Sydney
Australia


The Experience

With its stately Georgian facade and cozy colonial country-house feel, the 100-room Observatory Hotel, down by the water in the Rocks, blends so seamlessly into the historic district that it's hard to believe it only opened in 1993. Taking its name from the nearby Observatory Hill, with its astronomical tower (where you can name your own star), the hotel's stargazing theme runs throughout the fabulously flowery property (and we're not just talking about the celebrity clientele, like Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Richard Branson).

The Rooms

Rooms are a riot of finicky florals, canopy beds, cedar-paneled walls and original sketches. Heavy tapestry curtains conceal sash windows, which open to let in harbor breezes. Marble bathrooms feature big tubs and heated towel racks, while requisite modern conveniences are hidden away in the polished mahogany armoires. Deluxe rooms with water views start at a spacious 533 square feet, but the more flamboyant Junior Suites are worth the upgrade.

The Service

Good old-fashioned style extends to the service, which consistently scoops up top industry awards by going the extra mile to gracefully accommodate requests and lavish guests with personal attention. Pets and children are also welcome, the latter getting their own baby bathrobes. A range of pampering packages add in day trips to nearby wineries or a seaplane ride and picnic at a remote beach.

The Highlights

Take advantage of the excellent day spa, with its 20-meter subterranean pool under a twinkling fiber-optic ceiling. A menu of decadent treatments (think full-body microderm abrasion with diamonds, pearls and gold, followed by a caviar body mask) use products based on Aboriginal healing traditions. Complete the healing at The Galileo restaurant, which serves innovative French cuisine with a nod to Japan in dishes like ocean trout with sweet miso and ginger consommé. End up with a cigar and cognac at the attached Globe Bar, which evokes a gentleman's club with its long marble bar, humidor and library of rare travel and astronomy tomes.

-- Amy Fabris-Shi

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