Capella Sydney resort assessment – The Factors Man

What is the Capella Sydney?

How to book the Capella Sydney

Deluxe rooms at the Capella Sydney start at about $650 per night during peak dates and $500 during off-peak times. (Don’t forget we are in the Southern Hemisphere here, so seasons are flipped.) For a few hundred dollars more, you can also book Premier rooms that sleep three or Skyline rooms that guarantee more space and better city views.

For my dates in late March, I booked a Deluxe room for $528 per night directly on the Capella website. When you book for two or more nights, you are typically offered an optional package for the same price that includes an experience credit for 100 Australian dollars ($66) to be used at the hotel — a total no-brainer since it can be put toward tabs at the property’s bar, restaurants or spa.

The location is excellent for seeing the sights and getting around 

Situated in the city’s central business district, the Capella is a couple of blocks away from popular Australian landmarks like the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the Botanic Gardens, and right next door to the Museum of Sydney. Its proximity to so many items on travelers’ Sydney bucket list makes it the ideal location for a first-time visitor or a traveler looking to maximize their time during a shorter stay in the city.

Rooms at Capella Sydney are luxurious oases 

My Deluxe room was sophisticated and thoughtfully designed, though the decor could have been a bit more vibrant.

Upon entering Room 5015, a narrow hallway separates the wardrobe from the bathroom, making storing and accessing luggage, especially for two people, a sometimes cramped experience.

However, in the main area of the room, it was clear this would not be a serious issue. Engulfed in a relaxing palette of grays, creams and whites, the room felt as if it was just beckoning you to don the provided robe and bask in the luxury. The centerpiece of the room was the inviting king bed, flanked by two nightstands, each with its own lighting control panels.

Opposite the bed, a console under the TV disguised the minibar, with tastefully discreet amenities packed into drawers. There was a refrigerated section that served as the wet bar as well as others for snacks, coffee making and cocktail mixing. To the right of the bed, under large double windows, there was a sitting area with a small table, sofa and chair — the room’s designated spot for dining on room service or catching up on work.

The bathroom was another standout feature. Stocked with natural skincare products from Haeckels, the sleek space included a large soaking tub, separate compartments for the toilet and shower, and a vanity with two sinks. Upscale touches such as bath salts and exfoliating gloves made it feel more like a spa than a hotel bathroom. My most surprising discovery? There was also a scale. Whether it’s for weighing yourself after a trip to Brasserie 1930, the hotel’s restaurant, or for weighing your wallet after a stay here, I couldn’t say.

For a luxury newbie like me, the most delightful part of my stay in Room 5015 was stumbling across all of the random amenities scattered throughout the space. It felt like an Easter egg hunt for the rich and famous. Throughout my two nights here, I unearthed pillow and linen spray, pulse point oil, a Bose Bluetooth speaker (with a Spotify code for a curated Capella playlist) and a rocky road dessert welcome gift.

And my golden egg? A deck of Capella “Transcend” cards that the packaging describes as “an intentional tool for guidance and contemplation.”

The restaurants are multisensory experiences 

The Sydney Capella really excelled in the culinary category.

Breakfast at Brasserie 1930 is included with every direct booking, and it did not disappoint. There was a full cold buffet spread of nearly every breakfast craving imaginable including fresh fruit, cereals, charcuterie, yogurts, pastries and juices. For hot dishes, I selected from a menu of eggs Benedict, avocado toast, ham omelet, salmon croissant and free-range eggs. There were made-to-order espresso drinks and fresh blended juices available as well.

I selected the avocado toast with ricotta, tomato and a poached egg, plus an iced latte and a “Green with Envy” juice of apple, celery, cucumber, spinach, kale and lemon. Ordering off the menu made the complimentary breakfast feel all the more elevated, but the service is what set the experience apart.

During breakfast on my first morning, I overheard a fellow traveler chatting with her server, explaining that this was her first return to the Sydney Capella since her birthday trip about a year ago. A few moments later, the manager of the restaurant approached her table with a delicious-looking pastry ablaze with birthday candles.

Another can’t-miss dining experience at the Capella is Aperture, the hotel’s signature eatery, which occupies its light-filled atrium. But this is no mere restaurant. It felt as if I was entering an experiential art exhibit. Tables were nestled between lush evergreen trees and an installation of giant flowers danced overhead, opening and closing in synchrony.

Aperture offers a reservation-only afternoon tea experience for AU$110 ($73) from 1-4 p.m. (a fantastic use for that experience credit). Here, I sipped on the signature Aperture blend of tea and feasted on a delectable tray of small bites that were small works of art in their own right. First, there was the savory course, which included selections like nori crackers with tuna tartare and salmon roe vol-au-vent. But the star of the show was the delicious and adorable lobster roll with crispy lettuce and lime mayo.

Next came the sweet course, complete with raspberry and yogurt tarts, double cream scones and pandan and finger lime choux. In this course, the Davidson plum and strawberry lamington took the cake, so to speak, due to its unique flavor combination.

A stunning wellness center

I spent plenty of my stay at the Capella relaxing in the wellness area on the sixth floor. It was virtually empty during my stay, so I had free rein over the fitness center, pool and spa.

The hotel gym was well equipped with all of the essentials — there were treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers and free weights as well as machines for assisted weight lifting. There were even two Peloton bikes for those needing to keep their ride streak going. Skylights illuminated the space with natural light and wall panels of greenery breathed life into the room. Adjacent to the fitness center, there was also a designated area for yoga and Pilates.

The pool was among the most gorgeous I have ever seen in my travels as it occupies what used to be the art gallery for the Department of Education. High ceilings with east- and west-facing vistas provided an abundance of natural light that reflected off the water and danced along the room’s crown moldings and tiled pool deck. Thirteen lounge chairs surrounded the pool, providing plenty of seating in the quiet escape. At the far end of the pool sat a large Jacuzzi as well as an accessible dry sauna.

And the icing on the cake was the proper spa facilities inside the locker rooms. These included a sauna and steam room as well as an “Experience Shower,” essentially a rainfall shower with multicolor lights and relaxing sound effects.

For an additional cost, guests can also book treatments in the Auriga Spa. These include volcanic mineral mud wraps, hair and scalp treatments, rainforest enzyme peels, and hot stone massages. (These are also great uses of the experience credit!)

Reasons why the Capella Sydney might not be for you

While I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Capella Sydney, there are a few reasons this luxury property might not be the right fit for you.

• Standard rooms at the Capella lack true workspaces. Though there is plenty of seating in the common spaces like Aperture and the communal Living Room, those looking to spend more than a few hours a day with their laptops might want to book elsewhere.
• The high nightly rate and lack of participation in points programs might be hard to justify for some travelers, especially if planning more of an exploratory jaunt than a relaxing recharge.
• The hotel’s location in the central business district is great for seeing the sights, but those looking for a more authentically Sydney experience might prefer a property in Surry Hills, Darlinghurst or Newtown.

Accessibility 

The Capella Sydney seemed to be renovated with accessibility in mind. The hotel offers three categories of accessible accommodations — Deluxe rooms, Premier rooms and Deluxe suites — all of which can easily be booked on the hotel’s website by toggling on the “accessible” filter. These accommodations include handrails in the shower, an open-concept floor plan to facilitate the maneuvering of mobility devices, and extra square footage.

Though the main entrance to the hotel includes a short flight of stairs, there is a no-stairs side entrance with access to the elevator, which services all floors of the building. Common spaces throughout the property are designed with wide entryways to easily accommodate mobility assistance devices.

The pool, however, does not have chairlifts available, even though the poolside sauna is wheelchair accessible.

Checking out

The Capella Sydney is certainly the lavish statement that the Capella Hotel Group was hoping to make Down Under. It’s a gorgeous and serene hotel that strikes the delicate balance between high-end extravagance and tasteful restraint.

Its location offers an excellent springboard into some of the most classic Sydney activities and sights, and its proximity to public transportation makes traversing the city incredibly easy.

Since my stay at the Capella Sydney, the things that have stuck with me most are the mesmerizing beauty of the kinetic flowers hanging above Aperture, the serene quiet of the pool and spa, and the genuine care shown to every guest by all the staff members that we encountered or witnessed.

I am scared for my wallet to admit it, but I now see the appeal of the luxury hotel experience. It’s the intangible things such as these — unexpected beauty, peaceful silence and attention to detail — that make the price tag truly worth it. At least, as long as the U.S. dollar remains this strong against the Australian one.