I thought it was time I shared some behind-the-scenes photos from my stay at Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall with one of my best friends, Erin.
Erin and I met in London eight years ago through our then boyfriends (Erin's now husband) and we instantly hit it off. It could have had something to do with the fact we were made to sit through a soccer rain in the pouring rain. Whatever it was, I'm thankful to the two boys for introducing us as we've had so much fun together since then!
Normally when I head to Sydney, I stay with Erin and her family, but this time, with the kind folks at Adina Apartment Hotels offering me a room for a few days, we decided Erin should leave hubby Mark and gorgeous 18-month-old daughter Rosie at home and instead come drink cocktails, dance and bunker down for room service and some girl-time with me-and it was wonderful.
We try our best to see each other at least once a year, sometimes squeezing in an extra visit along the way, so this was such a fun way to hang out, catch up and basically feel like we were both on a mini vacation!
There were hundreds and thousands covered cocktails, seemingly endless rounds of prawn dumplings, some singing in the street, Uber karaoke and a nice little dance to Dire Straits' Romeo and Juliet in the midst of a crowd of rugby watching guys at an Irish pub. All topped off with a stop at McDonalds on the way back to the hotel.
Basically it was everything a girls' night should be.
The Accommodation
With eight different room types ranging from a Studio Queen up to the luxe Premier 2 Bedroom King/Twin apartment, so there's plenty of choice when it comes to size, comfort and budget.
All of the rooms at Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall have a modern but classic, comfortable feel to them and many have panoramic city or harbour views of Sydney, perfect for watching the sun set of an evening.
The kind folks at Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall put me up in one of a Studio King Room with a view over the city AND Darling Harbour (spoilt!).
Each Studio King Room also boasts a kitchenette with microwave, toaster, kettle, bar fridge, crockery and cutlery, which would be handy for those looking for a few little creature comforts (although I wisely passed on re-heating my half eaten cheeseburger when hungover on Sunday morning!)
Erin and my stay was nice and quiet, no noise from other guests (just ourselves laughing in the hallway as we made our way back to the room after a few cocktails) or crazy street noise.
If you're after an easy bite to eat, Black & Bronze located off the lobby offers a delicious menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a relaxed and fun environment, plus their breakfast menu is served until late so you can take your time enjoying the selection of tasty options and designer omelettes.
Hotel facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool (which I used to cure my hangover!), gymnasium, sauna as well as restaurant delivery and pantry service so you can cook and entertain yourself.
The Location
Located on Kent Street in Sydney's CBD, just a stone's throw from Town Hall Station, Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall was perfectly located for everything I wanted to do.
The hotel is about a 5 to 10 minute to walk from Hyde Park, Chinatown, Haymarket and Pyrmont as well as the Queen Victoria Building and Pitt Street Mall, which gives you access to all the shops (hello Myer, Zara, Rodeo Show and Westfield!), movies, cafes and everything else you could need during your stay.
While, if you leave the hotel and turn left, it's just a short downhill stroll to Darling Harbour, The Star Sydney and Circular Quay. Darling Harbour offers a fantastic harbourside location with so many great dining and entertainment options your toughest choice will be deciding where to start!
Also along the waterfront, you'll also find Sydney Sea Life Aquarium and The Australian Maritime Museum.
You can also walk, or enjoy a short ride on the bus or the City Circle train on the Hotel's doorstep to see iconic attractions including the Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay Ferries, , and the Harbour Bridge.
If you're a local planning a staycation, you can park on-site at Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall for $35 per day, just speak to the front desk to arrange parking, while those travelling from out of town can jump in a taxi for about $30 (depending on traffic conditions) or can catch the AirportLink train from the Domestic Airport to Town Hall for $18 one way.
The Verdict
If you're planning a trip to Sydney and looking for a great place to stay that's chilled out, comfortable and close to all the amazing activities the inner city has to offer, Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall is definitely close to everything you could possibly want to see!
Do like we did and spend a few days in town shopping, eating at restaurants and getting your caffeine fix at one of the great local spots; try at The Star for dinner, at Darlinghurst for cocktails and Bowery Lane on O'Connell St for breakfast.
It would also be perfect for Sydney locals looking for a Staycation weekend in the city.
