Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
Sydney, Australia
61-101 Phillip Street, Sydney, Australia, 2000
Original Property Opened in 1966
Historic Hotels Worldwide member since 2023
As Australia’s first international five-star hotel and one of the most iconic historic hotels in Sydney, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has been at the heart of the city’s cultural and social story for more than 160 years.
The journey began in 1854, when Wentworth House opened as a boarding residence on Church Hill. After growing into prominence, a new era began in the 1950s, when Qantas Airways envisioned a hotel that would embody the glamour of the jet set age. Completed in 1966, the new Wentworth Hotel rose as the largest single-brick structure in the Southern Hemisphere. It became Sydney’s cultural stage, hosting New Year’s Eve galas, fashion showcases and many of the city’s most prestigious gatherings. The Wentworth also became the backdrop to world history. Pope Paul VI addressed thousands in the Wentworth Hotel in 1971 during the first papal visit to Australia. In 1983, Princess Diana and then-Prince Charles famously danced in the Wentworth Ballroom, a moment that remains part of Sydney’s collective memory.
The hotel began a new chapter in 2002 under Accor, and by 2004 it was reintroduced as Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, bringing Sofitel’s distinctive French art de vivre (“art of living”) to this Australian icon. With 436 rooms and suites, vibrant dining, and a legacy of hosting history, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth remains a destination where heritage, culture and world-class hospitality converge in the heart of the Sydney central business district.
Discover
- Discover the largest brick building in the Southern Hemisphere. The heritage-listed landmark offers guests a rare opportunity to experience the innovative feat of engineering firsthand. Designed by the architectural firms Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Laurie & Heath under project director John Barney Rodgers, the building’s crescent-shaped structure and elevated design reflect Australia’s post-war optimism and international style. Today, newly reimagined restaurant and bar spaces blend contemporary design with subtle nods to the hotel’s 1960s heritage, creating vibrant social settings that honor the past while embracing the present.
- Step into the timeless glamor of the Wentworth Ballroom, a pillarless space adorned with heritage-listed chandeliers. The Wentworth Ballroom at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has hosted decades of historic gatherings, including royal receptions, political summits, and cultural galas.
- Take a visual journey through the iconic events of the hotel’s storied past. Historical imagery displayed throughout the guestrooms highlight how the grand establishment became not only an Australian architectural achievement, but also a living symbol of Sydney’s thriving cultural landscape.
Explore
- Tour Sydney’s iconic landmarks. Just a short walk from the hotel, guests can explore the world-renowned Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, offering unforgettable performances, guided tours, and panoramic harbor views. Along Macquarie Street, discover Sydney’s colonial heritage through Parliament House, the State Library, and other historic buildings. A stroll through The Rocks reveals cobblestone laneways, sandstone terraces, and weekend markets that echo the city’s earliest days. Around the corner from the premier shopping avenue, Castlereagh Street, the Queen Victoria Building and Strand Arcade blend historic architecture with designer fashion and Australian craftsmanship.
- Explore Australian arts and culture. As Sydney’s official Hotel of the Arts, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has partnered with the Art Gallery of New South Wales for over two decades. The gallery, just minutes away, houses one of Australia’s most significant art collections and hosts the prestigious Archibald Prize. Across Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia showcases leading international and local artists, while the State Library of New South Wales offers rare archives and public programs in its historic Mitchell Building.
- Explore the flora and fauna of Australia. The nearby Royal Botanic Garden Sydney provides a tranquil escape with themed gardens and scenic walking paths. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium introduces visitors to life on the Great Barrier Reef and the diverse creatures of the Indo-Pacific region like the dugong, a relative of the North American manatee. WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo offers up close encounters with koalas and kangaroos as well as opportunities to learn about native wildlife on the continent.
Experience
- Experience “Vivid Sydney,” the city’s annual winter festival of light, music, and ideas. During this stunning festival, buildings, streets, and public spaces are transformed by large-scale light installations and performances. Alongside these highlights, opera, ballet, and theatre performances run year-round, with Sofitel Sydney Wentworth curating exclusive experiences that bring Sydney’s culture closer to guests.
- See Syndey on foot on the Royal Botanic Garden Loop. The Royal Botanic Garden Loop is one of Sydney’s most scenic running routes, winding past manicured gardens, Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, and offering striking views of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge. Additional jogging and walking options include the Domain and the foreshore trail from Circular Quay to Barangaroo.
- Experience the lively Sydney lifestyle at Darling Harbour. Attend year-round festivals at Tumbalong Park or dine with picturesque views at Cockle Bay Wharf. Spend the day at the beloved Darling Harbour playground or venture out onto the water for a stunning sunset cruise.
Taste
- Indulge in dinner and a show with the prix fixe, pre-theatre dining experience at tilda, Sofitel Syndey Wentworth’s premiere restaurant. Located less than a 15-minute walk from the Sydney Opera House, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is ideally suited for a pre-show meal. Before curtain time, enjoy an opening act of fresh Australian flavors to set the tone for the rest of the evening.
- Taste an Australian coffee creation called a flat white. Baristas carefully spoon a small amount of steamed whole milk onto a shot of espresso, providing a richer, creamy coffee mixture when compared to a frothy latte or light cappuccino.
- Explore the cuisine of the Pacific in storefronts and markets throughout Sydney. Sydney’s multicultural influence is seen through ingredients with roots in Malaysia, Thailand, Great Britain, and more. Travel to the Sydney Fish Market to tour the fresh daily catches, learn about the varities of Australian seafood, or join a cooking demonstration.
FEATURED ACCOMMODATIONS
Featured Offers
Book and cancel up to one day prior to arrival with no modification or cancelation fees. Payment due upon hotel check-in. Daily breakfast is included.
Pay in full at the time of booking and save. Daily breakfast is included.
Book and cancel up to one day prior to arrival with no modification or cancelation fees. Payment due upon hotel check-in.
Book the Best Available Rate at this property on HistoricHotelsWorldwide.com and receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, a member of the International National Trusts Organisation.
