On the very coronary heart of Australia’s most visited metropolis, Darling Harbour has lengthy been Sydney’s hottest place for fun-seekers. However the place’s the most effective place to remain?
Christina and I’ve at all times cherished being vacationers in our personal metropolis and a staycation is likely one of the greatest methods to do that.
It provides you the prospect to essentially see the town by means of a customer’s eyes and luxuriate in all issues that individuals journey to date to expertise right here.
Over time, we’ve discovered some superior locations to remain in Sydney (you’ll be able to see a few of them right here) and this time we’re in Darling Harbour on the Novotel Darling Sq..
To not be confused with the Novotel Darling Harbour, which is residence to the wonderful Ternary Restaurant and has water views, however is definitely not as effectively situated, the Novotel Darling Sq. has every little thing, together with Darling Harbour, proper on its doorstep.
Take a look at our fast 45-second video having a look across the lodge:
What Is Shut To Novotel Darling Sq.?
Aside from the town basically, you might have Darling Harbour and all its delights in entrance of you, together with the Worldwide Conference Centre (ICC) and theatre, an enormous vary of eating places and bars, Cockle Bay and additional on the Aquarium.
Even nearer although, you might have Darling Sq., a comparatively new consuming precinct with much more (and IMHO higher) choices than Darling Harbour. This leads on to Chinatown with a lot to select from even we haven’t been to each place in Australia’s largest Chinatown.
Novotel Darling Sq. can be near ferries, buses, mild rail and taxis, so if you wish to go additional afield, it’s very simple to journey from right here.
What Are The Rooms Like Within the Novotel Darling Sq.?
Like numerous trendy inns in Sydney, the rooms listed here are small by SE Asian requirements however large by European ones. Our room is freshly adorned with loads of well-planned options, together with USB sockets by the mattress—a pet peeve for us with inns that don’t have this.
The mattress is large and really snug with a alternative of pillows. The lavatory within reason spacious with a big bathe and vainness. There’s additionally a desk, workplace chair and an armchair within the room.
However it’s what’s exterior the room that actually impresses us. The views from the eighth flooring over Darling Harbour are great and hold us within the room longer than we anticipate. In actual fact, we pull up the chairs and luxuriate in a glass of wine by the windowsill to look at life go by down beneath.
Professional Tip For The Greatest Rooms
As for a room on ranges six, seven or eight on the north facet of the lodge for beautiful views over the Chinese language Gardens of Friendship and the town and the harbour in direction of Barangaroo.
In all probability due to its location, the Novotel Darling Sq. feels extra for holiday-makers staying right here than conference-goers or enterprise travellers. And though there are convention amenities on the primary flooring, the company we see are all right here for leisure.
Different Services
There’s a lap pool and gymnasium on the lodge, however these are usually not essentially its greatest options. The foyer bar is snug and welcoming and the breakfast restaurant behind it— Pier St. Grill—is massive and well-stocked with all the same old lodge fare but in addition has a build-your-own açai bowl station and an enormous jar of Nutella that you would be able to pump over pancakes you make your self.
Eating At Pumphouse Sydney Bar and Restaurant
As soon as a pumping station offering hydraulic energy to the town, the Pumphouse, in-built 1889, nonetheless has a number of the old-world allure about it.
I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve been to the Pumphouse Bar and Restaurant many occasions, however by no means realised it was a part of the lodge. However it’s. In actual fact, there’s a connecting door that leads straight from the lodge’s first flooring into the superbly renovated Terrace bar.
Meals right here is each well-priced and well-made, and the beer choice is great, which is simply in addition to it’s a micro-brewery too. The bar’s Thunderbolt Sturdy Ale is value stopping in for if nothing else. Although it’s best to actually take into consideration ordering the flatbreads and tacos right here too.
We have now the flatbread topped with burnt chilli and garlic toum, sobressada, mozzarella and salsa verde, which is truthfully spectacular. The tacos come stuffed with slow-cooked pulled beef brisket and chipotle and are equally wonderful.
We additionally strive the flank steak, which is fairly good however not our favorite, a bowl of crispy potatoes completed in wealthy melted butter and, in a nod to salad, the iceberg wedge, which is roofed in crispy pancetta, buttermilk ranch, ‘nduja crumb and parmesan!
We roll again to our room within the Novotel Darling Sq., mercifully near the Pumphouse, and take advantage of the luxurious consolation of the king-size mattress.
