The Grace Hotel, Sydney

Where do you sleep after you’ve shopped ‘till you dropped in Sydney, Australia? I found a deluxe hotel that is within walking distance of the Queen Victoria Building and you’re gonna love it!

The Grace Hotel is superbly located in the heart of the Sydney Central Business District and is just minutes away from the most popular attractions! But once you discover their amazingly comfortable beds and the charm and heritage of the Grace’s Art Deco design, you may not want to leave your room! The Grace Hotel isn’t just a pretty face, she’s a Gilded Grand Dame with quite a history.

In 1926, the Grace Brothers Department Store empire decided to develop this particular site as their headquarters and they modeled the architecture on the Chicago’s Herald Tribune building, the Gothic-revival modernist style. Its 11 stories were completed and opened in 1930. But the history doesn’t end there. Later, during the Second World War, this building was taken over by the US Army and used for their headquarters for small ships. It is believed General MacArthur probably visited the building during his period in Australia. There is a plaque in the hotel that commemorates the US Small Ships Headquarters being here and people can just stand in the left lobby area to read the full history of this hotel. It also has now been classified by the Australian National Trust.

Just about every room on each floor has different décor, which means, that you’ll get a different room every time, so you’ll get a different feel. Unless you fall in love with the one you stayed in last visit. These stylish, spacious rooms have thoughtful amenities to make your stay extremely comfy as well as productive. In-room technology includes a fully interactive television, voice mail and data ports. The usual suspects: in-room safe, mini-bar and iron are also featured here, and of course, there’s my favorite – an individual climate control! Great air conditioning!

Then there are those divine beds. The management won’t tell me their secret, but they are definitely one of the most comfortable and luxurious beds I’ve slept on! Plus, the bathrooms are great! Marble, tile and mirrors surround you with luxury. A deep soaking tub/shower combo in a separate room keeps the steam where you want it! Complimentary luxury toiletries and built-in hairdryers will keep you looking your best!

And if you want to leave the hair-styling to the professionals, check out The Grace’s new in-house salon, Hair Solutions. And if you’re really in the mood for a make-over, head to Oriental Spa or Tranquility Beauty, where you may succumb to the most luxurious treatments. Need to work off some of that great food? Then it’s off to the roof for the Club Grace Health and Fitness Center. The fully-equipped rooftop fitness center offers the latest exercise and training equipment, is that pool ever top class! Qualified fitness associates are on hand for any questions or help with your work out!

All of the staff members here are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to ensure your stay at the Grace is memorable. The management’s attitude is basically to allow people to shine through their own personalities instead of stereo-typing them, making sure that they are trained appropriately, but at the same time, to allow their own personal touch to flow through.

Nowhere is that more evident than in the Grace’s restaurants and bars. The Neo Bistro and Bar is the latest new concept. It’s very much bistro style. The food is modern Australian. It features the freshest of products on a daily basis, and, it’s integrated with the Grace Deli Café. They also now offer a very chic, relaxing location, Bar 77 Grace, Sydney’s latest cocktail haven. Whether it’s a quick workday lunch in the Brasserie courtyard or Grace Deli Café, where a group of 20 can feast on their popular seafood buffet-delicious, you will find something to tingle the taste buds!

Or, how about trying one of the local beers at the Grace’s very own pub, P.J. O’Brian’s, imported complete directly from Ireland and it is the most famous Irish pub in Sydney! Sydney really does have a pub life…oh yeah! The food, drinks and service is top notch at all of the Grace’s restaurants. It’s easy to see why they are all so popular with the locals as well as the overnight guests.

You will eat, drink, sleep and be merry and that’s what the good life is all about! With the Grace Hotel as your base camp, your Sydney vacation is sure to be “brilliant mate!”