Song Hotel is Sydney’s best budget hotel and a force for good

Elizabeth WhiteheadBy Elizabeth Whitehead
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The Song, Australia’s first profit-for-purpose hotel, has reopened after a $10.5 million nip-and-tuck. Guests who bed down here help support thousands of women experiencing homelessness in Australia.

Song Hotel has reopened after an extensive head-to-toe makeover, taking Sydney’s favourite budget hotel from a comfy three-star lodging to an elegant, four-star haven in the centre of the CBD. The Song has garnered a reputation as a go-to among budget-conscious travellers, with rooms starting at just $200 per night. But best of all, 25 cents of every dollar goes towards helping women experiencing homelessness through women’s charity, YWCA Australia .

So far, guests who have bedded down at The Song have helped YWCA to provide 130,000 nights of safe accommodation to women, homes for 529 people and support for thousands more through its vital programs (in tandem with other sources of income). Leaving a positive impact is becoming an increasingly important factor for travellers. And staying at a profit-for-purpose hotel such as Song is a surefire way to do that. Here’s what to know before you book.

Song hotel renovated rooms
The Song Hotel has been renovated with an elegant, earthy palette.

Location

The Song Hotel is located in the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District, making it an ideal base for both business and leisure travellers. It’s located just a stone’s throw from Hyde Park and within walking distance of many of Sydney’s main attractions such as museums, the Botanic Gardens and the Opera House. The Song is also close to buzzy Oxford Street, perfect for travellers looking for something that’s centrally located and still incorporates a bit of local colour.

Public transport is easily accessible, with several bus stops just around the corner. Museum Station is just a four-minute walk away, too. Essentially, the location of the hotel offers the best of Sydney right at your fingertips.

Style and Character

The overall style of the hotel is relatively minimal yet refined. However, the Song brings unique and whimsical flair with nine themed rooms, each centred around a different trailblazing Australian Woman. For instance, the Bindi Irwin Room is a resplendent mini-jungle of indoor plants, decorated with paintings of wildlife, an echidna stool and an Australia Zoo uniform hanging in the wardrobe. Another highlight is the Lee Lin Chin room, which pays homage to the Indonesian-Australian broadcaster, journalist and fashionista with a dress on display donated by Chin herself, as well as a copy of her book, Iced Beer and Other Tantalising Tips for Life. Fans of Aussie songstress Sia can stay in the room dedicated to the Grammy-nominated musician, and rest up beneath a ceiling fitted out with a giant chandelier.

Song Hotel Bindi Irwin Room
The Song Hotel has themed rooms centred around trailblazing Aussie women, such as Bindi Irwin.

Rooms

For a budget hotel, the rooms at Song certainly punch above their weight. Thanks to the recent refresh, the 156-room hotel now boasts a modern, earthy colour palette, and crisp white linen with soothing olive accents. The rooms are relatively small yet comfortable, beautiful yet practically furnished with desks and ironing boards even in the most affordable room categories. Balcony rooms offer vistas of the city and Oxford Street, where you can soak up the buzz of one of the city’s most vibrant precincts (don’t worry, the soundproofing completely blocks out noise when the door is shut!). Some rooms even encompass views of Hyde Park, while others look out into the hotel’s luscious courtyard, a quiet oasis that makes you feel miles away from the CBD. The best part of bedding down at the Song is that by sleeping there, you can rest easy knowing your dollar is helping provide a bed for someone else, too.

The Song Hotel Room
Bedding down at The Song helps someone in need find a bed, with all profits going to women’s charity, YWCA.

Facilities

Being a budget hotel, facilities are relatively minimal. But all the basics are definitely covered, with complimentary Wi-Fi in all the rooms, as well as smart TVs for entertainment. The front desk is open 24 hours and housekeeping is daily.

Food and Drink

The hotel’s bar and dining concept, Song Kitchen, has also reopened as a sleek, ambient hang-out spot, perfect for hotel guests, travellers and Sydney locals alike. The menu boasts international cuisine and native Australian ingredients, such as watteseed brule and lamb roasted with saltbush. The wine list also champions women in winemaking, with items thoughtfully denoted where the winemaker/estate owner is female. Just like the hotel, all profits from Song restaurant go towards helping women experiencing homelessness. It’s the perfect spot to grab a drink or enjoy Aussie flavours, all while knowing your dollar is making a difference.

Song Kitchen
Song Kitchen has undergone a sleek renovation, and all profits from this restaurant/bar go towards helping to alleviate homelessness.

Go for

A convenient, comfortable stay full of personality and flair, that will also help provide a bed for someone else in need.

Accessibility?

Song Hotel has wheelchair accessibility throughout its grounds.

Family-friendly?

Most rooms have a max capacity of two, but there are family rooms that sleep up to four.

Details

Address: 5/11 Wentworth Ave, Sydney NSW 2000

Best for: Tourists, couples and families

Price: From $200

Check out Sydney’s other accommodation offerings.

Elizabeth Whitehead
Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
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Your guide to a summer staycation in Sydney

    Kassia ByrnesBy Kassia Byrnes
    Continue
    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

    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.

    the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom
    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

    the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at 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

    the Fullerton Hotel the place dining
    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

    Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks
    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

    the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby
    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

    aerial of circular quay sydney
    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

    view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden
    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

    a show at 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).

    Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.