How Capella Sydney hotel encapsulates Australia’s rich heritage with colonial architecture, restaurants focusing on local produce, and a location near the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House

Last year, the brand debuted in Australia with Capella Sydney, located in the Central Business District and a stone’s throw from Sydney Harbour and the city’s most famous landmarks: the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Housed in a heritage building from the early 20th century that used to be the Department of Education, Capella Sydney opened after a seven-year-long restoration project that preserved the structure’s sandstone facade while transforming the interior into a five-star luxury hotel that has quickly become Sydney’s most buzzed-about destination for locals and savvy travellers alike.

The other dining option is Brasserie 1930, named after the year the building was completed. It offers hearty dishes that celebrate the best of Australian produce in a beautiful setting that comes alive at dinner and is also busy for brunch, Australia’s unofficial favourite meal. If you like inventive cocktails, you must check out McRae Bar, where mixologists concoct drinks that are modern twists on “the first golden age of the cocktail”.

As you would expect from a Capella property, the rooms and suites are beautifully appointed and equipped with all the amenities and comforts of a hotel of this calibre. Decorated with works by Australian artists, they come with stand-alone tubs, linen from Frette and custom toiletries made in partnership with British skincare company Haeckels.

Located on the sixth floor, next to the 20-metre heated swimming pool and the fitness centre, Auriga Spa aims to offer a journey of “wellness transformation” for your mind and body. Signature treatments include the New Moon and Full Moon massages, which work wonders on jet-lagged bodies in need of some tender loving care. Facials are performed with products from Australian label Synthetics Organics, based in Byron Bay and known for the bestselling Notox Ageless Glow Serum (make sure to ask your therapist to apply a few drops at the end of your facial for a major glow boost).

Capella Sydney also offers experiences that connect guests to Sydney’s rich heritage, ranging from the Sydney Architecture Walk, created in collaboration with award-winning architect Eoghan Lewis, to history tours that give insight into the colonial history of the city by exploring the laneways and streets of The Rocks, the quaint neighbourhood by the harbour.

With 192 rooms and suites, and buzzy eateries that are already some of Sydney’s hottest reservations, Capella Sydney is certainly living up to its name. Pontiac Land, the developer behind the group, has bigger plans for the property and is currently expanding to a heritage building next door. Lands at Capella – a complex of co-working spaces, luxury retail, dining establishments and more – is set to open in 2026, providing yet another reason to go back to Capella Sydney and make it your base to explore Australia’s most beautiful city.