Menzies Hotel Sydney

Just 20 meters from the Wynyard train station, this luxury hotel greets you with red carpets, friendly concierges with sometimes English Accents and the feeling of homely warmth that just keeps you coming back for more.

I was greeted by a lovely concierge who took my bag from me immediately and practically escorted me from the door to the desk (all of about 10 meters away). After checking in, he directed me too my room and promised he'd be up within minutes to deliver my bag and see that I was settled.

Unfortunately, my bag never made it up to the room with the concierge and after an hour of waiting for it, I went back down stairs to find it still sitting on a luggage cart. With no-one around, I actually felt a little guilty just taking my own bag up to my room. Not the best of first impressions, but the service thereafter was simply excellent.

Be wary of where you put your room keys. They are what I call the "credit card design" which easily slots into the door. I promptly put the key into my handbag and found it difficult to open the door each time after that. Little did I know that having it placed in the internal pocket of my bag right next to the magnetic clasp, would wipe the card of it's program and prevent access to my room - oops!! Luckily there was a phone in the hallway, saving me from continually going back and forth from the front desk for new keys!!

My travel agent had arranged for complimentary breakfast each morning and it was definitely worth it. Hot buffet breakfast in the Carrington Resturant was just perfect. From Fruit with your choice of a topping, to scrambles eggs with bacon, mushrooms, to pastries and toasts of all kinds, cerials and more. One cant say no to the "serve yourself and take as much as you like" setting offered.

Dinner was in the Piano Bar for me on both nights. A limited menu of "light" meals though the servings were on the large side. Slightly pricey at $20 a meal, but excellent value when compared to the resturant (at $35 a meal) or the sports bar (which was first and formost, a sporting bar - go figure!! lol)

The best bits:
- close to public transport
- food and service is fantastic
- great place for a little bit of luxury for a short stay

the not so good bits:
-standard rooms felt a little cramped
- possibly feel under dressed unless in a business suit or simmilar
- minibar very expensive ($7.50 for 750ml bottle Fiji Water)

The water pressure of shower is not strong enough... The building is very old, but good services.