This luxurious coastal escape is bringing an elevated beachside living to Sydney’s East this summer.
Sydney’s East is about to get a serious upgrade with the arrival of InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach announced for December 2025. The opening comes just in time for summer, offering tourists and locals alike a new accommodation on Sydney’s iconic eastern coastline at Coogee Beach. The accommodation will fill a notable gap in Sydney’s accommodation market, building on the strong reputation of the InterContinental brand.
The breezy hotel will fill a notable gap in Sydney’s accommodation market.
The InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach is a significant refurbishment and transformation of the former Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach building. What now stands is a 5-star resort-style hotel that blends laid-back beachside living with sophisticated coastal elegance. Swathed in chic neutral tones that reflect the coastal surrounds, the 198 spacious and elegantly appointed guest rooms and 22 suites feature curved joinery and furnishings, bright whites and subtle textures, all of which make way for ocean views.
Wake up to spectacular ocean views.
For the ultimate coastal escape or luxe staycation, the suites feature indoor-outdoor designs, spacious lounges, refined finishes and luxurious outdoor baths. Public spaces are breezy, blurring the line between the indoors and outdoors and inviting guests to switch on holiday mode.
The calming guest rooms and suites are swathed in chic neutral tones.
Wellness will be central to InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach. Guests can kickstart their mornings with sunrise yoga by the ocean or a game of pickleball on the hotel’s dedicated courts. Or perhaps an indulgent treatment at the onsite day spa. A leisure deck featuring an ocean-facing infinity edge swimming pool, poolside bar and outdoor event terrace will be the ultimate place to spend warm summer days.
The hotel sits adjacent to one of the city’s most iconic beaches.
There will be two distinct restaurants onsite that will bring fresh flavours to the city’s culinary landscape and complement the hotel’s idyllic beachfront setting. Shutters Restaurant & Bar will offer modern Australian cuisine with Mediterranean influences, and Rick Stein will bring his signature seaside dining style to the Australian flagship restaurant, Rick Stein at Coogee Beach. Stein’s highly anticipated eatery will seat 224 patrons who can indulge in fresh seafood plates such as Singapore chilli crab and Nelson Bay mahi mahi, all to be enjoyed while taking in sweeping ocean vistas.
The outdoor pool and terrace will be the ultimate spot to spend summer days.
The hotel is set to open in two phases with the guestrooms and suites and Shutters Restaurant & Bar opening in December, and the leisure deck, day spa and Club InterContinental scheduled to open in March 2026.
The combination of prime beachfront location, 5-star facilities, world-class dining and a focus on wellness will set InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach apart from the city’s other accommodation offerings.
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and a self-proclaimed cheese and Chablis connoisseur. In her role, she creates and manages online content that remains relevant and valuable over time. With a background in publishing and e-commerce in both interior design and travel, Rachael is dedicated to curating engaging content that informs and inspires. She began her career at Belle magazine, then went on to become Senior Content Producer at Homes to Love focusing on Australian House & Garden and Belle, followed by Editor at Bed Threads. Her work has also appeared in Qantas Travel Insider. When she's not writing, editing, or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars, and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list are Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Lord Howe Island.
Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.
Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.
Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.
Where to stay
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
Sleep inside a 151-year-old icon.
Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.
Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.
Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.
Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.
The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.
Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.
Where to drink & dine
1. The Bar
Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.
Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .
Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.
The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.
On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.
Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce.
2. The Place
Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.
On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.
3. Local gelato
Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)
What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.
What to do/see
1. GPO Heritage Tour
Be awed by the building’s history.
Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.
From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.
2. Circular Quay
Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)
An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.
3. Royal Botanic Gardens
Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)
Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.
It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.
4. Theatre Royal
Take in a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Daniel Boud)
Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).
