Review: Capella Sydney
Paul Oswell
Where: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Long story short: A major opening that sets a new standard in luxury for the Aussie cultural capital. Historic building, elevated amenities, rooms you won’t want to leave and world class service.
Short story long: The historic exterior is an imposing presence in the city’s Central Business District, not the gleaming futurism of glass and steel, but the regal assurance of early 20th century Edwardian elegance. But hey, if it’s baroque, don’t fix it.
A building unloved for decades, the opening of the Capella Sydney (in March 2023) granted a new lease of life to the former heritage-listed Department of Education and Agriculture, first constructed in 1912. All sense of stuffiness is dispelled by the lobby, where grandeur blends with whimsy. A dynamic sculpture - one that could be at home in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall - beguiles guests and visitors, a symphony of colourful umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, opening and closing gracefully. It’s like a Town Hall taken over by Cirque du Soleil.
I checked in on the first day of operations - a full throated opening, none of these ‘soft’ shenanigans - and it could have been open for years. No one is panicking or telling me that some aspects aren’t ready yet, instead it’s a strikingly composed, confident and incredibly well-trained staff that check me in, and lay out the hotel’s features. (Read about how impressive this is here)
My 8th floor Skyline Room (540 sq ft) is a tweak above the entry-level accommodations, and looks out over the CBD and some of the historic, copper-lined heritage lanterns. These are original fittings, the hotel celebrating its past wherever possible.
Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the place with light, and though I won’t relist all of the in-room amenities here (more detail here), it’s a panoramic mix of almost everything a hotel guest could need. Once you see shoe trees and bath pillows and a full range of glassware, you know you’re in good hands. The robes and slippers (which thoughtfully come in two different sizes), are the comfiest and most stylish I think I’ve ever seen in a hotel, and as soon as they’re for sale anywhere, I’m ordering a full set.
A standalone eggshell-shaped bath, discrete living space and work desk, and those views of downtown Sydney meant I was happy to spend as much time as it took to really enjoy the room. So much thought was apparent. If Everything Everywhere All At Once could be a customer service approach, Capella Sydney embodies it.
How many hotel pools are actually worth writing about? Situated stylishly the building's former art gallery, the pool here is sleek and 65-foot-long, sitting under a copper-clad roof with natural daylight. I felt like a tech billionaire in his private solarium every time I swam. The changing rooms come with a sauna and steam room, and it’s as close to country club life as I think I’ll ever get.
The F&B outlets maintain the hotel's high standards. I loved having coffee in the bright, playful lobby cafe, Aperture, and breakfast in the restaurant, Brasserie 1930, was a suitably civilised way to start the day. The McRae Bar has a nice line in modernist sculpture and craft cocktails, and the hotel has a Living Room area with its own concierge staff. Each evening from 5pm to 7pm, a special hospitality team, self-described as ‘culturists’, present cocktails, aperitifs, wine, and hors d'oeuvres here. This is free for guests and a great way to meet people informally.
Again, the staff’s professionalism across these outlets translates into a confidence, allowing them to relax into an effortless friendliness. Nothing ever sounds scripted or forced, and it’s a real testament to the hotel’s priorities. To find a such a guest-forward hotel - in terms of anticipating needs and making it so easy to be a guest - is surprisingly rare. To find that in a hotel that's around 24 hours old? Minor religions have been founded on less. Come to Sydney, where you’ll find a Capella that’s in full voice.
MORE HOTELS
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How Sydney's Capella Hotel gets it right
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Paul Oswell
Where: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Long story short: A major opening that sets a new standard in luxury for the Aussie cultural capital. Historic building, elevated amenities, rooms you won’t want to leave and world class service.
Short story long: The historic exterior is an imposing presence in the city’s Central Business District, not the gleaming futurism of glass and steel, but the regal assurance of early 20th century Edwardian elegance. But hey, if it’s baroque, don’t fix it.
A building unloved for decades, the opening of the Capella Sydney (in March 2023) granted a new lease of life to the former heritage-listed Department of Education and Agriculture, first constructed in 1912. All sense of stuffiness is dispelled by the lobby, where grandeur blends with whimsy. A dynamic sculpture - one that could be at home in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall - beguiles guests and visitors, a symphony of colourful umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, opening and closing gracefully. It’s like a Town Hall taken over by Cirque du Soleil.
I checked in on the first day of operations - a full throated opening, none of these ‘soft’ shenanigans - and it could have been open for years. No one is panicking or telling me that some aspects aren’t ready yet, instead it’s a strikingly composed, confident and incredibly well-trained staff that check me in, and lay out the hotel’s features. (Read about how impressive this is here)
My 8th floor Skyline Room (540 sq ft) is a tweak above the entry-level accommodations, and looks out over the CBD and some of the historic, copper-lined heritage lanterns. These are original fittings, the hotel celebrating its past wherever possible.
Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the place with light, and though I won’t relist all of the in-room amenities here (more detail here), it’s a panoramic mix of almost everything a hotel guest could need. Once you see shoe trees and bath pillows and a full range of glassware, you know you’re in good hands. The robes and slippers (which thoughtfully come in two different sizes), are the comfiest and most stylish I think I’ve ever seen in a hotel, and as soon as they’re for sale anywhere, I’m ordering a full set.
A standalone eggshell-shaped bath, discrete living space and work desk, and those views of downtown Sydney meant I was happy to spend as much time as it took to really enjoy the room. So much thought was apparent. If Everything Everywhere All At Once could be a customer service approach, Capella Sydney embodies it.
How many hotel pools are actually worth writing about? Situated stylishly the building's former art gallery, the pool here is sleek and 65-foot-long, sitting under a copper-clad roof with natural daylight. I felt like a tech billionaire in his private solarium every time I swam. The changing rooms come with a sauna and steam room, and it’s as close to country club life as I think I’ll ever get.
The F&B outlets maintain the hotel's high standards. I loved having coffee in the bright, playful lobby cafe, Aperture, and breakfast in the restaurant, Brasserie 1930, was a suitably civilised way to start the day. The McRae Bar has a nice line in modernist sculpture and craft cocktails, and the hotel has a Living Room area with its own concierge staff. Each evening from 5pm to 7pm, a special hospitality team, self-described as ‘culturists’, present cocktails, aperitifs, wine, and hors d'oeuvres here. This is free for guests and a great way to meet people informally.
Again, the staff’s professionalism across these outlets translates into a confidence, allowing them to relax into an effortless friendliness. Nothing ever sounds scripted or forced, and it’s a real testament to the hotel’s priorities. To find a such a guest-forward hotel - in terms of anticipating needs and making it so easy to be a guest - is surprisingly rare. To find that in a hotel that's around 24 hours old? Minor religions have been founded on less. Come to Sydney, where you’ll find a Capella that’s in full voice.
MORE HOTELS
When is a Moxy not a Moxy?
How Sydney's Capella Hotel gets it right
Is this London's most dystopian hotel?