Showcasing elevated interiors, a delicious dining venue, chic bars, spa and rooftop pool all designed through a creative lens.
Sydney’s Darling Harbour has welcomed a magnetic new day-to-night destination, W Sydney, a brand by Marriot Bonvoy. The much-anticipated hotel and lifestyle precinct opened on Thursday 12 October 2023. The striking curves of the undulating architecture have already imbued the waterfront location with ‘wow’ factor, yet Sydneysiders and guests to the city can now find a dining, social and entertaining venue sitting beneath the hotel’s glimmering glazing.
“W Hotels is a brand that was born in New York, but destined for Sydney. The pulse of the city is so aligned with the W spirit – the sense of originality and curiosity, the unique take on luxury, the bold attitude,” says General Manager, Craig Seaward. “Eclectic and unexpected, this new hotel will be a beacon for the harbour, a hub of constantly evolving experiences and exciting spaces that unfold from morning until late, and are deeply connected to the life of the city.”
Interior design at W Sydney
W Sydney was designed by acclaimed Australian architectural firm, Hassell, and rises above the roadways to hug Darling Harbour. The luxurious W Hotels DNA has been given a distinctly Australian twist inspired by the ‘larrikin’ spirit. Contemporary interior design has been overseen by Bowler James Brindley, and highlights include the copper-clad entry, the vivid blue hues of Living Room, and the raw aesthetic of BTWN, the hotel’s dynamic restaurant.
Dining at W Sydney
Positioned at the apex of the hotel is a remarkable double-level bar, 29/30. The late-night hotspot is set to become one of Sydney’s most sought-after venues, with dress circle views of the harbour and across the hotel’s 30-metre mosaic-inlaid infinity pool. The rooftop bar and lounge is a place to revel at a higher level, enjoying wine, cocktails and a Basque-inspired tapas menu. the WET Deck (pool) level bar evokes an underwater world with coral-inspired lighting and is a great spot for casual tapas and cocktails. The bar’s upper tier, on level 30, takes things up a notch with chic yacht-inspired interiors and a menu of elevated cocktails and vintage champagnes by the glass, from Dom Pérignon to Ruinart, and Krug to Armand de Brignac.
Restaurant BTWN embraces its unique setting adjacent to the flyover, drawing on its urban surroundings and weaving the iconography of night food markets into its spaces. Leading the culinary adventures at BTWN is Head Chef Chris Dodd, an alumnus of Aria and Blue Door, whose menus hero the produce of New South Wales. Just as other restaurants in town are winding down, BTWN comes alive with 2AM:Dessertbar, a late-night hangout created in collaboration with Singaporean dessert guru Janice Wong. Living Room’s menus embrace the hotel’s location on the edge of Asiatown with a focus on Sake and Soju, as well as Asian small bites.
Spa therapies at W Sydney
AWAY Spa is an oasis of concrete calm designed to leave guests feeling rested and recharged. The five treatment rooms and connecting spaces are enclosed by the meditative geometric art of Bradley Eastman. In addition to unique circular pods for beauty treatments, the spa features a bar for those who like to socialise while they decompress. The hotel’s FIT Gym is complete with Technogym equipment.
Art at W Sydney
Across all of its spaces, W Sydney has collaborated with local artists, designers and creatives to bring the W vision to life. The wardrobe worn by the hotel’s talent has been curated in partnership with celebrity stylist Jess Pecoraro, whose clients include such icons as Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta and Fendi. Australian-Ukrainian tattoo artist Stanislava Pinchuk has also designed a tattoo of stars for the hotel’s guestroom corridors, and muralist Sophi Oldling has imprinted her conscious yet colourful art on the walls of BTWN. Even the driveway has been styled with a fleet of vehicles powered by W’s local automotive partner, Genesis Motors.
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