Sydney Central Hotel managed by The Ascott Limited

The rooms were a little worn, but clean overall and the beds were comfortable. I couldn’t work out the air conditioning, though I didn’t ask for help, so that was on me. At our check-in time the front desk needed more staff; you could tell they were dealing with a lot of requests, though they stayed professional. The front desk team were lovely and professional from arrival to checkout, and the breakfast and dining staff also made things pleasant. Good location and decent price.

The bathroom felt a bit outdated, though the room was great and the beds very comfortable. It’s in a fantastic spot for the light rail and trains. Staff were friendly and helpful, and check-in and checkout were quick. The restaurant food was a bit naff, but otherwise I’d recommend staying here.

The rooftop pool was heated to a perfect temperature, and the gym looked great with lots of equipment. Breakfast was the main highlight, with a buffet each morning and plenty of gluten free and vegan options. The location was excellent, an easy walk to central station for transport anywhere or down to darling harbour. We were there four nights at the end of last month in room 1720. Early check-in let us leave our luggage, which was nice, but the check-in itself was average because our card kept declining for some reason and the receptionist was condescending about it. The room was nice and had what we needed, though we wished we’d got the balcony advertised for executive rooms on the booking site. We needed a rollaway bed for one night, but it stayed in the room for two extra nights. I reminded reception a couple of times before it was finally removed. I understand hotel housekeeping is often outsourced, so it may have been a communication issue.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the cleaning team did a good job. Our room was a good size, with clean bedding and plenty of towels. The air conditioning cooled the room well, and noise wasn’t a problem. There’s a low bath that’s easy to step into for a shower, with a decent ledge at the back where I could sit and soak my feet after walking around Sydney. There’s also a small laundry on floor 9. You pay through your phone, select a machine online, and it starts; detergent is provided automatically, and our washing came out clean. The place could use a little TLC, but we spent five nights and I’d keep coming back. Great for china town / CDB / main railway, with everything a five minute walk away and access to Sydney’s public transport.