Whether travelling with family or a few friends, SKYE Suites Sydney offers both convenience and luxury in the heart of the city.

Combining spacious suites, a location within walking distance of Sydney’s best landmarks, and sophisticated style and service, SKYE Suites Sydney ticks all the boxes for a stay in Sydney’s CBD with kids or friends. Here’s everything to know about staying at SKYE Suites Sydney  for your next staycation or visit to the city.

Location

Navigating Sydney’s CBD by car can sometimes cause anxiety levels to rise – for those who don’t do it often – but SKYE Suites Sydney was so simple to find, and we arrive at our destination feeling relaxed. We drive into the car park, where our car is taken care of by valet ($85). The beauty is, we don’t need it again until we leave because this Kent Street accommodation is an easy walk or tram ride from all of Sydney’s major landmarks.

From the front door, SKYE Suites is a six-minute walk to Darling Harbour, around 10 minutes to Barangaroo, just eight minutes to the QVB and 17 minutes to The Rocks. The closest tram stop is Wynyard, which is just six minutes’ walk away, and runs along George Street between Circular Quay and Central.

Style and character

SKYE Suites is part of a striking 25-storey complex designed by Japanese firm, Koichi Takada Architects. The charming building was inspired by the curvilinear nature of Australia. The street-front heritage-stye façade is a masterpiece of arched window frames built using 30,000 bricks, while atop this are two contemporary towers (housing residential apartments) featuring a rooftop composed of 59 steel arches.

The lobby is a chic, dimly lit space, with a ceiling of curved white arches and blue and grey velvet lounges. Just beyond the reception, we spy one of the most striking hotel swimming pools we’ve seen (but more on that later).

A glass-sided elevator whisks us up to our level, which again is moodily lit. On the contrary, our suite is bright and airy with a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking Clarence Street. Its design is inspired by Japanese minimalism with a muted colour palette of Tasmanian oak, white, greys and black, and contemporary furniture.

Facilities

The curved architecture continues in the pool area, with a ceiling of white arches creating a dramatic cavern-like space that was designed to resemble an ‘ice cave’. We take a dip in the illuminated, blue-tiled pool and enjoy a soak in the spa. There is an adjacent gym that overlooks the pool and comprises a decent amount of equipment: rowers, treadmills, weights and resistance machines.

Reception is manned 24 hours, and all staff are extremely affable and helpful. I am in the city to see a show and return late that night to a friendly face, which is comforting. Housekeeping staff also quickly attend to a broken glass in our room, courtesy of our four-year-old.

Rooms

SKYE Suites Sydney has several suite types. There’s a deluxe studio suite and a slightly larger executive studio suite, both featuring a queen bed, lounge space and kitchenette. The one-bedroom suite features a queen bed, a separate lounge area and a kitchenette.

While the deluxe two-bedroom suite and premier two-bedroom suite both comprise two private bedrooms, a full kitchen and laundry. All suites boast a small balcony for fresh air, which is always a bonus in a city hotel.

We stay in a one-bedroom suite and have more than enough room for our small family, with a queen bed, a single bed, and a spacious living and dining area.

The bathroom is a decent size and stocked with lovely New Zealand-made Smith and Co amenities, with refillable bottles in the shower and at the sink, as well as smaller tubes on the bench. The towels are plush, the lighting is good and the shower pressure is spot on.

The kitchenette features a microwave, oven, Espresso coffee pod machine and a fridge stocked with Sydney Beer Co beer, Angove wine from South Australia, Santa Vittoria soft drinks and Apani glass bottled water. There is also a small selection of snacks to purchase on the bench (chips, chocolate bars and nuts). Free wi-fi is also available.

Food and drink

SKYE Suites doesn’t have a restaurant on-site, unfortunately, but it is close to many great dining options. Darling Harbour is a close walk with ample eateries along its waterfront. Or walk a little further to Barangaroo, with a host of excellent options such as Anason for flavoursome Turkish cuisine or Muum Maam for delicious Thai.

We walk the other way into the CBD for breakfast the following morning at The Grounds of the City (a 10-minute walk). It serves great coffee and food in an utterly charming Parisian-inspired venue (be sure to make a reservation).

Does SKYE Suites have access for guests with disabilities?

Lobby entry is on the ground floor, with lifts to all levels. There are rooms available for guests with disabilities, with wheelchair access and features such as bathroom rails.

Is SKYE Suites family-friendly?

It is very family-friendly, with suites that can accommodate up to four guests. Kitchen and laundry facilities, as well as lounge space, are added bonuses when travelling with kids as they provide freedom and convenience.

Details

Best for: Families, small groups of friends, business travellers

Address: 300 Kent Street, Sydney

Phone: (02) 9052 7588

Cost: From $361 per night

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