Hello, Darling

Treat your Valentine to a luxury urban escape at Sydney’s The Darling at The Star.

Some hotels are synonymous with world-class luxury: the Ritz in Paris and the Four Seasons in New York among them. The Darling at The Star has earnt its place alongside them after being awarded five stars by the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide – Sydney’s first boutique hotel to receive such a ranking. World-class facilities make The Darling the perfect place to indulge in a romantic summer staycation; kick back in a sumptuous suite with stunning harbour vistas, feast on fresh sashimi at hatted restaurant Sokyo and pamper yourself at the awardwinning The Darling Spa.

STAY

Leave your to-do list at home and check in to one of The Darling’s 171 guestrooms, suites or penthouses. A good night’s sleep is guaranteed, thanks to incredibly cushy beds (each one has 1000 springs) and pillows hand-picked by you. After enjoying a full English breakfast in bed, wander up to the pool on Level 5; it’s open year-round and heated to a pleasant 26 degrees. Watch the clouds drift across the sky as you sip on a fruit-topped cocktail or snack on bar food.

EAT

Sokyo combines the vibrancy of Tokyo with Sydney’s reputation for sophisticated yet relaxed service. A feature wall of glossy black scalloped tiles and dark timber set the mood for the one-hatted restaurant helmed by celebrated Japanese-American chef Chase Kojima. For a truly special experience, book one of only a handful of seats at the kitchen counter for the sushi omakase menu. In Japanese, omakase means “leave it up to you” – and you can trust the chef to present a menu of the freshest fish of the day. (Pro tip: book this special experience in advance, as there’s limited availability.) Finish your indulgent dinner with yuzu soufflé accompanied by passionfruit jelly and more-ish crème fraîche ice-cream.

DO

No staycation is complete without a luxury spa treatment. The Darling Spa is Sydney’s largest day spa, with 11 treatment rooms plus two couples’ suites, a saltwater jacuzzi and a Moroccan Hammam chamber. Try the Just the Two of Us package, which includes a bath soak, massage and facial. Celebrating an anniversary? Don’t go past Date Night: four hours of total bliss that starts in the Hammam with a full-body exfoliation and mud wrap you apply to each other’s bodies. Shrug off the last of your stresses with an aromatherapy massage and Espa Facial in the VIP treatment room, side by side. Book your stay now at thedarling.com.au