Central by name and central by nature, Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park is just a short stumble from the city’s biggest train station as well as the adjacent light rail. In the face-lifted Chippendale/Central Park area, it’s surrounded by eateries, shopping precincts, bars, parks, and a couple of Universities for good measure. There’s plenty of hustle and bustle without being annoyingly busy.
Arrival and Reception
On a hot day on the cusp of turning into a mild evening, we arrive at the hotel’s modern entrance. Dark features and sleek design are contrasted by natural materials and plenty of lush greenery. The lobby and bar seamlessly fuse indoor and outdoor seating and the overall aesthetic is exactly what you’d imagine in a recently(ish) built hotel next to the world’s tallest vertical garden high-rise.
The in-house Malt Bar serves $12 happy hour cocktails from 5-6pm Tuesday – Saturday. It’s a relatively small space, but with the outdoor area perfectly positioned to soak up the aforementioned hustle and bustle, we make a mental note to return here for some cocktails and people-watching when our plus one arrives.
Before we head up to our room, we get a quick tour of the facilities – a small bar, a large breakfast area, and a gym with all the basic equipment you need for a decent hotel workout. Nothing is overtly grand but the contemporary decor throughout is crisp and elegantly simple. It’s everything you’d expect from a respectable hotel chain.
The Room, Executive Suite
As a person many would describe as rough and the edges at best, I’m still quietly excited every time I’m presented with an Executive Suite. And with this particular 15th-floor suite boasting a separate bedroom and living space, I let out a joyful little yelp upon arrival. My plus one – a frequent business traveller – is not as easily pleased but even she feels compelled to remark on the rare luxury of effectively having a one-bedroom apartment.
First up as we enter our suite is the bathroom – a large walk-in shower along with a basin, toilet, and essential amenities. This isn’t excessive luxury but it’s clean, modern, and has everything we need. The shower pressure isn’t amazingly noteworthy but it’s also perfectly sufficient. One small snag is the lack of towel hanging space. It’s adequate for one person but not quite enough for two – especially if you’re staying more than one night and have aspirations to fight climate change one towel at a time.
Next to the bathroom is a simple yet effective bedroom complete with a comfortable bed, a wardrobe, and a wall-mounted television just screaming to be Netflix-and-chilled. Inside the wardrobe is a safe, an ironing board (which is totally wasted on me!), plenty of storage space, two bath robes, and two sets of slippers. No complaints here – I slept like a log.
As you’ve probably guessed, the living space is what gives this suite a bit of an edge. With a snug yet sturdy beige-y-creamy sofa bed, two armchairs, a coffee table, another wall-mounted television, oodles of storage space, and a generous desk area complete with a Delonghi coffee machine, it’s a decent space to relax, get some work done, or even host a business meeting. Executive Suite – thy work is done.
Playtime in Central Park
The major selling point of this hotel is the superbly central location. So, of course, we have to go and explore the local dining establishments. Although we fully intend to take advantage of happy hour first, we get side-tracked by the complimentary bubbly brought to our room by the always-smiling and uber-helpful concierge. Oops! Before we know it, happy hour has been and gone. So, a little buzzed, we embark on the three-minute walk to Spice Alley for a much-needed feed.
For those of you unfamiliar with Spice Alley, it’s an outdoor hub of Asian street food tucked into a beautifully decorated little nook on Kensington Street. You can pick and choose dishes from various stores and enjoy a banquet of Singaporean, Thai, Malaysian, Chinese, Japanese and more. This foodie paradise is also surrounded by a number of restaurants and small bars so you can make a night of it and literally crawl from one place to the next.
Jonesing for a drink after missing happy hour, we head for some spectacularly presented cocktails at Gin Lane. After a few of these – plus the bubbly we devoured earlier – we remember that it’s a school night and we are no longer in our twenties (or, indeed, anywhere near them). So, we quickly decide that cake and Netflix in bed is the only logical course of action.
Luckily, the hotel is right next to KOI – a three-venue empire by Masterchef legends, the Poernomo brothers. We’ve been to their dessert bar before and gave it a glowing review, so we know we’re in for a treat. We pick a cake each (sharing is for losers), get into our pyjamas, sync up our Netflix to the bedroom’s smart TV and sober up in style. Thank you, Sydney and good night!
The morning after the night before
We head down for breakfast at 7.30am. Everything you’d expect from a hotel breakfast is here. Juice, pastries, cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurt, a cooked breakfast buffet, and machine-ready coffee at the click of a few buttons. There’s also an option for eggs etc made to order. We opt for some fresh fruit and a small cooked breakfast just to make sure we stay in a hangover-safe zone.
With more time, I would have enjoyed a second coffee and perhaps a pastry to follow. But, unfortunately, I had an 8.30am train to catch so off I went in a fluster (such is the way I live my life) while leaving my plus one – a mother of two under two – to relax and take full advantage of our 1pm late check-out.
The final verdict
Four Points by Sheraton is ideal for business travellers as well as anyone in town for a night or two. It’s less than ten minutes by train to the airport and tourist hotspots like Circular Quay and Darling Harbour are easily accessible by public transport.
If you’re looking for a luxurious staycation with all the bells and whistles, it’s probably not the place for you. But, if you want a clean, comfortable, reliable, and modern hotel right in the heart of Sydney – you won’t be disappointed.
What we are addicted to…
The location. The nearby lanes are brimming with character, a diverse offering of cuisines, and Insta-worthy bars (if you’re that way inclined).
What we need to be more addicted…
A pool and spa would have gone down a treat for a bit of pampering on my Sydney staycation. However, this is more of a city break kind of establishment and everything you need is a short walk away, including a cinema and an outdoor swimming pool. A new hotel bar and restaurant are also on the cards for 2024, so watch this space!
Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park: 88 Broadway – Entrance Via, 4 Central Park Ave, Chippendale NSW 2008
