The Langham Sydney: Intimate luxury.

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Sydney is a city ubiquitous with a range of hotels, from well-recognized brands to smaller properties, and just about everything in between.  For the start of our trip, we booked into the Langham Sydney, a boutique property with under 100 keys.  With the street closures of Vivid, getting to the hotel was a slight effort, but in the end, I’m glad we were located so close to the action.  The Langham represents what I would consider an ‘old Hollywood’ style.  Given the majority of my stays are in modern, less than 10-year-old properties in the Middle East, it was interesting to take a turn in a different location.

Pros

• Location is everything.  If you’re looking for something that’s both quiet and within walking distance of the Rocks, Sydney Harbor Bridge, and a number of other tourist destinations in the city, the Langham is a fantastic fit.  While I suppose there will always be those who prefer the ‘in your face’ element of the Park Hyatt, give me quiet luxury any day.  As Sydney is a relatively pedestrian friendly city, this is a great place to see things up close.
• The right amount of rooms.  We passed a number of the larger hotel chains that were simply enormous and made me appreciate the smaller nature at the Langham that much more.  In a city full of conventions and tourists, with a limited number of guests, the delivery of service can be that much higher.
• A lot of ‘usable’ space.  While the lobby is bright and open, it also includes a variety of seating areas.  Similarly, with a bar and restaurant on the ground floor, the design is uniquely incorporated so that it doesn’t feel busy or crowded.  Of the venues we stayed in, the Langham’s lobby was the most memorable.
• Fun bar staff.  Drinks were had.  New friends were made.  We’ll leave it at that and forget about the hangover the following morning.
• Above average breakfast.  Having dined in a variety of hotels across four cities in Australia, the breakfast at the Langham was my favorite.  Beautifully displayed, we would be as healthy (or unhealthy) as we preferred.
• Attention to detail.  Antique branded pink car out front?  Check.  Water bowls outside for passing doggies?  Check.  Insane variety of free sweeties in the lobby?  Check.  None of these elements was a necessary item for our stay, but they make the property stand out (in a good way).

Cons

• While I can’t fault anything in the hotel per se, I do feel like we missed the mark for being in the correct demographic.  I felt about fifteen years too young (as compared to the other guests).  I’m not sure how a hotel could address this, but I think it’s why The Old Clare was a better overall fit for us.
• Slightly dated room.  Again, I believe this is one I chalk up to personal preference.  A few scuffs here and there.  My ultimate nemesis: carpet.  While the layout was generous, I think much like my disconnect on the demographic; it just wasn’t for me.
• No outdoor space.  I think a small patio would’ve been lovely, but it appears only the top category of room gets this distinction (and for the record, even though the website lists ‘terrace access available’ for our room category, I have no idea what that actually means).

Would I stay at the Langham again?  For its accessibility to some of the downtown area attractions, I think I would.  The rooms, although not particularly my style, were comfortable and the staff was lovely and professional.

What’s your favorite hotel in Sydney?  What’s most important to you when choosing a hotel room?