Review: InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach brings five-star luxury to the Eastern Suburbs beach.

It may be controversial, but as a Sydney local, I would pick Coogee over Bondi any day of the week. This lively coastal suburb in the Eastern Suburbs supplies enough dining, drinking and boutique shopping options to keep one entertained beyond the beach. Though golden sand and relatively calm waters make beach days (or a day spent at Coogee’s historic ocean pools) enticing. Now, the five-star InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, which opened in December 2025, brings an elevated stay to the heart of Coogee.

Slip into contemporary luxury, while maintaining the relaxed coastal charm this suburb is known for.

Checking out? We'd rather not! InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach is the kind of place that makes it very easy to linger, with an incredible infinity pool, ocean views, a dreamy spa and plenty of spots to settle in for the day.

Where is InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach?

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach club intercontinental balcony — Enjoy ocean views from almost everywhere, like the Club InterContinental balcony.

It’s been a few years since I was lucky enough to live in Coogee, but this trip down memory lane has left me with intense nostalgia. InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach is just steps away from the beach itself, and I cannot express how much of a delight it is to spend a lazy morning wandering over to Grumpy’s Bakery for a croissant and coffee, then enjoying it as you wander along the famous cliff-front coastal trail towards Bondi (don’t worry, you can turn around at any time). Or a casual Sunday Sesh spent at Coogee Pavilion on the waterfront. Or an evening dining in one of the excellent restaurants or bars.

Of course, now that I’ve experienced InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, I’d be just as satisfied skipping the afternoon and evening options, opting instead for poolside cocktails and restaurant delights.

What is the style and character of InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach?

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach exterior and infinity pool — It’s all about bright and neutral coastal luxury.

It’s all about bright and neutral coastal luxury at InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach. After opening in December after a multi-million-dollar transformation – designed by global architecture and design studio Woods Bagot – a series of thoughtfully considered spaces have been created, shaped by the light and landscape of Coogee.

The ocean itself is used as the centrepiece, with views from the pool deck to the balconies that wrap around the rooms, and framed by every window.

What facilities does InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach have?

Èliva Spa

At the holistic Èliva Spa, the philosophy is rest, recovery and invigoration. And boy, did I. Here, contemporary techniques are mixed with nature-led therapies. The aim is to offer a more immersive and personalised wellbeing approach than the traditional spa model. That starts from the moment you meet your masseuse, when they help you craft your own massage oil from apothecary-esque glasses. It’s a very fun touch.

I started with a massage, and I’ve just started hitting the gym again, so the poor masseuse had her work cut out for her. With all the knots in my shoulders gone, it was on to the thermal facilities. This was my absolute highlight. If the pool is where I’d be all summer, this is where I’d be all winter (or year-round, if I’m honest).

Think magnesium mineral pools, infrared and salt saunas, cold plunge baths and a crystal steam room. There’s also a dedicated recovery lounge, with things like PEMF infrared masks, LED facial masks, compression boots and vitamin C-infused showers.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Infinity pool and terrace

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach infinity pool — The infinity pool is a dream.

It’s entirely possible this is the best hotel pool in Sydney. An infinity edge shows off views of Coogee Beach below. Planters, canopy palms, coastal grasses and native species help to blend this elevated space into the nature surrounding it. In the summer, it would be difficult to tear me away from this spot.

Alas, I have arrived in winter, so swimming is out of the question for a wimp like me (though the pool itself is heated). But it’s a sunny day, and the private cabanas and sun lounges around the pool deck still make it an inviting space to linger – particularly with a poolside restaurant and bar.

Club InterContinental

This is the same exclusive, premium lounge experience offered at select InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. But with a distinct Coogee difference. This discreet sanctuary unfolds as a series of interconnected spaces for different purposes – including a fully private, open-air terrace. Which is exactly where we were enjoying breakfast when a couple of humpback whales decided to put on a show, leaping out of the ocean behind Coogee Beach. From where I sat with my partner, we had a perfect, magical view.

Here, a decor palette of sun-washed tones, organic textures and subtle nautical touches is bathed in natural light. It’s truly an inviting space, and the staff are incredibly friendly. Wander through to find comfortable lounges, low coffee tables and quiet nooks. Be sure to pop in for a complimentary afternoon tea, or twilight drinks with a selection of wines, cocktails and canapés.

Pickleball courts

Keeping up with current sporting trends, two pickleball courts will soon be added for guest use.

Gym

An on-site 24-hour fitness studio features elliptical machines, treadmills, stationary bikes, free weights and more.

What are the rooms like at InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach?

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach living area in Ocean Front Suite — Take in ocean views from a suite.

The InterContinental Sydney Coogee offers 198 rooms and suites that each uphold a coastal charm, but make it luxurious. Rooms come in Classic or Premium with all the basic amenities you could need, keeping it minimalistic, but classy, with some looking out onto the beach or the pool. Opt for Premium to enjoy a balcony (it’s absolutely worth it, waking up to a tea on your balcony with the beach below). While premium suite options (The Pacific, The Coastal, The Signature and Pool View) maximise indoor-outdoor living with floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies. Spend an afternoon reading in a deep, comfy lounge by the window, enjoy a separate living area, and some even boast an outdoor bathtub.

What is the dining like at InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach?

Shutters Restaurant & Bar

Shutters restaurant coogee — Dine on Mediterranean-inspired cuisine in this open, breezy restaurant.

Open, breezy spaces, a bright and neutral palette, and seasonal, Mediterranean-inspired menus combine to make Shutters a chic coastal restaurant. Gaze out the shuttered windows onto sweeping ocean views as you sip on wine or carefully crafted cocktails. The dinner menu offers a great low-key option, though the breakfast buffet is really where this spot shines.

This restaurant, bar and function space is open from breakfast until late night, with 24-hour in-room dining for hotel guests.

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Rick Stein at Coogee Beach

Rick Stein at Coogee Beach is the flagship Sydney restaurant, and conveniently located inside the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach hotel. Famous around the world for its seafood prowess, the Coogee location is no different. The menu here is definitely about celebrating Australia’s finest coastal produce. Think freshly shucked oysters and grilled lobster for the seafood purists, and dishes with a twist for those seeking a more adventurous palate – like fish curries, Mediterranean-inspired classics, and signature creations that Rick Stein is known for.

The atmosphere is relaxed, yet refined. Natural light fills the interior, and a breezy terrace has the perfect view. Pops of blue stand out against the white decor.

Pool Bar

I’ve already mentioned that the pool is a destination that begs you to stay all day, and part of that appeal is the Pool Bar and its selection of drinks and light refreshments. The menu is intended to reflect ‘the ease of beachside living’, with dishes like bowls of the Buddha, fruit and poke variety, Moreton Bay bug rolls, cheese plates and fries. The cocktail list keeps it light and breezy, with a range of beers, teas, coffees and other non-alcoholic choices as well.

Does InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach have access for guests with disabilities?

Very much so. Find dedicated accessible rooms with roll-in showers. Plus step-free access to public areas like the pool and restaurants.

Is InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach family-friendly?

Absolutely. The location alone makes it great for kids, with Coogee Beach mere steps away. But the hotel also has some handy family features, like offering paid babysitting and childcare services, and kid-friendly meals in the restaurant.

Details

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach outdoor bath in the Signature Suite — Some suites also feature outdoor bathtubs.

Best for: Luxurious seaside getaways

Address: 242 Arden St, Coogee NSW

Phone: (02) 9315 7600

Cost: From $416 per night. Opt for The Experience Package (available until 31st December 2026), including an overnight stay, access to Èliva Spa’s thermal facilities, $100 dining credit, Club InterContinental access and more at $829 for two.

Website: coogeebeach.intercontinental.com

The Southern Highlands earns its title as Australia’s top country town in the cooler months, and it’s worth every minute of the 90-minute drive from Sydney.

Many Sydneysiders head to the Southern Highlands in spring for the tulips. It’s one of the most stunning spring carnivals in Australia. But the ones in the know come to Bowral in winter.

The first thing you notice at this time of year is the quality of the light. It catches the tangled limbs of the gums and tints the fields, farms and forests a pretty shade of Granny Smith green. And then, a world-class art museum, an impressive network of walking trails, great shops, cosy restaurants and bars and luxury accommodation take centre stage, making Bowral a place you want to linger as the mercury drops.

Just 90 minutes south of Sydney, a Bowral winter getaway is the coolcation city folk desperately need. Here are eight reasons to pack a good coat and head for the Southern Highlands.

1. Check in

aerial of Ardour Milton Park Bowral in winter — Check in to the gorgeous Ardour Milton Park Bowral. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Ardour Milton Park Bowral rises like a hologram in the hazy green light as you turn onto Horderns Road. A $10 million refurbishment of the grand 1910 estate was completed in early 2026, and the beautifully restored hotel now includes 44 guest rooms washed in sage green, cobalt blue and dusty blush. The dining room at Horderns Restaurant continues with a botanical theme – earthy banquettes, floral touches throughout – and a menu that moves with the seasons.

After enjoying slow-braised Cowra lamb and a second glass of red, move to the Polo Bar, which has a fireplace and views across the estate gardens. Build a grazing board from the dedicated Charcuterie Room and take it outside while the light lasts. If the sky clouds over, use this as your cue to enjoy a next-level spa experience at Èliva.

2. Hunt for treasure

couple exploring Dirty Janes bowral — Find vintage treasures in Dirty Janes. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Winter is the perfect season to lose an afternoon inside Dirty Janes Bowral. Over 1600 square metres of covered space houses 90 individual sellers of everything from mid-century furniture to industrial lighting, antique silverware, vintage clothing and objects whose previous lives you can only imagine. Enjoy a bit of off-the-cuff banter with your fellow fossickers in between searching for that must-have military jacket or vintage silk scarf.

Around the corner, find the Instagram-famous front door of FoundAntiques, though the real finds are deeper inside. Bring cash, wear comfortable shoes and leave some room in the boot.

3. Slow down in a beautiful gallery

kids posing with donald bradman statue in bowral's The Bradman Museum — Learn about an Aussie legend at The Bradman Museum. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Ngununggula – meaning ’belonging’ in the language of the Gundungurra First Nations people – is the region’s first dedicated regional gallery, housed inside the sustainably transformed old dairy building at historic Retford Park. The onsite White Cottage Gallery and restored grounds of the former Fairfax estate reward a slow wander. Find a spot to sit in the courtyard filled with rivulets of winter light and enjoy the plaintive call of a currawong carrying across the heritage-listed grounds. It’s one of the best things to do in Bowral.

Add Bowral Honey Farm for a hands-on harvest experience, then continue into town to the Milk Factory Gallery to admire eclectic works by local artists in a converted industrial space. The Bradman Museum also knocks it out of the park. Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum sits beside the heritage-listed Bradman Oval, where a young Sir Donald Bradman first picked up a bat.

4. A taste of France

table spread at Lucette bowral — Enjoy a taste of France at Lucette.

For a taste of France without the airfare, husband-and-wife team Julien and Romy Besnard – of long-loved Franquette Crêperie – have opened Lucette, a French cafe-bistro with Paris-born chef Guillaume Dubois at the helm. Dubois brings serious pedigree from Michelin-starred kitchens in France and Sydney’s former two-hatted Monopole, and it shows. Start your day with pastries for breakfast and bookend it with boeuf bourguignon for dinner. The chocolate mousse, freckled with Guerande Salt, is the kind of dish that will make you feel smug about the decision to drive south. Join the Sydneysiders dressed in charcoal coats, boots and black tights who’ve already worked this out; the whole scene is worthy of splicing it into an Instagram reel.

Francophiles should also be across Julien’s Bowral Brasserie – led by Frenchman Julien Viel, who also found his way to the Southern Highlands and stayed.

5. Indulge in a tipple

Centennial Vineyards bowral in winter — Spend time amongst the local vines. (Credit: Destination NSW)

The drive to Centennial Vineyards passes through a beautiful woodland idyll, the countryside a fuzz of green all around. Inside the Barrel Room, a tasting flight of cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and reserve shiraz viognier flaunts how well the Southern Highlands does winter.

This is a region that takes its cool-climate wines seriously, and the pinot noir is one of the stars – a gentle, easy-drinking style with red cherry aromas. Follow your tutored cellar door tasting with another glass of wine in the Terrace Bar, which overlooks the vineyard and manicured grounds.

6. Blend your own gin

Millsheds Distillery & Bar is somewhat of a local secret. The award-winning small-batch operation produces gin, vodka and liqueurs using Australian botanicals and has picked up silver medals at both the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition. Beyond the tasting paddle, the hands-on blending masterclass – where you design and leave with two bottles of your own custom gin – is the experience to book, while the terrace bar that wraps around the courtyard is a fine place to settle in afterwards.

7. Go for a walk at dawn

Switch your phone off sleep mode and set your alarm to early. Mt Gibraltar rises to 864 metres just east of Bowral’s main street and offers the best views in town. You will pass a raggle-taggle bunch of hikers on the way up to the summit, all making the same quiet pilgrimage into the crisp high-altitude air. On a clear morning, the bony ridges of the ranges come into sharp relief against the light. The return loop takes roughly 90 minutes. A flat white in Bowral tastes considerably better after completing one of the scenic walking trails.

8. Cosy up by the fireplace

A cosy bar is the perfect complement to winter in Bowral, and there are a few worth committing to. Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel is built for long, languorous evenings. Take a seat beside the fireplace laden with gnarled logs and work your way through a few whiskies and bar bites like Rangers Valley beef tartare, or salt cod and potato croquettes.

At Hickory’s within Peppers Craigieburn, well-dressed waiters in denim and leather move quietly between tables, and the cosy fireplace in the adjoining guest lounge attracts an Escape to the Country crowd.

Start planning your Bowral escape at visitsouthernhighlands.com.au.

Sydney’s new luxury hotel on Coogee Beach is the epitome of coastal charm

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach brings five-star luxury to the Eastern Suburbs beach.

Where is InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach?

What is the style and character of InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach?