The West Hotel Sydney Curio Collection by Hilton is best summed up in three words: stylish, boutique and efficient. It’s also different from its big sister, the Hilton Sydney. It all comes down to size. Now, size does matter, but if you’re like me, it’s not the biggest or flashiest hotel in town that necessarily shines the brightest.

When you’re looking for affordable hotels in the Sydney CBD, there is an avalanche of choice with price, location and inclusions all contributing to the mix. So, where does the West Hotel Sydney fit into the mix, and why should you stay here (or not)?

First, let’s start with the fact the West Hotel Sydney Curio Collection by Hilton is near Darling Harbour, a location that serves as a sweet spot that’s away from bustling tourist hubs like Circular Quay but close enough to everything that Sydney has to offer.

Some people make the mistake of thinking the West Hotel Sydney Curio Collection is just a business hotel, but it offers so much more when it comes to ambience and thoughtful, stylish design traits for couples. This is especially true if you choose a King Waratah Premium room which are very spacious and romantic.

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The West Hotel Sydney Curio Collection hotel has a compact collection of 182 designer rooms and suites named after Australian flora, starting at the King Acacia Room then moving up in category to the King Banksia Deluxe, King Waratah Premium, and the West Suite. Interconnecting rooms can be used to create a two-bedroom suite with two bathrooms if you’re travelling with family or friends.

Each of these rooms features a modern colour palette of black and white with splashes of blues and greens. Add a few tasteful Australian themed design details and the rooms are quintessentially Aussie without being a cliché. It’s worth noting that interior space is on the compact side of things if you book a standard room, but they do deliver on comfort with a nice king bed and a walk-in shower/bathroom.

The only issue we found in our suite was a lack of cupboards or drawers for putting away our clothes. There was a work deck with a lamp and power outlets that ticked the box for laptop wrangling or paper shuffling for those not on a leisure stay. Some other nice features of the rooms include a Nespresso coffee machine, a kettle, Vittoria coffee pods and T2 tea. A 49-inch smart TV that comes with Google Chromecast ticks the entertainment option.

We also liked the spacious walk-in shower which came with bath products are from Mr Smith toiletries. These are Australian-made products and continue the botanical theme as they’re crafted from ingredients passionflower, Kakadu plum and frankincense. Big fluffy towels and bathrobes are also supplied, encouraging you to have a bath and then kick back and relax.

If you’re staying in one of the King Waratah Premium rooms, you also get a complimentary mini bar (standard rooms get water and snacks). There were Little Creatures craft beers, canned ‘hipster’ cocktails, Cokes and drinking water, all of which were replenished daily. We enjoyed the protein bar and packet of very nice popcorn to tide us over before a late dinner.

The West Hotel in Sydney also has a Dyson library where you can borrow fancy hair styling gear like an Airwrap, Corrale hair straightener and Supersonic hair dryer. My wife was far more excited about this than I was (unlike me, she’s got hair).  

Our stay also came with breakfast at Solander on the ground floor. This includes a buffet selection, plus hot dishes and a choice of eggs cooked however you like. There’s also an à la carte selection available for a more personal choice, but the buffet is comprehensive. Barista coffee isn’t included but there’s a DIY machine.

For more dining at Solander, there are lunch and dinner options with a wide à la carte choice and often specials. For example, at the time of writing you could choose between three (large) burgers with chips and a soft drink for $25 dollars for lunch. However, the very best deal is the Bottomless Rose lunch or dinner. It’s an absolute steal with a very generous six courses that includes bottomless house wines (not just rose), beers or soft drinks for one and a half hours.

We booked in for dinner, and we were very impressed with the quality and quantity of the food, the wines and the overall value. One thing we weren’t expecting was the high quality of the house wines on offer. These were not the usual all-inclusive bottom shelf drops but a nice mix of recognisable brands that we would gladly pay to enjoy again by the glass at another time.

Even if you aren’t staying at the West Hotel Sydney Curio Collection, it’s worth dropping in for a pre-dinner drink in the bar beforehand, especially pre-weekend and more importantly around the festive season. Not just because of the happy hour which goes from 5pm to 6.30pm, but because of the people watching sideshow out the window.

What we experienced was a passing parade of fashion, comedy, flirting and romance, all unfolding before us as people walked past outside. The bar sits at a fraction lower than street level so you can people watch to your heart’s content without other people staring right back at you. The lobby isn’t large, but there’s a separate seating area where you enter Solander that works well as a networking space. There’s also an attractive outdoor seating area out the back.

My overall impression of the West Hotel Sydney Curio Collection by Hilton was a definite 5 stars, even if this property can only achieve four by design as it doesn’t have a pool. The seamless combination of this hotel’s decor, style, and great location exceeded our expectations, plus the added level of effortless customer service delivered with a smile really hit the mark.

Disclosure: The writers stayed as guests of the West Hotel Sydney Curio Collection. They would not hesitate to stay, drink and dine at this hotel again at their own expense.

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