Infinity pool and Technogym equipment among offerings at newly opened W Sydney hotel

October 13, 2023

Karen Sweaney

Fitness / Hospitality / Tourism / Wellness /

W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy's global portfolio of over 30 brands, has opened W Sydney - located in a dramatic curved structure rising over Darling Harbour.

The new hotel offers a range of fitness and wellness options including a FIT Gym, infinity pool and spa treatments.

The FIT Gym offers top of the range Technogym equipment including:

Cardiovascular Equipment
Elliptical Machines
Exercise Bikes
Free Weights
Stair Climbers
Strength Equipment
Treadmills
Weight Machines

Also on offer is the AWAY Spa - an oasis of concrete calm designed to leave guests feeling rested and recharged in an idiosyncratic but nevertheless deeply restorative space. The five treatment rooms and connecting spaces are gently enclosed by the meditative, geometric art of Bradley Eastman (aka Beastman). In addition to unique circular pods for beauty treatments, the spa features a bar.

The hotel’s WET Deck offers stellar views of Darling Harbour with the 30-metre open-air infinity pool showcasing a giant jellyfish motif crafted from vivid glass mosaic tiles.

11 x Olympic Medalist Emma McKeon experienced a cheeky first swim at WET Deck’s rooftop infinity pool (above) ahead of the hotel’s opening.

George Fleck, Vice President and Global Brand Leader of W Hotels shared "W Sydney marks our W Hotels brand's triumphant return to Sydney, a long-awaited addition to our robust portfolio in Australia, following our recent debuts in Melbourne and Brisbane.

"W Sydney will cultivate a new cultural and social hub in the vibrant Darling Harbour precinct. It is the perfect canvas for a non-conformist approach to the luxury hospitality landscape with W's bold and energetic 'Whatever/Whenever' service ethos, dynamic design, and immersive programming as we celebrate Sydney through a new lens."

Located within The Ribbon and designed by Australian architectural firm, Hassell, W Sydney rises above the roadways to hug Darling Harbour. Its interiors are designed by London-based Bowler James Brindley, who conceived W Sydney through the authenticity of the city's history, spirit, and lore; from the marine-inspired rooms and suites to the distinctive restaurant and bars. At the heart of the hotel's design story is 'the larrikin,' a quintessentially Australian character whose strong spirit informs and inspires the hotel's luxe yet unconventional interiors.

The copper-clad entry pays homage to subterranean Sydney and its disused railway tunnels, and an illuminated vertical promenade sweeps guests up into Living Room, a vivid blue space that reinvents the conventions of a traditional lobby by turning it into a social hub. Embracing a 'Future Noir' theme, Living Room is punctuated by an electric blue circular bar and nest-like seating that reference the Australian Bowerbird, a larrikin of the bird world.

W Sydney's 588 guestrooms, including 162 suites, draw inspiration from the hotel's harbourside location and nearby beaches, exuding marine-chic in their nautical white and navy-blue palette and undulating walls that echo the sails of yachts in the marina below.

W Sydney brings four new dining and bar venues across three levels. BTWN embraces its setting adjacent to the flyover, drawing on its urban surroundings and weaving the iconography of night food markets into its spaces. Leading the culinary adventures at BTWN is Head Chef Chris Dodd, an alumnus of Aria and Blue Door, whose menus hero the produce of New South Wales. Just as other restaurants in town are winding down, BTWN comes alive with 2AM: dessertbar, a late-night hotspot created in collaboration with Singaporean dessert guru Janice Wong. Living Room's menus embrace the hotel's location on the edge of Asiatown with a focus on Sake and Soju, as well as Asian small bites. 29/30 is a two-level bar with uninterrupted harbour views, the perfect place to celebrate Sydney. A beacon at the apex of Darling Harbour, the WET Deck (pool) level bar evokes an underwater world with coral-inspired lighting and is a great spot for casual tapas and cocktails. Meanwhile, Level 30 above takes things up a notch with elevated cocktails, a menu of vintage Champagnes by the glass, and the above-sea-level décor of a superyacht.

Whilst W Sydney is destined to be Sydney's newest playground, it also means business. Located just steps from Sydney's International Convention Centre, the hotel features 1300-square-metres of exceptional event space across eight versatile rooms. Set on level five, W Sydney's 592-square-metre pillarless Great Room features floor-to-ceiling windows that afford extraordinary views of the city.

Craig Seaward, General Manager of W Sydney adds "W Sydney reimagines luxury for a new era, creating a vibrant new scene for Sydneysiders and visitors to the city. It's a complete departure from the city's traditional hotels and this unique W spirit is something you feel at every touchpoint, from our eclectic venues to the cool blue rooms and high energy programming. I can't think of a better location for our new W hotel than Sydney's amazing harbour. We can't wait to welcome guests again and again."

The development and opening of W Sydney is on a site also occupied by the new IMAX Sydney, which opened on Wednesday.

For more information and to book, visit wsydney.com

Images from top: W Sydney exterior and Technogym equipment; AWAY Spa circular pods; Emma McKeon swimming at WET Deck’s rooftop infinity pool ahead of the hotel’s opening; WET Deck; W Sydney interior. Credit: W Sydney

About the author

Karen Sweaney

Co-founder and Editor, Australasian Leisure Management

Artist, geoscientist and specialist writer on the leisure industry, Karen Sweaney is Editor and co-founder of Australasian Leisure Management.

Based in Sydney, Australia, her specific areas of interest include the arts, entertainment, the environment, fitness, tourism and wellness.

She has degrees in Fine Arts from the University of Sydney and Geological Oceanography from UNSW.

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