The Special Four Seasons Sydney Hotel
After another wonderful stay at the Four Seasons Sydney hotel, I have decided to share with you my Top 10 reasons why I love it there so much, and to try and convince you to give yourselves the treat you deserve and book a night (or two) here for your next special occasion, trip to Sydney, or for no reason other than you deserve to be spoiled.
So in no particular order –
10. Location
No matter what city you are staying in, you will kick yourself if you are not staying in a location that is convenient to everything you need. The Four Seasons is at 199 George St – right at the start of the historic Rocks area. You are a stone’s throw from Circular Quay and the ferries, so the perfect spot for a night before or after a cruise or an event at the Opera House. The trams stop almost at the front door so you are whisked into the city centre quickly and quietly for a show at the Capitol Theatre or dinner in Chinatown. It’s a quick 15mins in an Uber to the other side of Darling Harbour for the ICC and STAR complex, and buses to anywhere pretty much leave from the terminus at Circular Quay also. And the location is SO easy to get to that even I don’t get lost. Come over the Harbour Bridge in Lane 4 (the middle). Veer right into the City North exit lane and then follow your nose down to the left to the traffic lights, turn left onto George Street and in less than 2 mins after coming off the bridge, you have pulled into the hotel driveway. Winner!
9. Everything is Easy
Step out of your car and there is the valet asking for your keys and giving you your parking ticket as he makes your car disappear like magic to its overnight spot without you even needing to know where it is! While this happens, if you have popped your boot, your luggage is now hanging and stacked on a luggage trolley for a porter to take to your room for you. You are free to stroll up to the front desk and check in. Even when the lobby is humming with activity and noise, the check in staff are always, without fail, cool under pressure, calm and relaxed, and make you feel welcome. As I have stayed here before my credit card is on file so as soon as I said my name, my card number was checked and I was handed my key. All done in less than a minute, with a genuine feeling of being welcomed. I was in my room on Level 30 admiring my water view within 7 mins of arriving in the hotel driveway.
8. Welcome is Everything
When I checked in and was asked my name I replied “Fenton”. The response was “Welcome back Sarah” – I defy you to not get the warm fuzzies when someone calls you by name and with the tone in their voice makes you feel genuinely welcome, like you have finally returned home after a long journey. Every time I have checked in or out of this hotel, there has been a supervisor discreetly present in the background, watching and listening to everything, and as soon as there is a question or query slightly “outside the square”, they are there to support their staff with a “can do” response to make the guest experience positive, and to make things happen simply and efficiently. Always. Always making you feel welcome and special. Never scripted, never forced, never making you feel a nuisance. Always warm, genuine, and caring that your stay at this hotel is everything you need it to be and more.
7. The Views
You may say you don’t “need” a harbour view room as you will see the water when you go out, but life is about WANT as well as NEED. Who does not WANT to sit in the window seat with a glass of champagne or cup of tea and watch the sunset / sunrise reflecting off the water, the ferries gliding in and out, the light glistening off the sails of the Opera House. Sydney is a truly stunning harbour city, and the chance to soak it all in is priceless. Enjoying the vista in comfort, with a preferred drink and maybe chocolates or a simple cheese plate, you can feel your body unwind and the stresses sliding away.
6. The Facilities
Yes many hotels have a gym, but how many provide you with single use headphones for your music in case you did not pack your own? No water fountain here – but a fridge with chilled towels and cold bottles of water to see you through your workout (and no plastic – eco friendly packaging for the water of course). Celebrating a night out? The Endota Spa can take care of face and nails, and the hair salon on level 3 of the hotel can coif your locks stylishly if you book an appointment ahead of time. You can call the salon direct on (02) 9251 6666
Looking for a swim in the pool? Getting a bit warm sitting on the lovely deck chairs or in your cabana? Again, a little fridge with chilled water is there for you, and even some complimentary sunscreen and body lotion in case you forgot to pack your own! Needless to say, hand sanitizing stations are everywhere too, and always full of nice smelling gel.
5. Level 32
What is Level 32? Simply put, it’s the club lounge access for select hotel guests. If you have booked a room type at a rate that includes “club access” you are in for a wonderful treat. Let’s look at what you can enjoy…
Tea/Coffee/cold drinks and light refreshments basically any time after you have checked in.
Later in the afternoon the bar opens and you can have whatever you would like to drink, and the array of snacks and canape style finger food is eye popping – king prawns, beautiful cheese plates with gourmet crackers and breads to choose from, cold meats, and the BEST arancini balls I have ever tasted. Some sushi? Dim Sum? The choice is yours. You can sit here and enjoy a quiet drink and snack for 15 minutes or an hour – or anything you like – if the lounge is open, you can enjoy it.
But wait – there is more – you can come up here for a dedicated check-in so you NEVER have to wait in line if it’s a busy time in the lobby.
Did your best suit or nice dress get a bit crushed in your suitcase on the way here? Never fear – you can utilise a complimentary pressing service to have your find threads for your night out looking sensational.
And as for breakfast – all the same delicious offerings as the main MODE restaurant downstairs, but on a more intimate scale with less people – so no waiting, no lining up, and you still have a chef who will cook your eggs to order – and how is this for service – I ordered a barista coffee for breakfast, and by the time I had walked to the buffet, collected an orange juice and bowl of bircher muesli with fruit and nuts on top, I walked back to my table and the coffee was there waiting for me. Super!!
4. The Rooms
Yes, once you get to a certain level of accommodation you may think all the rooms are the same. And in some ways they are. The Four Seasons is a 5 star property and their rooms reflect this. Not a crack or mouldy corner in the well appointed bathroom. Separate bath and walk in shower. The beds and pillows here are heaven on earth – it is the most comfortable bed I have ever come across the pillow just melt around you to fit your head, and off you drift to sleep. If the pillows are not to your liking, there is a pillow menu and you can choose and alternative.
Spotlessly clean with a coffee machine as standard, varied quality tea selection and well stocked mini bar, and who would have thought that the mini bar menu gives you the option to even buy the Bose Stereo speakers that are in your room!!
And the Robe! Who does not love a fluffy robe to slip in to and loaf around in – just because you can. Iron and Ironing board in every room – no need to ring reception and wait for one to be brought up.
And it’s the little touches. Sleeping in a strange room it can be disorientating if you wake in the middle of the night and cannot work out which way the bathroom is – instead of leaving on bright lights that stop you falling asleep, there are subtle night lights in both the room and the bathroom that emit just enough glow that you can see your way around in the dark, but are not bright enough to stop you falling asleep. Nice touch.
The rooms are are not modern/sleek/minimalist/funky as they are in some other 5 star properties who use this styling as a drawcard. The Fours Seasons is a tasteful and graceful classic style, that is relaxing and soothing as soon as you walk into the room.
3. The Bar and Restaurant
Mode
This is one of my favourite places ever to eat. I do not think there is actually a restaurant anywhere that I have gone back to as many times as I have dined at Mode. The menu changes subtly with the seasons so there is always something new to try. This is not simply a “restaurant in a hotel” there for your convenience – this is delicious and perfectly prepared food served with flair that will leave you wanting more. Even in a city with as many dining options as Sydney has, you will not regret choosing to have a meal here – the quality and service is right up there with the best of them.
Grain
This cocktail bar has a wonderful vibe and is staffed by a team that will produce your drinks with that touch of “Tom Cruise from Cocktail” – they can take a standard drink and tailor it to your taste. With over 200 whiskeys to choose from, and locally crafted beers made from drought-resistant triticale malt, sourced from local farms in regional New South Wales, there will be a drink as individual as you here to enjoy.
2. Virtuoso Amenities
As part of an exclusive partnership with Virtuoso, MTA and Four Seasons can offer you some fabulous inclusions in your room rate. You pay no more than someone who books directly with the hotel and receives a room only rate; and by booking through MTA you can secure these extras listed below which represent amazing value.
Free breakfast for two AND Free Wifi AND a credit of USD100 credit per room on your booking to spend in the hotel (and this makes a pre-dinner drink at Grain and meal at MODE an excellent value evening for you if you utilise the credit this way, or you may prefer room service instead?)
Depending on the hotel room occupancy, you may receive a FREE room upgrade, early check-in and late checkout.
PLUS if you tell me your favourite beverage (red white or sparkles) and favourite snack type (sweet or savoury) you will find a lovely little welcome gift in your room on arrival. Its all part of the Four Seasons treatment and you will feel SO SPECIAL AND WELCOME.
1. The Philosophy of Family
During the pandemic the Four Seasons in Sydney never closed its doors. They had so many staff from overseas on work visas employed at the hotel, that if the hotel closed, their team would have been literally on the street- no job not only means a cancelled visa, but also no money for rent, and there was no way to get home as the borders were closed. These staff were all give the opportunity to retain their jobs if they wanted them, and they worked in any role that was available, and continued professional training and development – this meant that as soon as the hotel was ready to open with full services on offer again as the borders opened and restrictions eased, the Four Seasons was up and ready to operate at pre covid standards as their staff were all on hand. The hotel fought tooth and nail to protect their staff and retain them wherever possible, as the people who work in this hotel are so much more than staff- they are a Four Seasons family.
What really makes this hotel special? Its so much more than my “Top Ten List”
There are many definitions of “special”, and the people of the Four Seasons make every stay special in its own way. What is your special? An occasion? A family gathering, anniversary, honeymoon, or date night? A catch up with friends for a meal, maybe work or corporate travel, a birthday? There is no reason to have a night (or two) that cannot be made more special by the amazing staff at the Four Seasons
My “special” at the hotel is the way I feel after every stay. I work with Eloise and Helen at the Four Seasons Sydney to ensure they know who my guests are, and they are always so well looked after. I am treated the same way when I stay, including having a lovely welcome gift in my room, just like my clients.
I always request a particular waiter to look after me and my clients in MODE for dinner – Dilshan is one of a kind – he has a knack of being laid back enough to have a laugh and a chat with us as we dine so we enjoy our evening, but the professionalism of his service never slips, his knowledge of everything on the menu is perfect, and he remembers our names (out of the hundreds of people he would look after every week) each time we dine. He is genuine, funny and totally adds a whole other dimension to our dining experience at MODE.
Lydia was the manager on duty when I checked in for this most recent visit, and by the time I left on Sunday I felt like I had known her for years and I just wanted to sit down and have a drink and meal with her as I knew it would be a fun time. She exuded warmth and care naturally without any hint of her attitude being “forced” or “for work” – totally natural grace, and genuine care for her guests at every turn.
I have stayed 5 times now in the last two years at Four Seasons Sydney for a combination or work and play, and hope to have many more stays there in the years to come. The staff at this hotel have made it my second home, and made themselves a part of my travel family. You need to make them a part of your travel family. You won’t regret the choice, I promise.