Capella has announced a slew of new hotels in recent months, including outposts set to open in Taipei, South Korea and the Maldives. Now, the luxury group has welcomed guests to its very first property in Australia, set within Sydney’s former Department of Education building, a stone’s throw from the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
The sandstone property was built in the 1900s by NSW government architect George McRae and has been meticulously restored over the last seven years to house the hotel.
So what can you expect from the new outpost? From the moment you step inside, you’re in for a real treat. The Farrer Place lobby is filled with a carefully curated art collection including pieces from Australian artists Judy Watson, Otis Hope Carey and Georgia Bisley.
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As for accommodation, Capella Sydney features 192 elegant guest rooms and suites set across nine floors. The rooms are effortlessly luxurious; think soft woven rugs, sleek walnut furnishings and modern artworks adorning the walls.
The most exclusive abodes of all are the sprawling Prestige Suites. Decorated in a neutral color palette, the light-filled suites boast their own separate living/ dining area and enormous bathrooms complete with double vanities, dual rain showers and standalone deep soaking bathtubs. Every effort has been taken to ensure guests feel pampered right down to the extra-comfy Italian Frette bedding and indulgent Haeckels toiletries.
Singapore-based Pontiac Land Group was brought in for the revamp. “Capella Sydney was an ideal opportunity for us to sensitively repurpose this culturally significant landmark in the heart of downtown Sydney and transform it into a more public offering as a leading luxury hotel for everyone to be able to experience,” said the developer’s chief executive officer, David Tsang.
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When you can bring yourself to step foot outside your room, relax at the expansive spa and tranquil indoor pool or grab a bite to eat at the modern brasserie on the ground floor. Championing local Australian producers, expect dishes like Sydney rock oysters from Merimbula, Flinders Island scallops and Spanner crab Alla Chitarra drizzled with a creamy sea urchin sauce.
“The opening of Capella Sydney is a milestone moment in the company’s global expansion,” said Cristiano Rinaldi, president of Capella Hotel Group. “This launch represents a significant opportunity for Capella to showcase its refined and curated offerings to Sydney and its visitors, and we look forward to amplifying the stories, culture and experiences of the city through a uniquely Capella lens.”
