Sir Stamford at Circular Quay

We had a comfortable relaxing stay but it wasn't exactly 5 star. It did feel like we had gone back in time looking at some of the decor and furniture. ||But below are some issues we noticed:||- Furniture in the rooms needs to be upgraded. It's very worn out. Carpet in reception is very worn out in some places. Good to have the historical majestic feel but some things need to be restored. ||- TV was old and Foxtel was not available which is not acceptable for a 5 star hotel. ||- Buffet Breakfast was not worth the extra $39 per person. Would be nice if the breakfast included some halal meat options and more variety like chia seed pudding, Bircher muesli etc. It was al almost basic offering

Our room (605) had great space and a lovely view of the quay. The bed was very comfortable. The room appointments were a bit tired and there were a couple of minor maintenance issues, like a malfunctioning balcony lock and a sink issue. I wasn’t a fan of the shower curtains, but that’s what you get in older-style rooms. There was a quadruple power adaptor under bedside table - a small but handy inclusion.||I strongly suggest arranging hotel parking with your room because it made life much easier with bags. The staff were friendly and efficient. The breakfast was ok, but probably a 3 out of 5 in quality and variety.||I was most disappointed with the fitness centre. The hotel website advertises a “selection of cardio machines,” but three out of four of those machines were non-functional. The sauna was also out of order, but that at least was forewarned on the website. Perhaps their regular clientele aren’t concerned with fitness centres, but it left me with a sour taste and I started noticing more of the tired hotel features.||I reported the fitness centre and minor room issues to the hotel. They were quick to respond with an acknowledgement email. I wasn’t expecting a discount, so not really surprised none were offered. ||On the plus side, the location is extremely convenient - a very short walk to shopping, restaurants, and circular quay.||After my experience and reading some of the reviews, I’m a little surprised the hotel is rated at 4.5. For a hotel that advertises itself for internationally renowned classic luxury, I suggest keeping expectations measured and appreciating its history.

We recently stayed at the Sir Stamford Hotel at Circular Quay and absolutely loved it. The building is full of character—such a beautiful old heritage place with gorgeous antique-style furniture and lovely period details everywhere. It felt so warm, cosy and a little bit like stepping back in time (in the best way!). The staff were all super friendly and welcoming, which made the stay even better. I also really appreciated how close it was to the shops, restaurants, and the water—it’s such a great spot to explore the city.

I recently stayed at the Sir Stamford Hotel in Sydney and couldn’t have been more impressed. The room was incredibly spacious – easily one of the largest I’ve ever stayed in – with stunning views over the city and harbour. The location is unbeatable, right in the heart of Sydney with easy access to the tram, shops, restaurants, and attractions.||The beds were super comfy, making it a perfect place to unwind after a big day out. The breakfast buffet was a real highlight – fresh, delicious, and with plenty of variety to suit all tastes.||What really stood out was the friendly and welcoming staff who made the whole stay even more enjoyable. And for the size of the room, the amenities, and the location – it was fantastic value. I was genuinely impressed.||Highly recommend the Sir Stamford for anyone visiting Sydney. I’ll definitely be booking here again!

The location is fantastic! However, it lacks the basic items to provide comfortability. We have 3 members and only 2 towels, 2 mugs, 2 teaspoon for usage. There is definitely no microwave in the room or the whole building for usage. The toilet light is on sensor mode and automatically turned off every 4 seconds, whether there is people using the facility or not. My sister afraid of the dark, she literally fell ill. ||||The staff members are exceptionally friendly. Hooray to the staff members.

The room was nice with vintage furniture. The service and hospitality are excellent. The only thing we didn’t like is the breakfast. The location and the included free parking made the experience even more rewarding.

Outdated Policies, Embarrassing Service, and Zero Accountability ||||We booked the 3-night staycation package that included parking and breakfast, expecting a relaxing break. What we got instead was a frustrating, outdated, and frankly unacceptable experience.||||At check-in, we were blindsided by a $200 per day “security deposit” for incidentals—despite no minibar in the room and everything already being pre-paid. After pushing back, it was reduced to $100 per day, but the fact remains: it’s a ridiculous and archaic policy. In 2025, most modern hotels have moved past this kind of guest-unfriendly practice. To add insult to injury, the funds can take up to a week to be returned—leaving me short on money for the duration of the stay.||||Breakfast was included in our package, yet every single morning we had to stand there awkwardly while staff “checked with reception” because our name was never on the list. It was embarrassing and completely avoidable. This level of disorganisation shows a complete lack of care for the guest experience.||||While the room itself was clean, the bathroom lighting was shockingly bad—dim, impractical, and clearly not designed with any guest comfort in mind.||||As if all that weren’t enough, I emailed the hotel after our stay to raise these concerns and never received so much as an acknowledgment. No apology, no explanation—just silence. That’s not just poor service, it’s downright unprofessional.||||Save yourself the trouble. There are plenty of hotels that treat their guests with respect, operate with modern standards, and actually respond to feedback. This isn’t one of them.

Great location for a English style traditional hotel. Loved the decor, although a little bit of touch up paint to some of the furniture would help it look a little more loved (little cost). Beautiful bathrooms and spacious rooms. I was a little surprized that we werent helped with our luggage to the rooms, as we are in our 70's. Not a big problem, just a little extra touch would have been nice. We didnt have breakfast, however the tea coffee and hot chocolate etc in the room was lovely, well thought out. We would love to visit again here, as the location was perfect, walking distance to the city and the circular quay. We went on cruise, so a very short walk to ship. We stayed 2 days prior to cruise and 1 night at the end.We felt the hotel was a real treat and felt Very Royal !!

A lovely place to stay in Sydney. The hotel has a Queen Victoria and Prince Albert theme. High tea on the weekends only. China displays all over to enjoy. The staff was amazing as was the room. Our 8th floor balcony looked over the Royal Botanical Garden's and the Opera House. It is so nice to open the balcony doors when the weather is crisp and let the city in. The pool is small as is the fitness room on the 5th floor. The rooms themselves are spacious with a sitting area and desk to enjoy. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate with a hot pot to make boiling water is very nice. Definitely a great pick when staying in Sydney.

Once again, David on concierge has gone above and beyond. We are so grateful for his help around Mother's Day weekend and helping us organise everything.

I love that the other review for this place is 5 stars. Unfortunately, it's in the wrong place. I is for a dining experience; the Hotel is called Sir Stamford At Circular Quay and the restaurant is called The Dining Room. It doesn't really matter though, because both are easily 5 stars. I was jet lagged and a little annoyed with my cab driver when we arrived here in the early afternoon. The gentleman behind the desk checked me in quickly and got me a room even though I was a bit early. He was friendly and informative (I wish I could remember his name) and just talking with him for a moment made me feel a lot better. We went up to our room, our home for the next week, and it was darling. I loved the tub, which I used every day to relax in. The Juliette balcony was adorable and I probably spent 1/4 of my time in the room out there. Beds are clean and comfy and even with Vivid going on just a block away, noise was never an issue. I recommend getting breakfast with the room because (as the other review shows) it is delicious and well worth it. All the staff I encountered was great! The pool is an outdoor heated pool and you can see a little of the quay if you swim up to the edge, It also has a small fitness area, but we got plenty of exercise exploring the city. The location is perfect. You are literally just a few minutes from the Opera House, the water and Customs House which comes in very handy if you need free wifi! You are also just a few steps from the free bus that will take you around the city. I can't imagine their was a better location to stay on our trip and I am so glad I chose Sir Stamford! I highly recommend it.

Iced water on check in. Apples on every floor. Hot chocolate in room. Top floor views of circular key. Near the opera house. What can we say a good spot for a great theatrical weekend in Sydney. For me close to office for meeting on Macquarie st. Easy to access from airport via circular quay station on the airport line. Easy no fuss transfer for the business trip.

We booked this hotel cause of the great location. Will come back due to the awesome staff. Don't remember her name, but she was from Brazil, at check in was so gracious. Michael the concierge could not have been better. Every one there was nice. The room was very spacious and had a partial view of both bridge and opera house. When we arrived early from a 15 hour LAX flight of course our room wasn't ready but we were offered a shower and luggage storage, that was perfect. Loved the wombats too!

DECENT FOR PRICE SMALL FLAWS BUT GOOD I stayed recently and found the rooms to be both gorgeous and have great views. Although we were facing the gardens we could see the peak of the opera house. We didn't order room service due to price and all ($$ per meal ) $25 average) but ate out every night. The location seemed silly at first but was REALLY convenient with the ferries, trains and bus down the street ( 1-2.5 mins ). I highly suggest getting a Opal Card. Like a card for the bus,ferry and train ...that is free but you add money and just "tag" on. The bell boys were helpful and nice mannered. The rooms where an average size and where neat and tidy from the maids. WORD TO THE WISE: The Mini Fridge is IN THE SET OF DRAWERS. We where really confused but found it when unpacking. The Juliet Balcony was difficult to open but you just have to turn it fully to the right all the way to the ground.

We were staying elsewhere (gasp!!) and happened to walk by Sir Stamford while looking for a place to eat breakfast. Decided to stop in and try their breakfast. Excellent service, excellent food, good prices. What more could we ask for?

High Tea review only, and for the gluten-free one: absolutely fantastic, would recommend to everybody. I have had high tea in various countries around the world now; it's always an experience, of course...but here it was a good one in spite of my body forcing me to go gluten-free: Tasty sandwiches, crisp macarons, chocolates of loveliness, and oh my God, THE GF SCONES WITH FRESHLY WHIPPED CREAM AND HOUSEMADE JAM WERE TO DIE FOR. (My sis says the normal menu was also tasty. ;)

Lovely little hotel, great location. Be forewarned...for early arrival from the states they charge for an extra night. If your plans change, they require 24 hour notice of cancellation or you will be charged again for another night.

This is a great hotel. Staff were very friendly. The rooms are large and particularly the bathroom with sensor lights that come on as you enter a nice touch. The view of the park is very relaxing and the balcony gives even more space. I did some hotel hopping when I got back to Sydney recently and this was the best value for money I found. The only suggestion I would make is that they update the shower controls which seem to be a throwback to the worst of Italian hotels from the 80's. Installing a modern and easily operated flickmix control would fit in with the standards of the rest of the otherwise brilliant hotel experience on offer here.