The Darling, Sydney

The Darling is a luxury hotel central to The Star’s entertainment complex, which includes 20 restaurants, bars and cafes, a sophisticated retail collection, and a nightclub with panoramic views which combine to make this a self enclosed romantic getaway. And of course, there’s the famous casino.

• Location: In Pyrmont, adjacent to The Star.
• Accommodations: There are over 170 rooms divided into five different categories from standard Darling Rooms to Penthouse Suites. In between there are three categories of suites, including Jewel Suites complete with a king-sized bedroom, a separate living area and a wet bar, the Adored Suites, which are designed to be a “home away from home” with entry via a private foyer, while the luxurious Stellar Suites are even bigger.
• Dining options: There are choices aplenty at The Star, including Harvest Buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the elaborate Sokyo which fuses Japanese traditional with the contemporary (see our review here),  Italian cuisine at Balla, a stylish Australian grill called Black, and The Century, a new venue famous for Chinese signature dishes and fresh seafood.
• What else is there: Even though it’s in the heart of the city, The Darling has a spacious outdoor recreation area including a 25 metre outdoor pool, and a fully equipped gym. There’s also The Darling Spa (see our review here). 
• What’s nearby: Besides The Star entertainment complex, which features shopping, nightlife and more, The Darling is close to Sydney’s business district and many of the city’s key attractions including Darling Harbour, the Lyric Theatre, and the CBD including shopping, theatres and more. 
• Why go: It’s a full-service resort in a city hotel close with great dining options and nightlife.

The Space

It is the attention to detail that makes The Darling a special place to stay, from the 400 thread Egyptian cotton sheets and hand picked pillow menu, to the textured wallpapers and bespoke furniture. Since opening back in 2011 as part of The Star’s $870 million redevelopment, this luxury hotel has picked up a swag of awards including “Best International New Hotel Construction and Design” from the International Hotel Awards in 2012-2013; “Best Tech Hotel” from the Hotel Management Awards in 2012; and “Top 60 Best New Hotels in the World” with Condé Nast Traveller in 2012. And most recently it was named as Sydney’s only Five-Star Hotel by Forbes Travel Guide for the second consecutive year.

Where We Stayed

Our room for one night was a Darling King Room which was quite spacious at 34 square metres and had floor to ceiling glass windows that open to offer views of Pyrmont. Other room highlights include the “Darling Bed” which features a customised 1000 spring mattress, a rain shower head in the marble bathroom, and a really handy system that allows you to control room temperature, and open and close blinds and change lighting through your large TV screen. The decor is modern contemporary with natural palette of cream, earth tones and gold, with vibrant artwork and rich warm wood.

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves 

• The bed, which was incredibly comfortable.
• The dining options - you almost won’t want to leave!
• The pool area which is spacious.

Insider Tips  

• Ask for a Darling King Room with a Harbour Bridge view especially if you are new to Sydney.

The Details

The Darling is located at 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont, NSW 2009, 1800 800 830, www.thedarling.com.au.