West Hotel Sydney, Curio Collection by Hilton

West Hotel Sydney, Curio Collection by Hilton stands at 65 Sussex Street, on the western edge of the CBD, and is described as the first Curio Collection hotel in Australia. It has 182 rooms and suites, operated by M&L Hospitality. Opening dates differ by source: the fact sheet here says December 2017, while several reviews say 2018.

The place

The address sits between the CBD and Darling Harbour, a short walk from King Street Wharf and Barangaroo, with Circular Quay and the Royal Botanic Garden reachable on foot. It is a quieter pocket than the George Street strip.

Arriving by car is awkward: the entrance is easy to miss and there is no convenient bay for taxis or rideshares. A narrow corridor leads down to reception, which has a glass ceiling.

The garden atrium gets sun through most of the day.

The concept

West Hotel was built from the ground up as the first Curio Collection by Hilton hotel in Australia. Its identity leans on a botanical theme, worked through the building: a green, open-air atrium behind the bar, planted and hung with festoon lights, plus a floral motif in the guest corridors. It is a deliberate break from the glass-and-steel look of the mainline Hilton brands nearby.

The Banksia Deluxe is a city-view room on levels 2 and 4 with a 49-inch smart TV, a capsule coffee machine and a workspace, but no bath or minibar. At the top, the Sussex Suite covers 46 square meters with a separate living area, a bath and a walk-in shower, two 49-inch TVs and a complimentary minibar. A Barangaroo Suite sits above it in the range.

The gym opens around the clock, with treadmills, a cross-trainer, a bike and free weights. There is no executive lounge.

The design language is described as botanical motifs and geometric lines, running from the facade to the back-lit headboards. Every room has built-in Bluetooth speakers, and toiletries are from the Mr Smith natural range. One suite is done in blues and greens, with a hardwood parquet floor and a stone bathroom. The Banksia rooms also come with a workspace and complimentary water and snacks in place of a minibar, while the Sussex Suite adds a capsule coffee machine and a desk with integrated charging ports.

Dining & wellness

Solander Dining and Bar takes its name from Daniel Solander, the naturalist who sailed with Joseph Banks on the Endeavour. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an emphasis on local and seasonal produce. A sliding partition splits the room.

The bar, at the heart of the atrium, pours botanical cocktails and non-alcoholic versions, Australian and international spirits, wines and craft beers.