{"id":33314,"date":"2014-05-30T11:38:40","date_gmt":"2014-05-30T01:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/blog\/?p=33314"},"modified":"2018-05-14T08:40:57","modified_gmt":"2018-05-13T22:40:57","slug":"amazing-grace-a-sydney-hotel-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/amazing-grace-a-sydney-hotel-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazing Grace: a Sydney Hotel review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt\u2019s the pretty building on the corner,\u201d<\/em> says the taxi driver as we pull up on King Street.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I peer out the window while scrounging in my purse finding dollars to pay him. He\u2019s right, the Grace Hotel<\/a> is one of those stare-at buildings. It\u2019s different from the rest, with stained glass windows and a jagged concrete exterior.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Stare at Building<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s only early, but the smiling face of concierge pulling the glass door aside tells me it\u2019s gonna be a great day. I\u2019m in town visiting the Sydney lastminute office and tonight- The Grace is my home.<\/p>\n

Waiting to check-in, I look around at the foyer- it\u2019s wide, super posh and lit up with pretty flowers.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Foyer<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019ve gotta start work in half an hour, so I grab my key, take the lift up to the 10th floor and quickly throw my bag inside my Superior King room. I do a quick suss out, resisting the urge to flop on the massive bed- it was an early start in Brisbane<\/a> this morning.<\/p>\n

\"My<\/a>

My room<\/p><\/div>\n

Big window, check. Huge king bed- check. Designer soaps- check.<\/p>\n

The toiletries are totally take-away worthy, by Aussie designer Peter Morrisey. He\u2019s even initialed the soap. (I\u2019ll be stashing those away for later.)<\/p>\n

\"Peter<\/a>

PM Soap<\/p><\/div>\n

Heading out again- I navigate my way to the office.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s clear the Grace is close to all of Sydney\u2019s good bits. I can see Darling Harbour<\/a> a few streets away, and The Star<\/a> building peeks out when stretch my neck near the traffic lights.<\/p>\n

Finding food is easy. I take a mental note that Vapiano is next door in case I crave some tasty Italian later. There\u2019s also a Thai restaurant down the street, dozens of coffee shops and plenty of convenience stores nearby.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s only when I get back from work in the evening when I realise just how huge this heritage building is. It runs the entire block.<\/p>\n

\"Florals<\/a>

Florals in tall vases<\/p><\/div>\n

Opening as a Grace Brothers department store in 1930, the building became a hotel in 1997. I adore the florals in the foyer, and find myself staring at the high ceilings- I would have totally shopped here. This stunning feature beyond the lobby is also particularly distracting.<\/p>\n

\"looking<\/a>

Don’t forget to look up!<\/p><\/div>\n

I head to bed early, leaving buildings buzzing behind my window. The curtains do a great job of turning my room from bright city dwelling to isolated cave. I sleep very well<\/b>.<\/p>\n

The next morning, I share the wooden lift down to breakfast with a Pharrel Williams blasting, Lorna Jane wearing fitness fanatic- she\u2019s just come from the rooftop gym. I should have brought my sneakers.<\/p>\n

Breakfast is held in the Grace Brasserie and is more than substantial. For those with a gluten intolerance- you\u2019ll find cereal and toast for your morning bite. For others, cakes, croissants, and an Asian selection are also here to choose from. Any type of diet discipline is lost as I carry yoghurt, muesli, French toast and a croissant back to my table. What? A mid-week work trip still counts as a holiday, right?<\/p>\n

\"Brekkie<\/a>

Brekkie buffet<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Buffet<\/a>

Buffet brekkie at the Brasserie<\/p><\/div>\n

And just like that, I\u2019m checking out. I call a cab, and ask him to pick me up from the pretty building on the corner of King and York Street, the amazing Grace.<\/p>\n

The Grace provides those business travellers a bed while they break from meetings, and locals the chance to holiday somewhere chic in their own city. Book a stay at the Grace Hotel here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Have you stayed at the Grace? What did you think?<\/strong><\/h2>\n