The Darling is the new kid on the block and is already making a lot of noise. The suites in the Darling are among the most glamorous in Sydney, so if you are a lover of ‘Suite Dreams’ don’t miss this review.
The Darling boasts a winning combination of the largest and most luxurious suites in town, a number of top-end, fine-dining establishments and an excellent spa.
The Darling is a part of the Star casino complex and though all buildings interconnect you don’t have to be a part of the casino if you don’t want to. We stayed at the Darling as a family with two young children and did not even notice the casino on our right. To us, it felt like a stay in an uber luxurious apartment and proved a pleasant escape from every day routine for the whole family.
Arrival & Check In
We have arrived by car and the minute we pulled up a very courteous gentleman at the front helped us out and took care of our luggage and parking. The check in was very friendly and took no longer than two minutes. The very welcoming Jess told us that she is good at her job and that we would be well looked after at the Darling – and we most certainly were.
It was a pleasant surprise finding that the room keys at The Darling were personalised with our name. A nice touch that made me feel special.
Our suite was sensational – We stayed in a corner Adored suite and it had some serious wow factor, from the 180 degree views from every window to the uber luxurious finishes, not to mention the sheer size of it (115 sq m). Everything in this suite speaks of comfort and luxury.
The Adored Suite feels like an elegant apartment you could call home on a visit to Sydney. You enter the suite from a stylish wood paneled lobby, that opens onto a elegant living and dining room with breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour.
The Lux Traveller loves this suite – The sheer curtains, plush sofas, timber paneling, warm tones of the room, huge TV’s and dining table for six people are all special touches that create a very inviting home.
We especially enjoyed gathering around the dining table in the mornings as a family to sharing time over breakfast in the privacy of our own suite.
More about the WOW factor – once you have seen the living room and the very inviting bedroom you’d might think you’ve seen it all. But a surprise awaits – a huge free standing round bath with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that will blow your mind. It is an incredibly romantic bath setting with one of the best views in town.
A few other things we loved about the suite – were the separate wardrobe area, even with two kids we didn’t have any bags out in the open, the Molton Brown amenities which are the nicest smelling hotel shampoos I’ve tried lately. The Little gifts left on the pillows at turn down – a hand cream or a lip balm – were gorgeous handbag-size treats. The separate marble powder room for the guests with a beautiful hand wash and hand cream set up. And of course the high tech everything. From the lights to the blinds all the room settings are controlled either via TV or separate wall unit switches, and are easy to operate.
Breakfast is a fabulous affair at The Darling – When breakfast is included in you rate you have an option of having it in the room and we highly recommend it. The eggs were excellent – cooked to perfection with Portobello mushrooms, avocado and other yummy additions on the side. The juices are freshly squeezed, the coffee is hot – a perfect start to a busy day!
If you are in The Darling for a romantic break it is a beautiful and intimate start to the day. The lovely Jess (who checked us in) advised us against going to the buffet restaurant as it is shared with a hotel next door and wouldn’t feel quite as luxurious as the morning treat we had set up in our suite.
Dining – You don’t need to travel anywhere to experience fine dining with several of the city’s top restaurants right at your fingertips. Choose from Sokyo, modern Japanese in The Darling, the acclaimed Momofuku Seyobo which has been awarded three Chefs Hats, Black by Ezard for an excellent steak, or Balla for traditional Italian dishes.
We had a fabulous dinner at Sokyo and can’t wait to head back to try more of their delectable Japanese dishes.
Facilities – The Darling has a stunning spa and an outdoor swimming pool for the warmer months. The spa offers a traditional Turkish Hammam treatment, which is a first in Sydney.
The Lux Traveller Loves – Millions of things, but here are the standouts.
The spa bath with breathtaking views.
The space and excellent functional design
Designer touches including the elegant wall paper, velvet bed cushions with matching sheets, slippers and robes.
The Nespresso machine, Ipod dock and high tech everything.
The gorgeous marble bathrooms.
The double showers – you could literally do everything together in this romantic suite – bath, shower, dine and sleep – sounds like a perfect weekend to me!
The Lux Traveller Doesn’t like:
Nothing really but if we were to be really picky, the location isn’t the best. Pyrmont is a quiet area and a little out of the way. But the city is only five minutes away.
All In All – The Darling is an excellent hotel with THE BEST suites in Sydney. So off to The Darling with your darling you go for a special weekend of complete luxury and relaxation!
We will be back and next time would love to see the Penthouse suites – they look fit for a king!
