The ultimate Sydney playcation you won’t want to leave

Discover a one-stop relaxation and culinary retreat in the heart of Sydney’s cultural centre.

There are few locations as iconic as the sparkling Sydney Harbour, and few hotels that offer more stunning views of this famed site than Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay.

Overlooking the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and those well-sailed ferries gliding over the sapphire-blue waters below, Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay presents the ultimate, idyllic spot for a leisurely playcation, be it couples seeking a spot of solace, or families making up for lost holidays in a peaceful setting. 

And, it’s one you might not want to leave come (late) check-out time. 

The Marriott Sydney Harbour is at the centre of a precinct perfect for a staycation.

Centre stage: welcome to the neighbourhood

If there were ever a year that warranted plans for a well-deserved retreat for Sydney’s residents, this would be it. An inner-city sanctuary, Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel’s accommodation offering provides more than just a striking view and a comfortable place to rest in style (not to mention some appealing packages for couples and families to choose from). Here, in the centre of Circular Quay, there’s fun to be had, culture to be consumed and culinary adventures awaiting discovery.

Take a stroll through The Royal Botanic Gardens, which is just 15 minutes from the hotel.

Neighbouring the flourishing Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, The Rocks historic cultural and al fresco dining precinct and the live performances of the Sydney Opera House, this hotel puts its guest in the centre of Sydney’s beating heart. 

Guests who have discovered the hotel’s in-house experiences and are ready to see more of this thriving neighbourhood can chat to the Marriott’s team of knowledgeable staff-turned-local-guides, who are eager to share helpful tips and local secrets with visitors. Whether it’s the best hidden bars, where to set sail on a ferry, or a hunt for the greatest vantage points for those all-important holiday photos, the team is in the know.

And yet, despite the hotel’s proximity to some of Sydney’s most popular, must-visit attractions, guests need not venture far for fine foods, enticing drinks and leisurely activities. 

Young at heart: top-notch services for little travellers

For younger playcationers, a tempting toys menu gives kids access to fun-filled games and toys. As part of the M Passport – a globally renowned family package – kids can order cubbies and tepee tents to make their stay that little bit more fun. Then there’s the indoor pool and the secret Terrace, where they can play a game of giant Jenga, also available from the toys’ menu, before relaxing in one of the hotel’s signature family rooms. With one of the city’s largest selections of interconnected rooms on site, and its heritage duplexes, the harbourside hotel is ideal for family getaways. 

As part of the global M Passport family package, staff art the Sydney Harbour Marriott will set up your room with toys or even a teepee.

And yet, it’s not only about the children: parents, couples and the young at heart can enjoy activities such as yoga on the Terrace, or workouts in the Fitness Centre, and a full suite of outstanding dining and drinking outlets. 

The Sydney Harbour Marriott has largest number of interconnected rooms in the city.

With facilities aimed at inducing a sense of calm, the only challenge faced here is choosing between the hotel’s Harbour Bridge, Opera House or city skyline views.

Food and drink: a culinary celebration at your doorstep

The kitchen at ambient, in-house restaurant Silvester’s is helmed by Paris-born chef Raphael Szurek, who honed his finely tuned culinary skills in Michelin-starred restaurants. At Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay, Szurek has curated a produce-driven lunch and dinner menu that sees contemporary Australian meals prepared using the chef’s grounding in French techniques. Complementing Szurek’s flavourful dishes are more than 100 premium wines to select from. And, come breakfast time, well-rested guests can wander into Silvester’s for an expansive buffet breakfast that features both pancake and egg stations, to ensure guest’s morning meals are tailored to their specific likings.

Silvester’s Executive Chef Raphael Szurek prepares an extravagant desert for guests.

At street level, the hotel is also home to  a series of fun-filled laneway pop-ups – from gourmet truffle-tasting events and gin-sipping experiences, to pop-up lounge bars and, by day, a host of family-friendly activities (think exciting Easter egg hunts for kids on playcation). The enigmatic laneway is a rabbit hole filled with surprises. 

Also at the Sydney Harbour Marriott is Customs House Bar, a partially heritage-listed, historic watering hole established in 1864. Now a sophisticated gastropub, compete with an open-air beer garden and a rotation of micro-brewed beers on tap, Customs House Bar is a go-to for diners seeking hearty fare (think ribs, burgers, tacos and pizza) served alongside refreshing beverages.

In room dining with a view of the Sydney Opera House at the Sydney Harbour Marriott.

Stay and play: playcation packages on offer

Family staycation package at Sydney Harbour Marriott

Right now at the Sydney Harbour Marriott, families can opt for a memory-making, family getaway package that includes a room view upgrade (you choose your preferred view, based on availability), access to the kids’ toy menu, a mystery gift for the kids, a buffet breakfast for two adults and two children, robe and slipper use, an M Passport guide to kid-friendly attractions in the neighbourhood and, better yet, a late check-out. 

Click here to find out more or book your family playcation.

The indoor pool is weather proof fun for the family at Sydney Harbour Marriott.

Couples staycation package at the Sydney Harbour Marriott

For couples’ escapes, your package includes a DIY cocktail-making kit, a room-with-a-view upgrade (will it be Harbour Bridge, Opera House or city skyline vista?), a buffet breakfast for two, a bottle of wine, use of fluffy robes and slippers, a couple’s guide to the area Experience the Harbour Secrets, and a sleep-in-enabling late check-out.

Click here to learn more about this package and book a couple’s retreat.