Where To Stay in Sydney:
Blue Sydney:
The Wharf at Woolloomooloo, 6 Cowper Street, Sydney (00 61 2 9331 9000)
Hip, urban and theatrically lit, the Blue Sydney is well-positioned between the Botanic Gardens, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the nightlife of Kings Cross. There are 100 rooms, including 36 loft rooms and the young staff deliver a friendly, upbeat service. The hotel's Blue café offers large breakfasts, great coffees and modern Australian cuisine. The cocktails from the delicious Martini menu in the Water Bar and the adjoining lounge are also a must-try. Staff are very snobby but great locationCentral Park:
185 Castlereagh Street, Sydney(00 61 2 9283 5000)
In the heart of the business district, this hotel caters to both private and corporate clients. With only 36 rooms, it feels like a plush private residence.Dive Hotel:
234 Arden Street, Coogee(00 61 2 9665 5538)
The Dive Hotel, a groovy family-run guesthouse in Coogee, about 8km southeast of central Sydney, is a good-value option during the warmer months, even if it is a bit of a hike from the city. A cursory glance at the crisp cotton sheets, polished floorboards and blue-tiled bathrooms reveals that this hotel doesn't live up (or down) to its name. All 14 rooms have a small kitchen, fridge and microwave. The ocean views out to Wedding Cake Island are superb.
Establishment Hotel:
5 Bridge Lane, Sydney(00 61 2 9240 3100)
This fashionable hotel in a former warehouse has 31 sleek and contemporary rooms, all with high ceilings and marble or bluestone baths. Interiors are a mix of colonial heritage and modern with two design schemes: one Japanese-influenced with dramatic black-stained wooden floors, the other decorated in bleached oak and muted fabrics. It is part of a small entertainment complex that's a hub for cool Sydney-siders; the Hemmesphere Lounge, Tank club and Gin Garden are always busy. Chef Peter Doyle has won plaudits for his innovative take on Modern Australian cuisine at Est restaurant. Featured in the Gold List 2011.
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney:
199 George Street, Sydney(00 61 2 9250 3100)
An established favourite with grand marble lobby and dramatic staircase sweeping up to the restaurants and spa. The hotel is in The Rocks, within walking distance of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Opera House and the business district. There are 531 rooms, including 121 suites. Service is thoughtful and attentive; many of the staff seem to know guests' names. There is elegant, relaxing Kable's for contemporary Australian fare, The Cabana for poolside salads and The Bar for wines and cocktails. The spa, regarded as one of the city's best, includes a well-equipped fitness centre and the largest outdoor hotel pool in Sydney. The hotel's position near the tip of the city peninsula ensures that virtually all rooms have harbour views.Intercontinental Sydney:
117 Macquarie Street(00 61 2 9253 9000)
Landmark hotel in the 19th-century Treasury Building, only a short stroll from the Sydney Opera House. The decor is best described as 'modern-classic' and the service is warm and attentive. The hotel offers jaw-dropping views of the city and the full shimmer of the harbour. There are 509 recently refurbished bedrooms, including 28 sleek corner suites, with sublime beds, feather-and-down pillows and plush under-window seating. Etch By Becasse for elegant yet affordable modern European cuisine. The Cortile Lounge is great for cocktails and Café Opera for seafood lunch and post-opera suppers.Medina Grand Harbourside:
55 Shelley Street, King Street Wharf, Sydney(00 61 2 9249 7000)
The well-appointed apartments of Medina Grand Harbourside are ideal for longer-term visitors. Located in the new entertainment precinct of King Street Wharf, within easy walking distance of the City area and Circular Quay, Medina Grand Harbourside offers an on-site restaurant, a pool, sauna and fitness centre. The Medina chain sets the benchmark for this type of accommodation in Australia, and it has other local properties tooMetro Hotel On Pitt
300 Pitt Street, Sydney(00 61 2 9283 8088)
The Metro Hotel is located in Sydney's theatre district. A small and well-run hotel, the Metro offers great value for money. It may be short on amenities (eg there is no parking), but the recently refurbished rooms are well above average with pure cotton sheets, silk bed-throws, cable TV and internet ports. It's also just a quick hop to Chinatown, Darling Harbour and the Central Railway Station.Mooghotel
413 Bourke Street, Surry Hills, Sydney(00 61 2 8353 8201)
Ultra-cool Mooghotel is one of Sydney's most luxurious designer dens. Located in bohemian Surry Hills, it is a 'one-suite music hotel' with a plunge pool, his-and-her bathrooms and a gym. It helps with bookings if you are a rock star or a DJ. Mooghotel was featured in