Hello, darling

Cara Wagstaff checks in to The Darling, Sydney’s only hotel with a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating.

Arriving at this harbourside hotel, you’d be forgiven for not realising it’s part of The Star Sydney, an enormous complex of entertainment outlets. The Darling is the venue’s boutique accommodation offering. And while it has discrete gaming rooms available, it also offers a day spa, finedining Japanese restaurant, and an eclectic selection of rooms. It is one of just three properties in Australia with a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating.

Forbes uses anonymous judges to ensure the hotel meets up to 900 different criteria points, predominantly focusing on service, to receive the prestigious accolade. Which I can attest is true.

From the concierge to the spa therapists, every hotel employee is helpful and attentive to our needs.

We’re staying in the Penthouse Suite Deluxe, replete with karaoke room. Accessible through a private entry foyer, the 140-square-metre space has floor-to-ceiling windows showing off Sydney Harbour. There is a dining room, lounge with fireplace and a fully equipped kitchen – not that we plan on using it, with the slew of finedining restaurants at our disposal in The Star. The two grandiose bedrooms each have marble ensuites with his-and-hers sinks; my bathroom includes a spa bath and rain shower, which also doubles as a steam room.

All of the penthouses have access to butler service and a private gaming room should the desire to wager arise.

A visit to the hotel’s fifth floor instantly transports me into a state of meditative bliss. The Darling Spa oozes romance with muted lighting and the relaxing sounds of nature. I’m booked in for a massage and facial with therapist Anna, who uses soothing and flowing strokes, getting deep enough to relax my muscles and ease tension. The spa uses German brand Babor’s products, which Anna massages gently into my face and neck.

A stay at The Darling wouldn’t be complete without experiencing Sokyo. Head chef Chase Kojima blends traditional Japanese cuisine with mod-Aus influences, using seasonal ingredients to create dishes like kingfish miso ceviche, shiitake and eggplant tempura and dengakuman (miso-glazed slices of toothfish). Sokyo’s extensive beverage list under the stewardship of sommelier Max Duyvestyn has won Australian Wine List of the Year for four consecutive years. What a way to end the day. thedarling.com.au

SCAN THIS CODE to be transported to the wonderful world of The Darling. Or head to our website and search ‘The Darling’. 01 A Penthouse Deluxe Suite at The Darling 02 Fine dining at Sokyo highlights Japanese traditions 03 High-tech meets glam in a Penthouse Deluxe Suite

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