The Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour has opened its doors, making it the first new-build, international luxury hotel to open in Sydney’s CBD in more than 15 years.

Centrally located opposite the International Convention Centre, the $500 million Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour will play a major role in the ongoing revitalization of the vibrant Darling Harbour precinct. It also heralds the renaissance of new hotel development in Sydney, with over 40 hotels scheduled to open in the next five years to support the city’s tourism growth.

Designed by renowned multi award-winning Sydney architect Richard Francis-Jones from Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp architects, with collaboration from Dreamtime Australia Design and the A+ Design Group, the new Sofitel Sydney greets guests with an imposing 35-storey glass exterior featuring triangular accents representing sails, and a striking red ochre and blue exterior colour palette which pays tribute to the indigenous clans of the Eora nation who lived around Tumbalong – the name given to Darling Harbour.  A stylish porte-cochere leads guests inside the building. The hotel’s public spaces and guestrooms continue to pay tribute to the maritime location and the industries that formerly occupied the site including extensive use of timber representing Sydney’s strong wharf heritage through to the rope and sandstone motifs in the carpets.

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The hotel features 590 stylish guestrooms including 35 coveted suites, boasting some of the best views in Sydney. All the hotel’s guest rooms feature the Sofitel MyBed and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Darling Harbour and the city. The suites feature an in-bathroom television, double shower heads and luxurious soaking tubs for the ultimate pampering experience. The Bellerive suite is the hotel’s pinnacle of accommodation and features a separate living room, dining room and butler’s pantry.

Exclusive to guests staying in the Club Sofitel rooms and suites on levels 28 – 34, the Club Millesime Lounge, located at the very top of the hotel on level 35 will offer breathtaking views over Darling Harbour and the city. Offering a refined environment, Club Millesime Lounge will present an array of personalised services. These include private check-in, use of the meeting room for more intimate gatherings and access to other special privileges.

Three sophisticated bars and the stylish signature restaurant, Atelier by Sofitel anchor the hotel as the place in Sydney to meet for a drink or a memorable dining experience. With its’ French-inspired rotisserie and grill, Atelier by Sofitel on the third floor, is the hotel’s restaurant, serving the very best local seasonal produce combined with the culinary techniques that highlight the origin of Sofitel’s French heritage. The Champagne Bar, perfect for a pre-or post-dinner drink, is the largest Champagne bar in Sydney, offering 20 different types of champagne, from the smaller champagne houses like Canard-Duchene and Pol Roger to the houses of Louis Roederer and Pommery.

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Esprit Noir lobby bar, located on the ground floor, offers an elegant space to relax and enjoy a cocktail. Channelling the relaxed sophistication of a Mediterranean beach meets the urban energy of Sydney, Le Rivage Pool Bar on the fourth floor will become one of the city’s highly sought-after outdoor spaces. It will be emblematic of the hotel’s vibrancy and Darling Harbour’s transformation – an idyllic place to laze the day away while sipping cocktails, swimming in the inviting 20m infinity pool or working out in the SoFit gym, while overlooking the magnificent city skyline.

With nine flexible meeting spaces, including a grand 450-person Magnifique Ballroom, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour is also well-positioned to host any style of event, from haute couture fashion shows to gala dinners and large-scale meetings or conferences with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology.

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