Crown Towers Sydney

The atmosphere felt luxurious but still welcoming, and there was a clear sense of care across the hotel. Staff were warm, attentive, and professional, which made the stay feel relaxed and effortless. From the valet and reception to the pool and bar teams, every detail felt flawless and the service was exceptional. My first stay here was the best experience yet. Thank you!

The lovely big bath and high-quality shower amenities were real highlights, and the waterfront location made for a beautiful walk. Still, the Harbour Bridge View room on Level 23 mostly faced a vacant construction site, a disappointing view for $715/night. The lower-rate Deluxe King Room overlooking the water would have been a much better choice. We had a lovely luxurious 4 night stay at Crown Barangaroo, but several parts fell short. The interconnecting room was noisy, and loud sports cars between 12-2am made it hard to sleep. Breakfast at $65pp was disappointing, with dried sausages and barely cooked bacon, although the staff were lovely. Room service took almost an hour on our last night: ordered at 7:38pm, it arrived at 8:30pm. As a solo mum, I’d saved up for this trip for a long time and hoped it would feel truly special. Instead, we came away disappointed. I expected more from a 5-star hotel.

The location was amazing, but the service I experienced fell below five-star standards and what I’d generally expect even at four- or three-star properties. I’ve stayed at four other five-star hotels during my time in Australia, and none felt as unwelcoming. On arrival, I found several strands of hair in the luggage area. After housekeeping came another day, there were no pillows on the bed; they’d been left carelessly on the sofa. The front desk staff’s attitude also felt far from welcoming. A particularly confusing incident happened when I returned for an item I’d forgotten in the room. I told the front desk, and a staff member asked me to follow them. At the back office, they walked away without explaining anything, as if I should keep following. When I tried to go through the entrance, it turned out to be staff-only and an alarm went off. Is it acceptable to leave a guest in that situation without saying, for example, that someone will assist? I was later told it was absent-mindedness and given an apology, but I found the whole thing shocking.

The lunch I’d booked was fantastic, and the staff there were fantastic too. But we couldn’t get into Nobu for the advertised happy-hour drinks or snacks because it was busy, and the rooftop bar was busy as well. Book ahead for the places you want to visit. The rest of the stay was awful. Reception staff were rude, and although management tried to fix things, more staff quickly spoke to me like a moron. At checkout I struggled with my bags and was told to leave my things outside. I’d been given champagne by the hotel but was told I couldn’t drink it there. I left the ice bucket, which belonged to the hotel, and a receptionist stormed outside with it and put it on the baggage counter. Bizarre behaviour. Outside by the pool, three dirty drink glasses sat on the beds for hours, and the bedside table in my room had tea-like stains all over it. Another night, a friend and her partner came to meet us for a drink. She tripped on her heel on the carpet but didn’t fall, and we were refused entry to the second bar we tried. Two security staff removed us from the bar and hotel. I’ve never felt so humiliated or intimidated. We’re a couple in our 40s/50s. When I asked to speak to the manager, I was refused. I’ve made numerous complaints and felt so uncomfortable and upset during this holiday. I’d never stay here again.