Capella Sydney, Sydney

Pros

• You'll find the hotel perfectly situated in Sydney's central CBD, with Circular Quay and the Royal Botanic Garden within easy strolling distance.
• The building's interiors blend historic details with modern design and original Australian art, including light installations and murals.
• Some rooms and suites offer panoramic cityscape views from their floor-to-ceiling windows.
• The on-site Brasserie 1930 serves bistro classics with a modern twist, with produce sourced from local small farmers and a 400-strong wine list.

Cons

• Some rooms face the beautiful inner atrium, so make sure to request an external room if you want city views.
• The hotel charges a surcharge for buffet breakfast and valet parking, but bicycle rentals and nonalcoholic minibar drinks are free.

Authenticity

Capella Sydney occupies a heritage-listed building that once served as the Department of Education. Today, it's been carefully renovated to house one of the city's most stylish 5-star hotels. Behind the Baroque-revival sandstone facade, modern decor brings light and space into the interiors while honoring period architectural details. Walls are dotted with original artwork, including pieces by local artists like Judy Watson and Otis Hope Carey, and the light-filled inner atrium features walls draped with over 70 species of native plants and a kinetic light installation that mimics the unfurling of Australian wildflowers. 

Location

Nestled in a prime location at the intersection of Loftus, Bridge, and Young streets in Sydney's CBD, the hotel is just steps from the Royal Botanic Garden, a 5-minute walk from Circular Quay (where you can catch a ferry over to Manly or a train to the airport), and a relaxed 12-minute stroll from the Opera House. You can also hop on a tram at nearby Wynyard station to explore farther afield. There's no parking available on-site, but paid valet parking is available nearby.

Rooms & Bathrooms

The rooms at Capella Sydney are spacious and quietly luxurious, with soft stone-colored walls, wood floors, and dark metal window frames that mimic the building's original elements. All rooms and suites include customized Sealy mattresses with plush toppers and Frette linens, spacious seating areas, and views of the inner atrium or the city skyline. Bathrooms are beautifully lit, with rain-style showers, Dyson hairdryers, and Haeckels toiletries. Many rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and deep soaking tubs, and the opulent loft-style Liberty Suite provides a partial view of the Harbour Bridge.

Amenities

The hotel's sixth-floor wellness area features an elegant lap pool beneath a glass ceiling and elegant plaster molding, a bubbling "vitality pool," a fitness room with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, and bespoke wellness treatments at the Auriga Spa. Dining options include Brasserie 1930, where an open kitchen serves up modern dishes with a farm-to-table ethos. The McRae Bar evokes a Victorian-era drinking den with marble floors and velvet banquettes, and afternoon tea is served in the dramatic Aperture atrium, complete with living walls of greenery and soaring light installations. 

Family-Friendliness

Capella Sydney is accommodating for families, offering family rooms and interconnecting options, plus special in-room amenities and a bespoke " Little Star" program of games, crafts, and activities  The hotel provides changing tables, high chairs, and baby baths, and babysitting services are available for an additional charge.