There are so many options for places to stay in Sydney CBD it can be a little overwhelming picking the right place for you. If you are after something simple yet modern and well located then you can’t go past Rydges World Square.
The Rydges World Square is well located in the centre of the city close to Chinatown, Town Hall and the entertainment area on George Street.
First Impressions
Entering the lobby I first noticed the abundance of deep red coloured lounge seating in the large open space and the pillars covered in lovely cherry blossom wallpaper. It’s a nice touch and makes the area feel warm and inviting.
Approaching the check in desk I am greeted by a smiling receptionist who greets me politely and informs me that despite me being over an hour early for check in my room is ready.
The check in process is quick and before I know it I am heading to the lifts. You are required to use your key card to access the lifts and I found the little pouch they put my key cards in extremely difficult to get them out. I fiddled with them before getting in the lift and realising the cards don’t work. So back to the reception desk, where the receptionist apologised and promptly fixed the cards and escorted me to the lift to ensure I make it to my room this time. This to me is excellent customer service.
The Room
Once I’m in my room I dump my bag and explore the room. On the right of the entrance way is a double sliding door wardrobe with clothes hangers and a safe for valuables. No slippers or robe (slightly disappointed).
On the left of the entrance is the bathroom. What I liked most about it is the separate bathtub and shower. I have found this to be a very rare thing among newer hotels. Marble bench with sink and free toiletries (they went straight into my bag!) below a large mirror. It’s clean and reasonably spacious.
The room itself consists of twin beds (my sister is staying with me for the night) with bedside tables and lamps, working desk and chair, a small lounge chair and small round table, a cabinet containing a bar fridge, crockery and kettle and on top, a large flat screen TV. There is also a bag rack big enough for a medium sized suitcase.
The walls are decorated with muted colour prints in wooden frames that match the furniture. There is a big wall to wall window and heavy dark block out blinds that came in very handy for my sleep in the next morning. The view is of the adjoining building but I wasn’t there for the view.
On the desk are items that you can purchase from the mini bar. There are your usual chocolates and chips but Rydges World Square have included a small box of popcorn, red and white stripped bags of sweets and some retro games, dominos and pick up sticks. These I think are nice touches and are as you would expect, slightly more expensive than if you purchased similar items elsewhere.
It’s a nice room that is clean, uncluttered and spacious enough for two people. My only gripe is the lack of lighting. Three lamps light the main part of the room which just isn’t enough light.
Some other features I noticed throughout the room were a selection of cable TV channels, mainly sports but also some music channels and the National Geographic channel, pay per view movies with a good selection of recent and classics, the room service menu consisting of traditional dishes such as steaks, burgers plus wood fired pizzas, pastas and a selection of desserts and drinks, a pillow menu and full length mirror. Apart from listening to a music channel while I worked in the afternoon I didn’t use any of these services.
Hotel Facilities
Within the hotel there is a restaurant called Sphere serving three meals a day including an a la carte menu and buffet. I didn’t eat in the restaurant as I had other plans with friends.
I did however enjoy the bar. The Cidery Bar is open to not just guests and is situated off the main lobby area. The large interior with dark lounge and booth seating and a small bar area in the corner is very cozy. There is also a terrace overlooking the central courtyard of World Square which is where I spent the later part of my night enjoying their nice selection of wines. They are also home to the Sydney Brewery, serving up a nice array of local craft beers.
When I had an afternoon drink, the bar was buzzing with workers who were winding down with a Friday afternoon drink with friends and colleagues. Later in the evening there was a DJ playing soft house music and a dozen or so tables of people chatting and laughing. Its a great atmosphere and for the city, the prices were very reasonable.
The staff were very friendly and there were plenty of them so we never waited more than a few minutes to get a drink. Later in the night they started offering table service which was a nice touch.
There is also a fitness centre located in the hotel for anyone wanting to continue with their exercise routine while on holiday (I didn’t).
How Did I Sleep?
My sleep during the night was good with no noise coming from the corridor or rooms adjoining. I found the bed quite soft which is ok for me sleeping but when I tried to sit up in bed to read it was too soft and uncomfortable to sustain for more than a few minutes.
Check out was just a simple, if not more so, as check in. The staff were very busy but still had smiles on their faces and greeted us politely and thanked us for staying with them.
Book this Hotel
We stayed in a Deluxe King Room which I requested be in a twin configuration which was no hassle to the staff. My rate was $217.00 for one nights accommodation. You can check availability, pricing and book your next Sydney CBD stay on Booking.com where the best price is guaranteed.
Address
389 Pitt St, Sydney, NSW, 2000 – Only a few minutes walk from Town Hall Station. Check out TransportNSW for more information on getting to Town Hall.
The Verdict
I would definitely recommend Rydges World Square to anyone after a place to sleep and spend a small to medium amount of time in. The location couldn’t be more perfect for exploring the city, there are enough facilities within to hotel to keep you happy and the customer service was among the best I have experienced in a hotel. I also loved the bar and will probably go there even if I am not staying in the hotel in future.
Next time I am looking for a reasonable priced place to stay in the city I won’t look past the Rydges World Square.
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Have you stayed in the Rydges World Square or any other Rydges Hotel around the world?
I’d would love to hear about your experiences.
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