Park Hyatt Sydney: More Than Just The Views…
Arriving at The Park Hyatt Sydney over four hours before check-in on a gloomy, rainy day called for a hot choccie in the Living Room lounge. It was the perfect way to catch my breath and take a few moments after my first few hectic days in Sydney. The light and calm of the space was what I had been craving. Sipping away soaking up the harbour view, with the huge cruise ship for ‘company’, made me realise I was already doing what I was most looking forward to. Nothing.
Having the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a neighbour
The Living Room
It’s not only hot drinks that are available in the Living Room. There is also a casual style food menu. As lunchtime approached, I ordered a Yamba prawn roll with Yarra Valley roe and a side of soft but crispy chips. You can’t beat Australian prawns – so good. I was sitting right at the end of the lounge, where I got a half-view of the Sydney Opera House. The Dining Room, which offers breakfast and a fine dining experience, provides fuller views. My seating position gave me the strategic opportunity to eye up the daily cake offering as well. Or was it the cake eyeing me up? Either way, I eventually succumbed to a slice of soft and delicate chocolate bundt cake served with a sort of sour cream, but tangier and different. It was the perfect accompaniment for chocolate alongside a ginger tea. Being in the lounge for so long, not once did the staff make me feel unwelcome or as if I was staying too long. If anything, it made me even more excited to experience more of the hotel.
Living Room tea and cake on a rainy day
The Room
My two-night stay was in a King Bed with City Harbour view, just under halfway along the hotel. I was concerned when I saw it was almost opposite the lifts, but I only heard noise once over the weekend. The bed had a firm mattress that combined with the softness of the sheets made it hard to get up from in the morning. The balcony and big windows provided the perfect Sydney city view when I went to sleep, but each day there was a new cruise ship parked up. Peak tourist season is what you get with the City Harbour view room. Maybe it needs a rename?
It’s always a win for me having a separate bath and shower, especially when they are a good size and provide Sydney city views. There are also all the amenities you could possibly need during your stay, or to take away with you for home, not that anyone does that right? There was also a separate Japanese-style toilet at the end of the room. I just love sitting down on a heated seat. Talking of seating, the single comfy chair wasn’t an issue as I was travelling alone, but it is a bit strange in what is clearly a room for two. A touch I did appreciate was the welcome chocolates made in-house. They were the ideal accompaniment with tea from the Japanese-style service as I curled up enjoying the nighttime view.
The king bed Harbour view room
Facilities
Over my years living in Sydney, I had walked numerous times over the Harbour Bridge and would always look down onto the hotel’s swimming pool. It’s not the biggest, but you can have a good swim. There’s also a jacuzzi and plenty of loungers and a few cabana style beds to enjoy the Sydney sun. However not on my arrival. When the rain did stop, I rushed up to have a quick dip. Lying on my back looking up at the Bridge was a little surreal. I was really inthe Park Hyatt Sydney’s pool.
Just below the pool, is the gym. It offers a good selection of free and machine weights, plus cardio equipment. The best bit here is the view from some of the cardio machines out over the harbour under the Bridge. A unique way to work out.
One experience I was really looking forward to was the spa. I had been for a birthday treat when I lived in Sydney, so I knew what to expect. I had chosen a 90-minute Rainforest Revival treatment, with IKOU products. They are a clean, natural Australian brand I have used before and love. It included an Australian lemon myrtle body scrub, full body massage and a foot massage with a cucumber mask. As you can probably imagine, I smelt amazing at the end of this and was super smooth and refreshed. Relaxing after the treatment, you’re given some tea and a sweet treat. You can enjoy this while looking at all the products to purchase, which I was very tempted by, but I restrained myself this time. The treatment was $380AUD (approximately £205) for Friday and the weekend and $345AUD (about £185) for the rest of the week. My only annoyance about the spa was having to pay extra for a peak time, which feels like you are being taken advantage of.
The Park Hyatt Sydney swimming pool below the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Breakfast
It’s always a plus having breakfast included. The Dining Room gives you Opera House and city (or in my case cruise ship views) to enjoy along with a varied menu from both the buffet and à la carte selections.
The buffet has most of the things you would expect a hotel like this to offer. However, there were not many berries within the fruit section, which often come as standard. I did love the juicy, Australian mango as it was still in season. The pastry offering was strong with both sweet and savoury, including a daily special like white chocolate and peanut butter or seasonal fruit. For me the peanut was too much, but worth a try, and I just couldn’t bring myself to try the marmite scroll. Sorry not for me. And if you’re up for an early morning beverage there are juices and champagne. I think this was more for a mimosa rather than to start a drinking session.
On the first day I picked my own hot breakfast options from the à la carte menu. Soft, folded eggs with crispy bacon, a large field mushroom and avocado, plus hot buttered sourdough toast. I could eat it again right now. The second day I picked the waffle with mascarpone and berries, which is not a regular choice of mine. The soft waffle, creamy mascarpone and slightly tart, juicy berry compote was a winning combination to start the day.
Afternoon tea in the Dining Room
Afternoon Tea
One of my favourite things to do is enjoy an afternoon tea. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to expectations. While I was arriving near the end of the sitting, I felt that because I was on my own, I didn’t matter. There was no care with the service, which was also inattentive and slow. It took about 15 minutes for someone to take a tea order. My food arrived shortly after. The tea took a further 15 minutes though. I wondered if they were pulling the leaves from a bush themselves. If it had been at a peak time, I could have understood it, but it was at the end of service and there were also plenty of staff.
When the food arrived, I was advised to eat the Bombe Alaska first as it was a passionfruit and coconut sorbet below the meringue. I don’t know why you would serve something icy-cold in the heat of the Australian summer for afternoon tea. Also, etiquette is savoury, then sweet. Picking something so sweet to start things off, just felt wrong and put things off balance. I didn’t do it and to be honest, with only three small basic sandwiches (ham and cheese, salmon and egg) and a little braised beef pie as the savouries, the sorbet didn’t need to wait long. I normally go for scones next and this time while the menu said scones, it was only a scone. Nothing special unfortunately and it can be hard to get clotted cream in Australia, so it was mascarpone. While I may enjoy mascarpone, it’s not really a scone accompaniment.
The cakes were good but by this time I had finished my tea and so ate them without anything to drink. I had tried to get the team’s attention but without luck and at this point, I wanted the whole thing to just finish.
Moments That Shone
- The Room: Especially the big, cosy bed and spacious, amenity-filled bathroom. The view at night was something to remember as well.
- The Living Room: The perfect spot to relax and take a moment for tea and cake.
- The Pool: The only hotel pool below the Sydney Harbour Bridge and it was all I hoped it would be.
Sunrise from the bedroom with the Sydney Opera House
Moments That Fell Short
- Afternoon Tea: The lack of service let it down the most. The food was ok, but nothing special as well, especially the sandwiches.
- The View: The only downside is the hulking cruise ship that is an everyday companion, so you may not see the city views in the day. Or this was my experience. It doesn’t happen all year round, but most people won’t book their trip, or room, based on a cruise ship schedule.
The Park Hyatt was my second Sydney hotel this trip. My first was at the QT Sydney, which you can read about here. This second stay gave me what I most needed. Calmness and relaxation in a comfortable space. Comfort can often be overlooked but is important to me as a solo traveller. Given its location in Sydney’s historic Rocks area, with the Bridge and Opera House on your doorstep, it’s ideal for tourists. Circular Quay also provides easy transport links. I would have loved to stay longer, but it was at the top end of my budget for a long trip in almost peak season.