Towering over Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, Shangri-La, located in Sydney’s historic Rocks neighbourhood, features a sky-high restaurant and a serene spa Location Shangri-La Sydney is located in The Rocks, the former 18th-century penal colony turned tourist hub. Its cobbled lanes, sandstone terraces and warehouses are now vibrant restaurants, markets and galleries. The Rocks Discovery Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art and colonial-era pubs, such as the Hero of Waterloo, are moments from Shangri-La. You’re less than 20 minutes on foot from the Sydney Opera House, as well as the Royal Botanical Gardens and Circular Quay, from where ferries depart to Watson’s Bay, Manly and Taronga Zoo. The hotel is a a 15-minute drive to Central Station. From here you can get a train to Sydney Airport in less than 30 minutes, or travel out to the buzzy neighbourhoods of Surry Hills, Paddington and Darlinghurst. Bondi Beach is 45 minutes away by bus. Read more: A boutique hotel that feels like a member’s club in Sydney’s Surry HillsThe vibe Shangri-La’s skyscraper building affords guests spectacular views across Sydney Harbour, from the Opera House to Harbour Bridge and the Blue Mountains to the west – it’s bucket list stuff. Built in the late 1990s, the tower was taken over by Shangri-La in 2003. Both the exterior and communal areas feel a little old school (think patterned carpets, brass accents and timber panelling), but high-shine floors and chandeliers evoke classic luxury. A members’ lounge is available to Horizon Club and suite guests (Shangri-La)The relaxed Lobby Lounge is a bustling spot where guests span families, young and older couples, groups of friends, and solo travellers. A pianist plays soft music during peak hours, and there’s a small sun-trap terrace with a koi pond. With postcard-perfect views from floor-to-ceiling windows, the Altitude Restaurant and Blu Bar on floor 36 are heaving at sunset with tourists taking selfies, and locals celebrating special occasions.Book nowService Staff in golden blazers and ties have your bags taken care of within seconds of your arrival, and there’s a warm welcome at the check-in desk. The Altitude and Blu Bar team deliver knowledgeable service to match the special atmosphere, and the spa therapists are highly skilled. The turndown service sees a sweet treat left on your pillow each evening. Bed and bath There are 564 rooms at Shangri-La Sydney – whichever one you’re in, you wake to a Sydney icon outside the vast windows (sleep with the blinds open). The spacious entry level Deluxe Barangaroo City Rooms offer glimpses of Observatory Hill and northern Darling Harbour, while the hotel’s Horizon Club rooms have sweeping views of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Like the communal areas, the rooms are dripping in nostalgic luxury: carpets and headboards in Asian-inspired cherry blossom prints, teak wood surfaces, linen grey armchairs, and king-size beds offering cloud-like comfort. The Premium room bathrooms are marble-clad, featuring freestanding tubs – some are next to windows for panoramic bathing – alongside rainfall showers; while the Spa Rooms include hydrotherapy baths. Suites boast sprawling living areas, kitchenettes and panoramic views, and allow guests access to the Horizon Club Lounge on levels 30 to 35. This is also open to members of the Shangri-La Horizon Club, which is a worldwide premium service, offering “VIP” privileges. Those with access to the lounge are also entitled to private check-in, as well as a late check-out time of 4pm. All the bedrooms include plush Shangri-La robes and slippers, Nespresso pod coffee machines and irons. All rooms have a view of one of Sydney’s iconic sites (Shangri-La)Read more: This luxury hotel in Queensland looks out across one of the world’s only evergladesFood and drink Cafe Mix is where breakfast is served. There’s a dedicated Asian buffet station and continental buffet (think porridge, pastries and fresh fruit), or choose from a classic la carte menu. The all-day dining spot also serves a lunch and dinner buffet, where global cuisines such as Indian curries, Japanese sushi and sashimi, Hokkien noodles and Chinese barbecue meats are followed with your choice of treats from a vast dessert station, complete with a chocolate fountain. On floor 36, Altitude is a truly memorable dining experience. Opt for the five or seven-course chef’s tasting menu, which delicately blends Australian ingredients and Asian influences. I sampled the truffled honey donuts before moving on to cajun tuna tataki, yamba prawn and crab trottole (a highlight), honey glazed duck, and pan-fried pink snapper. The sommelier wine pairings – many of which hail from the nearby Blue Mountains or Victoria’s Yarra Valley – are note-perfect. The limoncello meringue pie is a great palette cleanser before more cocktails at the adjacent Blu Bar (get the honey-infused Dreaming Earth, the zesty Trillion KM, or the punchy martini). Horizon Club guests and those who are staying in suites can eat breakfast in the Horizon Lounge, where Sydney Harbour views are paired with a continental buffet and Shangri-La’s signature Asian flavours (spring rolls and fried rice, along with pancakes and bacon). An afternoon tea of freshly baked scones, finger sandwiches and sweet pastries also takes place daily in the club lounge, while evening canapes and drinks (think dumplings, sliders or arancini) are served with complimentary wine, beers and spirits. The Altitude restaurant is popular for special occasions (Shangri-La)Facilities Shangri-La’s Chi spa is a tranquil space with treatment rooms, a calming waiting area and invigorating treatments that blend Australian healing techniques with Asian wellness practices. Choose from facials incorporating eye collagen masks or red light therapy, or massages focusing on deep tissue repair and tension relief. The spa also offers wellness journeys, from detox cleanses to escapes for couples, and group pamper stays. There are options for pregnant guests.The Health Club could do with modernising: open to guests as well as members, the space feels more like a local gym than that of a five-star luxury hotel. But it does the job, with an indoor heated pool, dry and infrared sauna, a whirlpool and a large, well-equipped 24-hour gym. Shangri-La offers laundry and valet services, with parking available at an extra cost. The Chi spa offers a wide range of treatments (Shangri-La)Read more: Introducing dystopia tourism – my city break in Broken HillAccessibility Shangri-La’s 36 floors are all accessible by a lift or ramp. The hotel offers four wheelchair-accessible guest rooms, as well as one accessible Horizon Club room. Accessible bathrooms include a walk-in shower with a curtain, a shower seat and grab bars installed on the walls. These rooms do not include a bathtub.Pet policy Pets are not permitted. Check-in/check-out Check-in is from 3pm, check out is 11am.Family-friendly? The Shangri-La Sydney welcomes families. There are large or connecting rooms that feature fold-out beds for children; cots and cribs can be added on request. There is a child-friendly heated indoor pool and kids’ menus available, as well as babysitting services. Shangri-La is housed in a towering skyscraper (Shangri-La)At a glanceBest thing: The unrivalled views across Sydney Harbour. Perfect for: First-time visitors to Sydney. Not right for: Those looking for hyper-modern design.Instagram from: The Altitude restaurant, looking out across Darling Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Book nowAddress: 176 Cumberland St, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW 2000Phone: +61 2 9250 6000Website: shangri-la.comRead more: This heritage-listed hotel is perfect for first-time visitors to SydneyDaisy was a guest of Shangri-La Sydney