In the fine bastion of hotel chains across the globe, the Novotel is often overlooked. Traditionally a beacon of refuge for the weary corporate traveller, the Accor-owned chain provides a welcomed sense of familiarity no matter which continent you find yourself in. The continental buffet breakfast will always be on offer, the towels warm and inviting, and the hotel staff eager to point you in the right direction for a good spot to eat or a fresh cup of coffee. It’s everything that a modern business-orientated hotel should be, however, with the opening of the new Novotel Sydney City Centre, all bets are off. As I found from the moment I entered the new property, the hotel chain is shedding its straightforward and simplistic reputation in favour of something a little more luxe.
The Property
Located on York Street in the heart of the Sydney business district, the property still caters to the corporate traveller, however, with a unique family-friendly edge. An Australian-first, the new Novotel Sydney City Centre showcases the brand’s new design philosophies, with all 283 of the hotel’s rooms featuring a refined approach to sustainability.
Check-In & Check-Out
From the moment you enter the lobby, you’re met with a sleek and streamlined self-check-in process, which is so straightforward even I could figure out how to make it work. Additionally, when it came time to check out, I was surprised to find that Novotel offers a late 5pm check-out on Sundays.
Redevelopment
The new $20 million redevelopment project has come years in the making, and it shows. Every element of the updated Novotel feels innately fresh and modern, with touches of glamour, provided by local design studio Dezign, helping to elevate the overall finish of the property.
Rooms & Suites
It seems simple enough, but even the addition of greenery in each room was a handy little touch that made each suite feel a little more like home. According to Kim Stredder, general manager of Novotel Sydney City Centre, that was precisely the goal.
“We want guests to achieve the balance they seek during their stay,” Stredder said. “Room furnishings are flexible allowing guests to customise their stays. We have created an environment that’s ideal for corporate travellers, families and couples. This level of dynamism in design will allow guests to truly create a home away from home, and an office away from the office.”
During our time, we found ourselves in a Superior King Room with a balcony, which provided a beautiful view overlooking Wynyard Park. As someone who used to catch a bus from out the front of that very patch of grass, I took entirely too much pleasure sitting on the stunning outdoor deck and watching the office workers make their way through the crowded CBD streets.
Our room had a separate lounge area attached to the far end, right before the balcony. At first, I wasn’t entirely convinced that it would get any use, however, when a near-torrential downpour hit Sydney right in the middle of our stay, we retreated from the terrace and relocated to the lounge. I hadn’t considered that the hotel room would be big enough to suit two lounging adults until that point, so colour me impressed when I found us comfortably enjoying the serenity.
Importantly, there are a number of different room and suite options available, each boasting the new ‘Hypothesis’ design philosophy. This format is aimed at decreasing wasted space, providing rooms that are mixed-use and livable. On the 21st and 22nd floor, you’ll find Superior One Bedroom Suites that arrive with 42 square metres of real estate, or enough to perform a full yoga routine and a whopping 75-inch TV. Regardless of which room you do end up with, you will have access to high-speed Wi-FI, digital compendiums and Chromecast-enabled TVs.
Dining
In my opinion, the real highlight of the stay was undoubtedly the in-house restaurant Birdie Bar and Brasserie. Opening in late January, the new venue was an unexpected delight, delivering a standout feast of epicurean delicacies with a profoundlu unique twist. Kicking off with a caviar bump that sees you raise your middle finger to the sky (seriously, give it a whirl), the entire experience is a true food lover’s paradise.
Inspired by the Australian Lorikeet, Birdie is a colourful, playful and much-needed addition to the Sydney dining scene. Head chef John Lyons has brought a refined British sensibility to the Aussie dining scene, with flavours that seemingly burst off the palate and send your imagination swirling. The Michelin starred Brit’s enthusiasm for local produce and the people responsible for them is nothing short of electric and it is hard not to get swept up in the emotion of creativity when he speaks candidly about Koji, black sesame and ‘poorman’s orange’.
“Birdie tells a tale of time through food, which we have proudly brought to life with spices and herbs sourced from Birdie’s travel’s around the world,” Lyons said. “I can’t wait for people to dine in this alluring atmosphere and try our dishes, especially those where we’ve had some fun to create something truly unique.”
When we visited, Lyons took us through a full tasting menu, showcasing the vast and varied ensemble of flavours for which he has become renowned. We started the evening off with Sydney Rock Oysters that had been drenched in a healthy dose of Tasmanian pepper berry and strawberry gum mignonette, a curious pairing that greatly enhanced the freshness of the seafood. And that was merely the beginning.
Over five courses, we indulged in a captivating assortment of seafood and produce, from the tuna-elevated Tonnatomato to the standout Fremantle Octopus, which I still think about nightly, before taking a detour through the Orient. Accentuated by Tasmanian Wasabi and Tobiko, the Cone Bay Barramundi was an incredible crescendo of flavours, simple by nature but effortlessly engineered towards the Aussie market. As Lyons explained, when you work with produce this good, you have to let them speak for themselves.
To finish, the British ex-pat embraced his newfound home with a take on the traditional native ‘poor man’s orange’ fruit. The pomelo and tangerine hybrid laid the foundations for a stunning black sesame dessert. Landing somewhere between fruit meringue and orange sponge cake, the unique finisher was like nothing I had ever experienced before, ripe with tart flavours and smooth textures. As for drinks, Birdie was no slouch. The cocktail menu again takes inspiration from nature, with six Australian birds serving as the mixologist’s muse.
Amenities
Admittedly, where the Novotel Sydney City Centre does fall down is in its lack of amenities. The hotel does not feature a pool, gymnasium or sauna, which is certainly a challenge for those corporate travellers looking for a home away from home. As a regular gym-goer myself, I knew that the closest options were Snap Fitness on Clarence Street or Virgin Active on Margaret Street.
I also knew that they weren’t free and a foray to the iron paradise each morning was going to set me back around $30, however, there is movement on that front. Novotel did confirm to me that a Fitness Studio is coming this year, however, stopped short of explaining just what that would entail.
Similarly, the lack of pool was a little disappointing, particularly as I stayed in the middle of the harsh Sydney summer. Obviously, installing a pool in an already established high-rise building is no mean feat, so I appreciate the challenge that it would represent. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but think that the addition of a pool would elevate the property to another level.
The Verdict
The new Novotel Sydney City Centre is a far cry from the bland corporate hotel chains that I’m used to staying in. The modern sustainable design provides a warm touch that feels luxurious and inviting. Sure, the amenities are few and far between, but the hotel itself delivers everything that you could need for a weekend escape or mid-week work jaunt, and there is more to come.
With a new restaurant to open in the coming weeks, alongside a refined pillow menu, the latest Novotel is officially set to be reborn. You can bet that we’ll be there when it happens.
Novotel Sydney City Centre
- Address: 7-9 York Street, Sydney CBD, 2000 Sydney, Australia
- Phone: (02) 9281 6888
- Rooms: 283
- Price: From $300 per night
- Review: 7/10
Disclaimer: The author of this post, Nick Hall, was invited to stay at Novotel Sydney City Centre as a guest of Novotel.
