Overview
In the 1990s the Ritz-Carlton Sydney, located in Double Bay, was the city’s most glamorous hotel.
Welcoming guests from Bill Clinton to Princess Diana, the Ritz-Carlton was probably most infamous for being the hotel in which Michael Hutchence of INXS fame was found dead.
But the hotel closed down in 2009.
In 2014 it reopened as the Intercontinental Double Bay.
This is one of two Intercontinental Hotels in Sydney, the other being in the heart of the CBD (which has recently been refurbished).
Hotel
The Intercontinental Double Bay is a low rise affair that wraps around an internal courtyard.
The hotel has a boutique number of rooms at 140 only, many of which have their own private balconies.
Location
Located in the heart of Sydney’s glamourous Eastern Suburbs, Double Bay feels expensive.
The area has a lovely village feel and offers plenty of cafes, restaurants and high-end stores.
Although traffic is usually heavy, it is very easy to access central Sydney or Bondi Beach from here.
Room
UCT stayed in a Classic Balcony Village View Room.
The room was comfortable with a king-sized bed and all marble bathroom.
The nicest feature of the room was a small balcony that contained a table and chairs which was the perfect place to enjoy a morning coffee overlooking the activty in the village below.
The rooms had a chaise lounge and a table with two comfortable chairs around it.
There was a lack of cupboard storage confined to the wardrobe at the entrance of the room.
Overall the room was very comfortable and a lovely place to spend some time.
Food and Drink
The hotel’s dining option are limited to “the bar” and the “upper bar”.
UCT had breakfast in “the bar” which offered a small buffet and good quality plus the ability to order a limited number of dishes from an al carte menu.
The coffee and food are of high quality and the space itself is all bright colours and comfortable furniture.
The “upper bar” is the bar around the rooftop pool which because of the limited space available is reserved for hotel guests only.
Amenities
The hotel has a modern functional gym and a fantastic rooftop swimming pool.
You can enjoy a cocktail and snacks at the pool.
Final Word
The Intercontinental Double Bay is the only significant hotel in the village of Double Bay and it therefore offers something unique to the Sydney hotel scene.
UCT’s stay was very comfortable and the hotel does everything well.
If you want a five-star experience outside of Sydney’s CBD then this is a very good option.
