Travel News – March 2023


Australia’s Newest Luxury Hotel Capella Sydney is Now Open

Capella Sydney is officially open after a seven-year rehabilitation and rebuilding process. The hotel invites guests to a benchmark destination of luxurious accommodation, outstanding gastronomy, and unsurpassed cultural immersion, occupying a whole city block only minutes from Circular Quay, the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge.
Capella Sydney is situated within the Department of Education building, which was designed by NSW government architect George McRae in the 1900s. The structure, which is part of the city’s prestigious Sandstone Precinct, has been extensively restored and redesigned by Pontiac Land.

“Pontiac Land has always been passionate about creating meaningful developments that contribute and help shape their communities. Capella Sydney was an ideal opportunity for us to sensitively repurpose this culturally significant landmark in the heart of downtown Sydney and transform it into a more public offering as a leading luxury hotel for everyone to be able to experience. We are grateful for the support of the NSW government, and the City of Sydney in the achievement of our shared vision for Capella Sydney’s contribution towards a vibrant and rejuvenated Circular Quay precinct.”
 David Tsang, Chief Executive Officer, Pontiac Land Group

Capella Sydney provides 192 tastefully designed guestrooms and suites spanning across nine storeys. The guestrooms and suites are the embodiment of luxury, with luxurious fabrics, freestanding baths, and Italian Frette linen, as well as a custom pantone and a bespoke range of vegan, sustainable in-room products made in collaboration with Haeckels.

“The opening of Capella Sydney is a milestone moment in the company’s global expansion. This launch represents a significant opportunity for Capella to showcase its refined and curated offerings to Sydney and its visitors, and we look forward to amplifying the stories, culture and experiences of the city through a uniquely Capella lens.”
Cristiano Rinaldi, President of Capella Hotel Group
The combination of purchased and commissioned art enhances the welcome experience when guests enter the hotel through the Farrer Place lobby. The ground-floor exhibition features pieces by Australian artists Judy Watson, Otis Hope Carey, Elise Cakebread, and Georgia Bisley, and culminates in a massive robotic lighting installation by Dutch art duo DRIFT.

Meadow, a DRIFT installation, hangs in the hotel’s central gathering space. The expansive lounge space, now called as Aperture, is located in the original courtyard of the old structure and serves as the hub from which all of the hotel’s amenities are accessible. This includes two dining establishments: the iconic restaurant Brasserie 1930 and McRae Bar, both of which showcase food created in partnership with The Bentley Group.
A world of luxury and cultural connections is accessible when you stay on-site at Capella Sydney. On level six, guests may enjoy in revitalising treatments at Auriga Spa or swim in the 20-metre heated indoor pool, which is designed to offer the finest wellness experience in the city.
The Living Room is the exclusive ground-floor sanctuary for in-house guests and is a trademark feature of all Capella properties. Culturists who are available to help shape the guest experience from booking to check-out facilitate the hotel’s culture and experience programmes there as well.

A spectacular two-hour narrative tour of a bygone age is one example of such an experience. The Department of Education building, now home to Capella Sydney, the Sandstone Precinct where it is located, and the culture, crime, and convicts that influenced the city are all topics that will be covered in the walking tour that departs from the hotel and proceeds to the laneways of The Rocks.
To celebrate the opening, Capella Sydney is offering this experience as part of the Capella History Journey which includes overnight accommodation in a deluxe guestroom for two guests priced at AUD $1500.
The Capella History Journey experience includes:

Daily breakfast for up to two people in Brasserie 1930
Bespoke welcome amenity upon arrival
Capella Culturist experience
24-hour fitness centre
Complimentary access to the Living Room
Valet parking for one car

Capella History Journey is valid until 30 June 2023, subject to availability.
Capella Sydney is now open for reservations, via telephone +61 2 9071 5000 or online capellahotels.com/sydney

Photo credits: Timothy Kaye for Capella Sydney, and respective properties