When people think of Sydney, they think of the view from this hotel
By Craig Platt
The place
Pullman Quay Grand Sydney
Check in
When most people think of Sydney, they think of Circular Quay.
When most people think of Sydney, they think of Circular Quay. The city’s main ferry terminal sees the vessels coming and going between two icons: the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. They’re also passing by the Pullman Quay Grand Sydney, which sits between the water and Macquarie Street, overlooking the bustling promenade and ferry terminals on one side, and the beautiful Botanic Gardens on the other.
The look
You can enjoy the view, even from the pool.
First opened in 1999 as Quay Grand Suites Sydney before becoming a Pullman in 2012, the building is not the most striking piece of architecture in Sydney – indeed the entire strip of buildings received plenty of criticism during their construction (and perhaps suffer even more in this aspect thanks to their iconic neighbours). But the hotel is designed to make the most of its location, with its long aspect offering balconies to all guests to enjoy the atmosphere.
Although the building’s age and location might lend itself to a grand entrance, the lobby (reached either from Macquarie Street or, by foot on the quay, via a small unassuming entrance and a lift ride) is surprisingly low-key, with a low ceiling and small-ish reception desk. Given the grandness of the locale, there’s probably no reason to create a distraction.
The key elements of the time are here – there’s lots of marble and glass, including on the walls of the indoor pool and gym, so you can still enjoy a view from there.
The room
Rooms come with cooking facilities and even a European laundry.
Upon entering, I fear I must have been upgraded and consider requesting a lower level of room (when reviewing, I prefer something fairly standard). However, I discover the room, with its kitchen, European laundry, lounge, dining table and separate bedroom is, in fact, now standard at the Pullman. The rooms recently underwent a refurbishment, modernising the furniture and in-room artworks with a new, largely monochromatic palette.
The bedroom, following its monochromatic revamp.
My room sits on the Circular Quay side of the hotel, offering views from the balcony across the water to the Harbour Bridge.
The bathroom doesn’t seem to have enjoyed the same revamp as the rest of the room and while there’s nothing wrong with the light-marble look of the room (if perhaps a little dated) that includes a large spa bath, I do find, for example, that the glass shower door fails to close and swings open throughout my shower, allowing water to spread across the bathroom floor.
Food + drink
No breakfast buffets here… Q Dining.
There are two restaurants on the property. Q Dining offers modern Australian with a focus on local seafood and meats, while cocktail bar Hyde Hacienda has a South America-inspired menu of more casual dishes, snacks and share plates.
Cocktails with an iconic view… Hyde Hacienda.
Both venues make the most of their locations with views of the quay. If you’re a breakfast buffet fan, you’ll need to go elsewhere. The Q Dining breakfast is a la carte, with a decent range of the usual favourites.
Out + about
It is, quite literally, just a few steps to Circular Quay where you can enjoy waterfront dining or take a short walk to the Opera House. Aside from the many events held at the world-famous venue, there are daily tours that take visitors behind the scenes and explain the history of the architectural marvel. The daily tours cost $43 for adults and advance bookings are recommended. There are several other tours available including backstage and hidden highlights. See sydneyoperahouse.com
The verdict
It may not be an icon in itself, but the hotel is icon-adjacent and makes the most of its outstanding location.
Our rating out of five
★★★★
Essentials
Rooms start from $429. See pullmanquaygrandsydneyharbour.com
Highlight
Location, location, location (and the view too).
Lowlight
The bathroom looks a bit dated compared to the rest of the room.
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