Kimpton Margot Sydney blends Art Deco charm with modern sensibilities

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Five-star excellence meets laidback charm at Kimpton Margot Sydney.

Housed within a sensitively revamped heritage-listed building, Kimpton Margot Sydney celebrates Art Deco design and generous hotel amenities. This pet-friendly accommodation strikes the perfect balance between approachable and luxurious and boasts Sydney’s largest open-air rooftop bar, generously sized rooms and top-notch dining facilities. Here’s everything you need to know.

Kimpton Margot Sydney
Art Deco-inspired design is at the forefront of this accommodation.

Location

Kimpton Margot is a 20-minute drive from Sydney Airport. It is conveniently located in the south end of Sydney’s CBD on bustling Pitt Street, making it a prime spot to explore the CBD, iconic landmarks and inner city suburbs such as dining destination Surry Hills. For those looking to venture further, Town Hall Station is a three-minute walk away, and Central Station is a nine-minute walk away. 

Guests can also borrow one of the custom Lekker bikes with picnic baskets from the lobby for a more eco-friendly way to explore the city.

Style and character

Designed by Henry Budden & Mackey, the historic building dates back to the 1930s and was once home to The Sydney Water Board office. After several iterations, IHG Hotels & Resorts acquired the building in 2021 to transform it into an eclectic hotel that pays homage to its Art Deco roots. Many of the original features have been retained including a grand safe, original tiling and a hidden underground trove, all of which bring a unique character to the hotel.

Kimpton Margot Sydney foyer
The hotel showcases a range of botanical displays.

From the Scagliola pillared lobby to the spacious guestrooms, interior design and architecture studio Stack Studio has dressed each space with bold 1930s-inspired furnishings and light fixtures, brass detailing, and an eclectic array of artworks from over 600 artists. The result is an elevated and warm design that feels equal parts stylish and welcoming.

Five Foot One Design introduced a cool beach club vibe to the rooftop which has been outfitted with colourful coastal furniture, a pastel-pink tiled bar and lush plants.

Harper Rooftop bar
Harper Rooftop Bar is a sunny spot for an afternoon tipple.

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Facilities

Kimpton Margot Sydney has a fully equipped 24-hour gym and a swimming pool. They also offer rooftop yoga with a top Sydney yogi and on-demand yoga in your room with a mat brought to your door.

Harper rooftop swimming pool
Lap it up at the rooftop swimming pool.

Rooms

While hotel rooms in any CBD are notorious for being on the smaller side, Kimpton Margot’s accommodations stand out for their generosity. There are 172 rooms and suites that range from a comfortable King Bed Essential to a luxurious Hammond Suite. They all feature plush king-sized beds (rooms with twin beds available), plenty of storage, Nespresso machines, local teas and bathrooms with luxurious bathrobes, potted plants and Mr Smith Amenities – most also have bathtubs. 

Kimpton Margot Sydney
The spacious guestrooms blend Art-Deco charm with modern sensibilities.

While you’ll find plenty of space in the rooms, the specialty suites feel like sophisticated apartments. The Hammond suite is a glorious 160 square metres of pure luxury with a separate open-plan dining and living area with lounge seating, a powder room and a butler’s kitchen.

Travelling with pets? The Kimpton’s ‘if it fits in the lift’ policy promises no additional charge for bringing your animal companion(s) with you. Expect pet-bed loaners, food, water bowls and mats.

Food and drink

Kimpton Margot Sydney has five drinking and dining spaces onsite: Modern Australian restaurant Luke’s Kitchen, lobby bar The Wilmot Bar, Harper Rooftop Bar, wine destination Cellar by Luke and lobby cafe Pantry at Margot’s.

Luke's Kitchen at Kimpton Margot Sydney
Indulge in delicious modern Australian fare at Luke’s Kitchen.

Helmed by renowned Australian chef Luke Mangan, Luke’s Kitchen serves breakfast, bottomless drag brunch (a dazzling affair held every second month on Saturday) and dinner. The breakfast menu features all the classics such as smashed avo, bacon and eggs, and some elevated dishes such as crumpets with poached strawberries, cheesy truffle toasty and a spanner crab omelette. 

For dinner, the modern Australian menu will see you indulging in dishes such as Spencer Gulf Hiramasa kingfish sashimi, potato and garlic ravioli, and profiterole with yuzu and chocolate sauce. We recommend ordering a side of the parmesan and truffle fries – you won’t be disappointed by the serving size.

Wilmot bar at Kimpton Margot Sydney
Swing by for an after-dinner cocktail at the Wilmot bar.

The 1930s-style lobby bar Wilmot is the perfect spot for a post-dinner tipple. Sink into velvet chairs and sip on experimental cocktails like the ‘Lady Marmalade’ with calvados, pear liqueur, ginger liqueur, Cointreau, cranberry juice and apple juice. Alternatively, though we recommend you visit both, a boutique wine collection with an impressive selection of drops awaits at Cellar by Luke.

Fancy a cocktail during the day? Escape the daily grind at Harper Rooftop Bar. Sit poolside and work through the playful cocktail menu, including the ‘Summer Holidaze’ cocktail with vodka, pandan, pinot grigio and lychee. Luke Mangan has designed these to be paired with tasty Mediterranean-inspired bites such as tempura zucchini flowers, cajun spiced prawns and artichoke ravioli.

Harper Rooftop Bar
Nibble on Mediterranean-style snacks and drinks at Harper Rooftop Bar.

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Does Kimpton Margot Sydney have access for guests with disabilities?

All rooms are accessed via a lift, and easy-access rooms are available.

Is Kimpton Margot Sydney family-friendly?

With its 22 interconnecting rooms, swimming pool and city location, Kimpton Margot Sydney is ideal for families.

Details

Best for: Design-savvy travellers

Address: 339 Pitt St, Sydney

Phone: (02) 8027 8000

Cost: From $289 per night

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Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is a freelance travel journalist. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to curating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love, Bed Threads and Australian Traveller/International Traveller. 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 is Lord Howe Island.
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8 reasons Cronulla is the talk of the town right now

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
    A national beach title, a new entertainment precinct and a run of headline restaurant openings have put this Sydney suburb on everyone’s radar. Here are eight of the best reasons to spend a long weekend in Cronulla.

    Cronulla has spent the past year becoming one of Australia’s most talked-about coastal destinations. Its beaches picked up the title of Australia’s Best Beach for 2026, the town centre is now the state’s first beachside Special Entertainment Precinct, and it’s still the only Sydney beach you can reach by train.

    Add a wave of excellent new bars and restaurants and two national parks on its doorstep, and it’s easy to understand why locals wax lyrical about the lifestyle.

    1. The new wining and dining scene

    table spread at isora cronulla
    Try Thai, Korean and Japanese flavours at Isora.

    Chef Nelly Robinson has set up NOA just metres from the sand, and it includes a formal room for long lunches, plus Little NOA, a low-key terrace doing burgers and cocktails. Down the strip, Retro fuses a Mexico City cantina with an unlikely sideline: pizzas on a 48-hour fermented dough, backed by the Shire’s most extensive tequila list. At Checho’s, cocktails arrive in ceramic handbags and the pops of pink neon match the mood. Isora is another newcomer and skewed towards Asia, with dishes that rely on Thai, Korean and Japanese flavours. While Bobbys is one of the best waterfront restaurants in Cronulla, its sister venue, Meadow, is the new music room we didn’t know we needed. It’s cool and sleek, kitted out with excellent audio equipment and a roster of DJs on the decks.

    2. Local favourites

    Homer Rogue Taverna cronulla
    Follow the locals to Homer Rogue Taverna. (Credit: Trent van der Jagt)

    Follow the locals home from the beach to Homer Rogue Taverna, where Harry and Mario Kapoulas draw from mum’s own recipe book – moussaka, charcoal chicken off the souvla. Duke’s Providore flips from butcher-counter deli by day to an intimate wine bar after dark, and Parc Pavilion’s new pub complex covers everything from a casual bistro to a proper sports bar under one roof. Benny’s looks over Gunnamatta Bay, where the signature barra arrives in a bag with clams and cherry tomatoes, while Alphabet St has long paired its signature Apple Martini with modern Asian share plates. At family-run Queen Margherita of Savoy, the vibes are always high and the Neapolitan-style pizza lives up to its reputation as the suburb’s best.

    There are also endless options for an introduction to Cronulla’s cafe culture. Start by ordering a brew at places like Grind Espresso, Next Door, Blackwood Pantry and The Press.

    3. Winning beaches

    Bate Bay in the Sutherland Shire was named Australia’s best beach for 2026. (Credit: Taylah Darnell)

    The best beach title didn’t come from nowhere. Cronulla’s beaches and ocean pools remain some of Sydney’s most photographed, pulling swimmers, surfers and photographers back year after year. The award covers several spots along Bate Bay, including four ocean pools and the Gunnamatta Bay Baths. Follow the Esplanade from Cronulla Beach, then on to Shelly Park, where an ocean pool sits beside a grassy park and fenced playground.

    4. A surf culture to match

    sufers in cronulla nsw
    Watch the local surfers, or join in.

    Life in Cronulla revolves around the ocean. Local surfers are in the water before work, wriggling into their wetsuits. Others are swimming around Shark Island or doing the downward dog at Sunrise Yoga. In the warmer months, many are putting a full stop on the day with a quick dip at dusk. Wander the Esplanade under a wide, blue sky, and you’ll understand why Cronulla deserves the its accolades. Groups like the Shark Island Psycho Swimmers (SIPS) swim all through winter, and the beachside cafes fill with these fit folk still dripping wet and salty from the surf.

    5. A ferry ride to Bundeena

    The Coast Track, Royal National Park
    Royal National Park is the world’s second-oldest national park. (Credit: J Spencer / DCCEEW)

    For a change of pace, base yourself in Cronulla and take the short ferry across to Bundeena. While it’s only a day trip from Cronulla, it feels like you’ve left Sydney behind entirely, without ever getting in a car.

    Time your visit to coincide with the monthly art trail. Or paddle into the calm water of Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. The boho suburb is the gateway to the walking tracks of the Royal National Park – the second oldest national park in the world and the oldest in Australia. It’s worth the jaunt along Jibbon Beach to see the Jibbon Head Aboriginal Engravings, an ancient Dharawal rock art site located on a sandstone platform near Bundeena in the Royal National Park.

    6. Explore Kamay Botany Bay National Park

    Sandstone cliff walls lining the Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell
    Wander over impressive sandstone clifftops. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Prefer to stay on this side of the water? The Kurnell side of Kamay Botany Bay National Park sits just beyond Cronulla’s beaches – its coastal walking trails leading out to Cape Solander, where watching the waves crash against the soaring sandstone cliffs is as dramatic as seeing whales breaching during the annual migration season.

    There’s history here too, layered into the landscape. The Cape Baily walking track snakes along the clifftops to the 1950 lighthouse, passing through heathland that is brightened with pops of pretty wildflowers during spring. Set off early, in the cool light of dawn, to make the trek from Cape Solander to Cronulla along a well-used walking track.

    7. Stay the night (or several)

    Rydges Cronulla Beachside
    Peaple-watch from your balcony at Rydges Cronulla Beachside. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Accommodation in Cronulla ranges from cosy Airbnbs to full-service hotels. Rydges Cronulla Beachside has 84 rooms and suites, most with balconies over the beach or the Kingsway, plus a terrace bar, The Alley, right by the beach. And Quest Cronulla Beach has reopened after a full refurbishment with pet-friendly studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, each with its own kitchen and laundry. Guests can also use the outdoor pool, gym, sauna and spa. Quest Woolooware Bay is just one suburb back from Cronulla and near the Woolooware Bay Shared Pathway, which leads across the Captain Cook Bridge to Dolls Point.

    8. A vibrant events calendar

    the music venue with a live band setup at Brass Monkey Cronulla
    Check out Brass Monkey’s gig guide.

    Music lovers flock to the Cronulla Jazz and Blues Festival, which happens every May. And there’s always something happening at the Brass Monkey, so be sure to check the gig guide for upcoming live acts.

    Lace up your runners and join in the Sutherland 2 Surf every July, or tackle the Shire Run Carnival every November.

    Pop into the Cronulla Christmas Market (in 2026, it’s on November 21-22) for over 200 stalls selling gift ideas for Christmas. Food lovers, meanwhile, can graze more than 30 international hot food stalls at Eat Drink Nights Cronulla.

    Bring the family along to two of the Shire’s favourite annual festivals. The Gymea Village Festival fills Gymea’s streets with rides, entertainment and market stalls every October, while the Jannali Moonrise Festival lights up November with live music, food and family-friendly fun.

    Yes, Cronulla officially has the best beach in Australia, a dining scene that holds its own against the city’s best and national parks on either side of it. But best of all, these attractions are all close enough together that you never have to choose between them.

    Start planning the ultimate Aussie getaway at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.