Stayed mid week for a Las Vegas experience in Sydney. Very swanky hotel, modern urban chic. One of the best hotel pools in Sydney. Spacious rooms, everything controlled electronically and good decor. Attentive service from staff. Local cafes for an interesting breakfast. Will be back for another city break.

Booked a standard room at a spciel introductory rate. What a fantastic experience. All staff were polite, friendly and attentive. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a suite which was sensational. Too many features to mention all but luxuriously comfortable and well appointed.

It's been a long time (well, never in Australia), since I have had such a good spa experience. Okay, the prices are up there but the experience is unforgettable. From the moment you get off the lift at the 2nd floor you are in heaven! The receptionists are friendly and welcoming, then there is a greeter who takes you to the changing rooms (big, airy, spotlessly clean and luxurious), and then if there is time you're led to a dim lighted room with comfy day beds and a scented face towel to put over your eyes (make sure there is as they ask you to fill out a questionnaire with GREAT questions such as 'how much talk do you like during your facial/massage - (none for me), how much pressure do you like (gentle, firm, hard) etc. which saves you having to speak up during your service and just relax! The facial I had was $135 for 45 minutes but it was worth every cent. The therapist gave me a foot bath and scrub plus massage before settling me onto the incredibly comfortable facial bed. Facial consisted of deep cleanse, scrub, then a delightfully scented massage (pressure points on face), a face mask and then an eye massage. I almost drifted off. After, if I had time i could have showered in the lovely bathrooms using the complimentary Molton Brown haircare. Hair dryers etc. are provided if you need them. I was so relaxed i couldn't wait to get home to bed.

You notice this hotel is different right from the moment you arrive at the front door and one of the helpful staff escort you right to the check in desk. They're obviously going for super-friendly Australian informal service, which we are quite happy with, as long as it remains efficient. Georgia on the front desk was certainly super-friendly, very chatty, but still remained quick and efficient. For some reason we were upgraded to a Jewel suite instead of the Darling room I originally booked, and what a pleasant surprise. On the 8th floor we had a great view of the pool which looks like it would be a real party venue if only the sun would shine. Absolutely loved the room - everything about it from the decor, the bathroom, the Molton Brown goodies, the Nespresso machine, the blackout blinds, the two teles, etc etc. I would highly recommend the hotel for parents who want to escape their children for the weekend (under 18's not allowed by the pool)... mind you none of the staff looked much over 18. As it was not busy (constant gloomy weather and rain), the staff had nothing to do but hang around and gossip and chat, and they are all so young and gorgeous it's like being in a nightclub. (note to management - tell them to keep their voices down when guests are trying to relax and read the paper - the odd very loud "shhhhhhhhh" from one of the older crew doesn't really do the trick!). Still, I don't want to complain too much as despite being very old and crusty (over 45), we really loved the cool and groovy atmosphere of the hotel - the interior decor is truly inspirational. Only thing that might concern some international guests is that there is no in house breakfast available other than room service, and their flagship restaurant is not open lunchtimes or Sunday nights. Bit unusual for a 5 star hotel. But being in Pyrmont there are lots of groovy eating options nearby, so not a huge problem. Stay here for the pool, proximity to Casino and Momofuku (although we were underwhelmed by our meal), and the up to the minute decor and great rooms. A+