Crowne Plaza Sydney Airport by IHG

The restaurant at Crowne Plaza Mascot feels fresh, modern, and comfortable after its recent refurbishment, while still being relaxed. It’s close to the airport, but the meal stands on its own as a good experience. The menu has plenty of variety, and the drinks list has a solid selection that complements it. We were welcomed warmly and shown to a lovely table. Service stayed friendly and attentive throughout, professional but never stiff or overbearing. The food was very good, well prepared, nicely presented, and clearly given thought rather than rushed out. A smart, welcoming place for a proper meal, and the friendly service and food quietly exceeded expectations.

The location is very convenient for travellers coming from interstate or overseas, with the airport close by and the train station handy for getting into the city or around Sydney. Green Motion car hire is right in the hotel, with early rentals and late returns, which is useful and avoids the usual airport surcharge. The hotel isn’t particularly upmarket, but the service is friendly, professional, and accommodating. We stayed for a reunion with friends and spouses, had two dinners there, and found the meals quite reasonable and enjoyable. The buffet breakfast has a good selection, plus a proper barista making real coffee. In the lobby, the water fountain offers fizzy, chilled, and room-temperature options, a thoughtful way to refill bottles. Rooms are clean and comfortable, and the capsule coffee is reasonably good. A microwave would be welcome for longer stays. All in all, it’s convenient, friendly, and well equipped. I’d happily recommend it for business or leisure.

My room wasn’t bad, though the bathroom was old and the shower pressure was barely more than a drip. The bed was comfortable and the air con worked well. There was nothing in the minibar fridge, and the only water was an empty bottle left by the previous guest. 4/10 at best. I checked in late, and the staff were rude and took forever. The front desk said room service was doing meals until 11pm, but when I called, they said they weren’t doing room service.

The rooms were clean and tidy, everything worked, and the setup was great. Breakfast was perfect, with good-quality food, good service, and barista coffee. The whole restaurant team were professional. We booked five rooms for a five-day family gathering with relatives coming from overseas at the end of 2025, and we were very satisfied. The reception team were welcoming, polite, and helpful. Justine, Ayu, and a few others helped us get what worked best for the group, and even tried to find my reading glasses when I lost them. I’m not sure whether I lost them at the hotel or somewhere else, my bad. Highly recommended.