The Menzies Sydney Hotel - the premier destination for business and leisure travel

The Menzies Sydney

Stepping out from Wynyard Station one sees the impressive facade of the historic Menzies Hotel Sydney. On entering the grand lobby, the concierge desk and lifts are on the left, the reception desk straight ahead, and the One Four Kitchen on the right.

The inviting decor of The Menzies is impressive with marble columns, chandeliers, leather lounges and decorative plants. There is a subtle elegant black and white striped theme to the decor of The Menzies, reflected on the wall behind reception, the panels along the floor corridors, on the plastic room key cards, and the pens provided in the rooms. Just perfect for me and all the other Collingwood footy fans...

The Menzies bedroom

My check in went smoothly and I was soon on my way to my upgraded Deluxe Suite on the 11th floor which has a separate master bedroom and living area and two bathrooms. This was one of the 446 rooms and suites that the Menzies has on offer.

The welcome gifts of a bottle of wine, organic corn chips and Summer Tomato Relish with Roast Capsicum and Cornichon were appreciated. The corn chips and dip arre handmade by the hotel's executive chef James Knight and are delicious.

The large and airy suite is opulent with subtle wallpaper and solid timber. Its traditional decor is calming and a good haven to come back to relax in after a hectic paced day's activities in Sydney. There is are individual controls in each room for the quite ducted heating so I could adjust the temperature to just my liking. The suite is spotlessly clean.

The large living area has a comfy lounge and sofa chair, coffee table, work desk and chair, and a flat screen TV with Foxtel channels and the of option of pay movies. There is a wardrobe (with iron and ironing board), kitchenette and separate marble bathroom. The window, which can be opened,  overlooks the greenness of Wynyard Park.

The Menzies bathroom

The separate bedroom is large and has a king sized bed, bedside tables, desk, flat scene TV and window overlooking Wynard Park. There is a wardrobe, bathroom, and kitchenette. The large marble bathroom has a bath, shower, toilet, vanity, mirror and hairdryer, with a quality range of Peter Morrissey toiletries supplied. The kitchenette has a well stocked mini-bar, electric jug, and supplies of tea, coffee, sugar and milk.

The Menzies History

The historic Menzies Hotel Sydney was opened just over 50 years ago in 1963 by Premier R.J. Heffron. The hotel was named after Sir Archibald Menzies, Australia's pioneer hotelier, and was the first international hotel built in the city since World War II. It was built at a cost of two and a half million pounds and contained 260 guest rooms and suites plus restaurants, lounges and cocktail bars.

The Menzies living area

Some sections of the hotel basements are over a hundred years old and were in former railway workshops.

The Beach Boys held their Press Conference at the Menzies in 1964 in a themed beach room, where sand and palm trees were brought in to create the right atmosphere.

The hotel had a permanent, retractable ice skating rink in the restaurant which hosted skating stars to entertain the diners.

The first ever Japanese Restaurant to open in a Sydney hotel opened in 1972, called Keisan. This space is now the newly opened Keisan Art Galley.

In 1979 Shell House, the office building next to The Menzies, became part of the hotel, adding an extra 196 rooms.

The Menzies living area

The hotel celebrated its 50th birthday in 2013 with staff dressing in the attire of the 1960's hippy and Beatles era. The lobby featured a 60's inspired lounge room playing old school films and music from the era.

In March 2000 The Menzies joined international hotel group Accor as a 4-star hotel. 

Meetings & Functions

The Menzies hotel is well suited for business functions with 14 function rooms accommodating up to 450 delegates. The Australia Ballroom is the largest meeting space on level two of the hotel and features crystal chandeliers, stunning marble and rich wood panelling. It can fit up to 500 cocktail style and is ideal for large dinners, ball and weddings. It has park view floor to ceiling windows.

Dining at the Menzies

The Menzies breakfast buffet

The Menzies offers unique and distinctive dining settings in The Carrington, Piano Bar, One Four Kitchen and Sporters Bar and Bistro. They all feature friendly service, sumptuous cuisine and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for breakfast, lunch or dinner. On my second evening at The Menzies I enjoyed a cappuccino coffee from the One Four Kitchen seated in a comfy sofa chair gazing at the flames of the nearby fire.

The buffet breakfast features a variety of hot and cold dishes, and each morning a freshly made fruit juice is offered. On the morning I went there it was watermelon and apple juice, a combination I enjoyed and had not experienced before. The type of juice is changed each morning. 

The Menzies Leisure Facilities

The Menzies gym

The Menzies Hotel has an impressive range of leisure facilities for its guests to use including a gymnasium, indoor heated pool, spa and sauna. The gym has a range of work-out machines, some of which are programable to your fitness level. You can exercise to the music videos played on the wall mounted TV. The pool area is surrounded by tiled walls with interesting art pieces interspersed on the tiles. I could make out Egyptian style birds, plant leaves and flowers, but there were others I could not decide if they were hamburger buns, luscious lips or something else. I found the pool not quite warm enough for a winters swim, but the spa water was nice and warm. The sauna was already hot each time I went into it, so I did not have that annoying waiting period till it heated up.

The Menzies Location

The Menzies first floor

The Menzies Hotel is located at 14 Carrington Street in Sydney. Access is easy by train, as you just have to go up to street level by the lift or escalators from Wynyard Station, cross Carrington Street and you are then at the front door of The Menzies. There is a taxi stand and bus stops just outside. It is not far to The Rocks, Circular Quay, Martin Place, Pitt Street Mall & Darling Harbour. There are two supermarkets and plenty of cafes and takeaway food shops in the arcades and shopping centres surrounding The Menzies.

In all, I found The Menzies Hotel a charming traditional hotel well located in Sydney. It is ideal for both leisure and business travellers. The service offered by the front of house staff and room staff is excellent. The friendly and professional staff make The Menzies a delight to stay at when visiting Sydney.

The Menzies lobby

The Menzies Sydney

14 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
H2977@accor.com
Phone: +61 2 9299 1000 | Fax: +61 2 9290 3819

Website: http://www.menzies.com.au