgrounds. As the sun sets, the bars and restaurants of the Rocks begin to fill up with a Friday night crowd and we start to feel peckish. We soon discover the rest of Sydney isn't as pet-friendly as the Sebel. Our four-legged charge is turned away from several of the wine bars and restaurants along the waterfront.
It is dark by the time we arrive at the classy Ottoman restaurant opposite the hotel, where we are offered an outdoor table. On a summer night this would be perfect but there are no heaters on the deck so we head back to the comfort of our room.
Our pup makes do with a meal brought from home while we order grilled salmon from the (human) room-service menu, with chips, salad and wine.
There are other ways to spend Friday night in the city, we decide, as we tuck into our dinner in hotel robes in front of an in-house movie. The Sebel may be pet-friendly but it is not a kennel. Pets cannot be left alone in the rooms. We could have used the hotel's pet-sitting service, for a fee of $20 an hour, but the idea is to spend a night on the town with her in tow, not to leave her with a stranger.
Next morning, however, we are thankful for the early turn-in when our roommate wakes us at dawn, tail wagging, eager to get outside. Feeling a touch of cabin fever ourselves, we happily oblige and walk along empty streets.
We're back at the hotel in time for our breakfast. It's a selection of cold and hot options – pre-ordered the night before – delivered to our door. It is just like a hotel buffet, only we enjoy it in our room, treating Jet to morsels of bacon and sausage.
We could have done with an extra hour's sleep. Jet, however, is reclining on her bed with harbour glimpses and appears quite content. Which was, of course, our intention from the start.
Weekends Away are reviewed anonymously and paid for by Traveller.
VISITORS' BOOK
The Sebel Pier One Sydney
Address 11 Hickson Road, Dawes Point.
The verdict Hotel luxury for people and pampered pets.
Price The De Vil Pet Pamper package is from $225 a night plus a $60 fee for the pet. Room-service meals for the pet are $20 each. Car parking is also extra.
Bookings Phone 8298 9999 or see mirvachotels.com/sebel-pier-one-sydney.
Getting there The Sebel is under the Harbour Bridge and easily accessible by private or public transport. It's a 10-minute walk to ferries, buses and trains at Circular Quay.
Wheelchair access Yes.
While you're there Explore the streets and parks of The Rocks with your pet or leave the pet with a sitter and see a show at the nearby Sydney Theatre Company or Opera House.
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