Shangri-La Sydney

What a spectacular hotel! The location is ideal! The view is amazing! Major respect and appreciation for Jake at the front desk!! There was an error in the booking and he worked with his team to get my friends adjoining rooms so we could be together. Jake is a hero! Props to Emily and Amy for an incredible spa experience! What a perfect ending to our travel adventure!!

Excellent experience from start to finish! The reception and concierge team were welcoming and professional, and the facilities and amenities were great. Booking a Horizon Club room was definitely worth it! The staff were friendly, the food and drinks were fantastic, and the views of Sydney Harbour were absolutely stunning. Highly recommend staying here for a truly memorable experience!

The hotel itself is lovely, with a welcoming atmosphere and a pleasant scent in the main lobby. However, the $105 parking fee (plus credit card surcharge) feels excessive for hotel guests — $50 would be far more reasonable. The rooftop bar on level 36 offers stunning views over the harbour and Luna Park, but the cocktail list is limited and extremely expensive. Standard cocktails are $26–$30, while their “signature” drinks reach an eye-watering $55. Room service also comes with a $10 tray fee, which felt unnecessary. We opted out after seeing the prices — I wasn’t about to pay $28 for a samosa. The property is perched at the top of The Rocks, so if you’re not fond of steep hills or stairs, plan on using Ubers. That said, walking through the historic laneways and discovering hidden courtyards was a real highlight — it’s a charming time warp. Our room was quite basic considering the price ($600 per night for the most affordable option). The view was disappointing — we faced the freeway leading to the Harbour Bridge, with no bridge or pylon in sight. It also appeared that the TV’s HDMI ports were disabled, as I couldn’t get my media player to work. Staff were consistently friendly and eager to help, which deserves recognition. The rooftop bar team seemed a little overwhelmed during pre-dinner service, though we did arrive as a group of six, which may have added some pressure. Breakfast was easily the standout of our stay — a generous spread with plenty of variety and excellent presentation. After checkout, we appreciated being able to leave our bags and car while exploring the nearby markets, which was a nice convenience. Overall, it’s a pleasant hotel in a prime location, but fairly basic for the price. You’re largely paying for the name and the setting rather than exceptional value.