202 Elizabeth

The room looked alright, and the hotel itself seemed fine, but the service problems were far from what I’d expect at a supposed 5-star place. After our first day out, the bed had been made, but our pyjamas had been put on the dirty outside of the luggage bag and floor. The water bottle wasn’t refilled, there were no fresh napkins, the shower leak hadn’t been checked, hair was still on the shower floor, and the used coffee cup remained on the table. They promised it would all be properly cleaned before 1pm the next day. We got back at 2pm and the room still hadn’t been touched. Room service has been non-existent, which is very disappointing, and so far there’s been no compensation.

The small entrance might not suggest it, but once inside, the Bespoke Luxury, privacy, A Grade Security, and relaxing ambiance are clear. This heritage building has been recently renovated while keeping its trendy heritage character. The staff make you feel like family, and the hotel is one of Sydney's Finest Hotels in our view. Rasmus, our Dog, was always welcome, which matters a lot to us. The air-conditioning is great, especially if you’re not used to a warm climate, and the sound proofing is amazing. There’s a private Interior Courtyard Garden and a rooftop "Mini" Resort for relaxing and experiencing Sydney. Mornings start with a wholesome Continental Breakfast and freshly brewed Barista Coffee, and the hotel has relationships with local Surry Hills Restaurants, Bars and Clubs. It’s in our top 1% of properties in Australia, and truly deserves its 5 Star Status.

I had a balcony room and slept soundly in a supremely comfortable bed, with none of the Elizabeth street noise getting through the bulletproof double glazing. The rooms are light and bright, with lovely bathrooms and a small desk if you need to work. Check-in was quick, with friendly staff, and the place felt cosy, clean, comfortable, secure, and unpretentious. It’s literally a one-minute walk from Central station, and I got from the airport to my room in about 20 minutes. I’d normally stay at its fancier counterpart around the corner, but it was full because of an event in town. Lucky for me, as I might not have found this much better guest experience otherwise. There’s continental breakfast with great coffee, plus a nice little wine bar attached. 202 Elizabeth is my go-to in town now. I almost don’t want to share this lovely hotel, Sydney’s best kept secret.

The coffee in the lobby was arguably the best I’ve had in ages, and the rooftop is very cute. Staff were friendly, the decor is nice, and the location right across from Central station is convenient. It’s good value overall, but feels more like a 4-star than a 5-star hotel. Standard rooms are nice but quite small, with little closet space and not many things you might expect at 5 stars, like slippers, a robe, or more amenities. There’s nowhere designated to park for check-in or bag drop, and it’s on a busy main road. The public garage is five minutes down the road and costs about $50 a day.