Inside the Revitalised Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel

Celebrated for its illustrious history of hosting royalty and dignitaries, this iconic hotel now has a fabulous new lease of life.

Standing as a hallmark of luxury and elegance in Australia, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has a storied past and now, a bright future. The iconic hotel’s recent 70 million-dollar revamp has extensively upgraded guestrooms and public spaces, introduced two world-class restaurants and bars, and established a new club lounge. The transformation is nothing short of spectacular with the refreshed high-end accommodations exuding French joie de vivre. Each space seamlessly blends nostalgia with modern convenience in the heart of the CBD.

Looking for accommodation in Sydney or in need of a staycay? Here’s everything to know about the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

Location

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is a 15-minute drive from Sydney Airport, located on Phillip Street at the northern end of the CBD. The hotel’s prime position makes it easy for visitors to access major attractions such as The Royal Botanic Gardens, Circular Quay, and some of the city’s best restaurants and shopping, all of which are a short walk away. This area of the city is also a prominent business hub, making it a good home base for working travellers.

the building exterior of Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

The hotel is renowned for its iconic architecture.

History

The hotel’s rich history dates back to 1855 when it was a boarding house known as Wentworth House, named after the prominent Australian statesman William Charles Wentworth. After a devastating fire in 1888, the boarding house was transformed into a luxurious accommodation known as Wentworth Hotel.

Due to the influx of international travellers to Australia, Qantas acquired The Wentworth and reopened it on Phillip Street in 1966 – a grand hotel was created with the assistance of associate architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Laurie & Heath. During this iteration of The Wentworth, the Post-war International style building with its glamorous yet understated interiors hosted the likes of Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth, Sophia Loren, and Elton John.

Sofitel acquired the Wentworth Hotel and the recent extensive revamp pays homage to its opulent history while introducing modern amenities.

a black and white photo of Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

Opened in 1966, it attracted celebrities and dignitaries alike.

Style and character

Standing proudly at 15 storeys high, this building is the largest single brick structure in the Southern Hemisphere. It features an iconic curved design that hugs a central terrace filled with lush greenery and one of the hotel’s four bars.

Architecture and interior design firm FK were called upon for the significant 70 million-dollar makeover which transformed the foyer, rooms and suites, and public spaces. The team revived its classic elegance and charm but injected it with modern edge and Sofitel’s signature French flair.

the grand entrance to Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

The hotel’s grand entrance exudes timeless elegance.

The sense of arrival is strong with the elegant lobby featuring a striking lighting instalment that draws guests in and pays homage to the Sofitel’s historic ritual of guiding guests to their rooms with candlelight.

The space is dotted with potted grass trees, sculptural art, and a series of lounge settings with curved velvet seats and lamps which nod to the building’s curvilinear form. A palette of olive and cream paired with timber and brass accents is a sophisticated ode to the Australian landscape.

Rooms and suites feature a minimalist warm palette that creates a sense of calm. They are adorned in elevated timber and soft furnishings, as well as photographs of the hotel’s former glory days.

the grand lobby of Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

The spacious lobby is is swathed in earthy tones.

Facilities

Luxury meets convenience at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, with facilities designed to elevate every aspect of your stay. The self check-in spaces feature intuitive technology that makes the process seamless and quick.

the lobby lounge corner at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

Every space is sophisticated yet cosy.

For the ultimate Sofitel experience, guests staying in either the Prestige Suites, Luxury Club Rooms, or the Wentworth Suite can relax in Club Millésime on level 5, an exclusive lounge which offers gourmet breakfast, afternoon tea, and Apéro Chic.

All guests have access to nearby Virgin Active gyms which feature state-of-the-art gym facilities. There are four dining facilities on-site (more on that later) and 15 event and conference spaces.

Club Millésime is an exclusive lounge in a serene setting.

Rooms

The 436 rooms and suites offer all the comforts of a five-star hotel with smart lighting, high-end furnishings, luxe amenities, and a Wellness Bag with a roller, yoga mat, resistance bands, handles, and ankle straps.

The Classic Room.

Guests will rest easy on a signature Sofitel MyBed™ and awake to coffee from Nespresso machines while being wrapped in plush robes. The marble bathrooms aren’t as modernised as the rooms, but they are classic in style with luxurious Balmain amenities and many fitted with heritage-listed baths. For those seeking more space, we recommend booking The Prestige Suite which has a separate living area and offers a glimpse of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

While rooms lack natural light, this design choice contributes to a moody, calming ambience.

the classic room interior at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

The Prestige Suite comes with a separate living area. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

Food and drink

The partnership with House Made Hospitality brought to life a multi-venue drinking and dining precinct within the hotel: Tilda, Bar Tilda, Delta Rue and Wentworth Bar.

Tuck into fresh seafood and hearty pasta dishes at Tilda. (Image: Steve Woodburn)

Stop by Tilda for fresh seafood sourced from smaller-scale producers, roasted in a charcoal oven, and indulgent house-made pasta dishes, followed by nostalgic treats like upside-down pineapple cake.

Finish your night by slipping next door to Bar Tilda for Archie Rose martinis or one of the 100-strong Australian whiskeys – We’d argue this hidden gem is Sydney’s most stylish bar right now.

A cocktail glass on the table at Bar Tilda, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

Imbibe martinis at the ultra-chic Bar Tilda. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

Up on level five, Delta Rue heroes Vietnamese and French flavours in a space that harks back to the old-world elegance of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Enjoy tasty plates such as Bánh Xèo (crispy coconut turmeric crepe with fragrant herbs) and dried age fillet mignon with shaking beef sauce, béarnaise, and French fries. Pair these with champagne from the champagne bar.

Buffet and a la carte breakfast are also served in this space.

the dining space at Delta Rue, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

Delta Rue evokes a rustic-chic dining ambience. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Wentworth Bar occupies the sleek, plant-filled terrace next to Delta Rue. Come for relaxed afternoon drinks or buzzy post-work tipples while the DJ spins tunes on Thursday and Friday evenings.

The extensive cocktail menu includes ‘cocktail explosions’, which are large-scale cocktails serving up to 10 people.

Pull up a chair on a Friday evening at Wentworth Bar. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Does Sofitel Sydney Wentworth have access for guests with disabilities?

Accessible rooms are available on every floor, with wheelchair accessibility throughout the property.

Is Sofitel Sydney Wentworth family-friendly?

While it’s not a family-focused accommodation, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is perfectly suited to families with babysitting services available and 50 per cent off your second adjoining room for families with children up to 12 years old.

The hotel boasts al fresco areas to relax, dine and wine. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Details

Best for: Business travellers and design-savvy travellers.

Address: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth 61, 101 Phillip St, Sydney

Cost: The ‘Summer Offer’ includes: $100 dining credit, breakfast for two, and late checkout from $499.

Welcome to the first instalment of Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels, exploring not just the rooms, but the stories, service and settings that make each stay unforgettable and worth adding to your wishlist.

Hotel stays have quietly become my thing. Long before I became a travel journalist, I was booking staycations just for a change of scenery. Some had charm, some had character, some had neither. Once, I even stayed in a hotel directly opposite my own apartment – partly for the novelty, partly because I wanted to see my life from a different angle.

For me, hotels represent a kind of mystery – I find myself wanting to know what these buildings contain. Many of them are designed with intention: lighting, materials, scent and sounds that often reflect the city they sit in. Time seems to gently pause in these spaces, which have increasingly become the destination itself for modern travellers.

It only felt fitting for the first hotel in this series to be in my home city and at the hotel that’s been at the top of my list: Capella Sydney.

A sandstone heritage building and palm trees

Capella sits within an Edwardian Baroque‑style sandstone building.

An email with a hotel program from the “Culturist Team” lets me know this will be a luxurious stay. There’s a guided walk around the Botanic Gardens, a weaving workshop and a Sydney contemporary art tour – the kind of addition that signals a hotel that’s tuned into the finer details, and one that’s not surprising given that Capella’s ethos centres on delivering personalised, immersive experiences.

Capella opened in 2023 within a transformed Edwardian Baroque‑style sandstone building in Sydney’s CBD that was originally designed by renowned Scottish-Australian architect George McRae. I often walk past this building and once attended an event inside – I distinctly remember being surprised by how beautiful it was. Bar Studio, Make Architects, and stylist Simone Haag were engaged to sensitively adapt the building for contemporary luxury while honouring its past, in collaboration with Heritage NSW and the City of Sydney.

When I arrive, I’m greeted by three different staff members along the way to reception. There’s a lovely subtle scent, which I later learn combines notes of bergamot, green tea leaves, peony, freesia, vetiver and cedarwood. This hotel strikes such a beautiful balance between grandness and intimacy, with large floral bouquets, contemporary artworks, impressively high ceilings that give it an international feel and quieter nooks to unwind in. Each space is unique, but they’re all unified by a warm, textural and layered design.

Sydney has been deserving of a hotel of this calibre for quite some time, with many of the accommodations in the city looking and feeling dated.

A modern hotel reception with high ceilings

The design strikes the perfect balance between grandness and intimacy.

I have a treatment booked at the hotel’s Auriga Spa prior to check-in. The space is ultra-luxe, moodily lit and intimate, featuring timber joinery, green walls and a sleek design that’s so perfect it almost transports me to Japan. I opt for the Replenish Beauty and LED Facial – a strategic choice with a TV segment on the horizon, and a hopeful bid to look extra fresh for the camera.

The treatment begins with me sitting in the softest robe of my life, wearing slippers and sipping chamomile tea. I’m then whisked away to my private treatment room, which has its own bathroom, a large skylight and a small Japanese-style garden. The treatment is extremely relaxing and moves through cleansing, exfoliating, massaging (arm, head, neck and face) and LED Light Therapy. There’s so much attention to detail – even at the end, the facialist puts my slippers back on me, while I’m still lying down.

Spa treatment room with a massage bed, featuring timber walls and a serene Japanese-style garden visible through a window.

A treatment at Auriga Spa might be the best way I’ve ever started a hotel stay. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

While this treatment certainly hasn’t had a Benjamin Button effect, my sister seems to think I’m glowing, so I walk away happy, or at the very least, zen.

Auriga Spa has a sauna, steam room, ice fountain and a beautiful indoor heated swimming pool. There’s also “experiential showers” – new to me, but essentially it combines water flowing from different places, changing temperatures, mood lighting, gentle sounds, and a subtle lemongrass scent.

You could easily spend the better part of a day at the spa and pool, even if you’re not a guest.

The indoor heated swimming pool with glass ceiling at Capella Sydney.

Guests outside the hotel can use the spa and swimming pool. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

I’m escorted to my room, drunk on relaxation, but I make sure to take note of how noisy the hallways are – answer: dead quiet. My room is 50 square metres, which is huge by hotel standards, but particularly for one in the CBD. It feels like a high-end apartment with floorboards, a freestanding bath and a seating/dining area. My eyes are immediately drawn to the line-up of macarons waiting for me on the dining table.

I’m thrilled to see the mini bar armoire includes a small wine fridge stocked with Minuty Prestige Côtes de Provence, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Handpicked Wines Pinot Noir, and Moët Grand Vintage. Not that I plan on using it (I simply could not justify the prices) – but it’s a nice extra that makes the room feel that much more luxurious. The drinks lineup reads like a who’s-who of local favourites – Young Henrys, Maybe Sammy cocktails, Four Pillars gin and Archie Rose gin. Snacks include Tyrell’s chips, Pringles, Natural Confectionery lollies, and a Carman’s oat bar.

Some small touches I appreciate that some hotels don’t offer: the option to choose your housekeeping time, an iron that actually works well, a Bluetooth speaker, the beloved wine fridge, aluminium water bottles and a bathroom without a glass door or screen that awkwardly exposes you. The one downside is that some of these rooms don’t offer much in the way of a view.

A modern hotel room with a monochrome paletter.

I stayed in a Premier Room which was elegant and relaxing. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

4:30pm is Swill Hour – a daily tradition that nods to the historical “six o’clock swill” in Australia. This one-hour event takes place in the Living Room and invites guests to gather and enjoy each other’s company with a signature cocktail in hand. This afternoon’s tipple is a Eucalyptus Gimlet, a clever, herbaceous little cocktail, by the multi-award-winning Maybe Sammy Team, served on coasters depicting drawings of the historic building. The canapé of the day is a tomato and stracciatella tart. I noticed several staff members chatting with guests like old friends, asking how their adventures earlier in the day went – clearly remembering previous conversations from earlier visits.

Dinner is booked for 6:30pm in Aperture – arguably the most beautiful area of the accommodation. It’s decorated with Australian flora and features a kinetic sculpture hanging from the roof that opens like flowers, with softly changing lights. Tyler, who is serving us, clearly admires the Capella brand, speaking enthusiastically about the other international properties he’s been to and sharing how he sometimes brings his five-year-old daughter here to use the pool.

Interior of Aperture at Capella Sydney, featuring lush greenery and a striking ceiling-mounted sculpture.

The scale of Aperture gives it an international feel.

I kick things off with a basil melon margarita – a winning recommendation – before tucking into the best prawn toast I’ve ever had. For mains it’s crispy Ōra King salmon and spaghetti with mud crab.

When I arrive back at my room, there’s a vegan leather journal on my bed with a note that says: “The ritual of journaling allows us to pause, reflect and focus.” This is part of the turndown service, and my slippers are neatly lined up next to my bed. Will I journal? No. Do I think it’s a nice touch? Yes.

Brasserie 1930 at Capella Sydney, where Art Deco elegance meets contemporary Australian cuisine.

Brasserie 1930 boasts Art Deco elegance.

The next morning, I make the predictable choice of smashed avo for breakfast at the on-site restaurant, Brasserie 1930. There’s also a buffet brimming with all the usual suspects.

Afterwards, I head to the pool to relax for a few hours before the 11am checkout. Despite my earlier resolve not to journal, I find myself reflecting nonetheless – an irony not lost on me – on my 21st hotel stay in Sydney. I write this with growing assurance that great hotels don’t just provide a place to stay; they create memorable moments, thanks in large part to fantastic staff. Kudos to the hiring manager.

Next stop: The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart!

A new era of elegance: inside the revitalised Sydney Wentworth

Celebrated for its illustrious history of hosting royalty and dignitaries, this iconic hotel now has a fabulous new lease of life.

Location

History

Style and character

Facilities

Rooms

Food and drink

Does Sofitel Sydney Wentworth have access for guests with disabilities?

Is Sofitel Sydney Wentworth family-friendly?

Details

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Welcome to the first instalment of Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels, exploring not just the rooms, but the stories, service and settings that make each stay unforgettable and worth adding to your wishlist.