The Clarence Hotel Sydney

The Clarence Hotel Sydney Overview

Look, I’ve stayed at my fair share of Sydney hotels, and The Clarence on Clarence Street is one of those places that actually gets it right. You walk in and there’s this immediate sense that someone put real thought into the design – not the cookie-cutter corporate vibe you get at some of the bigger chains. The lobby has this warm, sophisticated feel without being stuffy, and honestly, the staff seem genuinely happy to be there, which makes a huge difference when you’re dealing with jet lag or trying to figure out dinner plans.

The location is pretty much perfect if you want to be in the thick of things without the tourist trap chaos. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Wynyard Station, which I mean, if you’re planning to explore beyond the CBD, that’s gold. Martin Place is right there, and you can easily wander down to Circular Quay – though honestly, I’d recommend the walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens rather than the main drag if you’ve got time. What I really love is that you’re close enough to the business district that everything feels accessible, but Clarence Street itself isn’t one of those streets where you’re dodging crowds at 8 AM. The building sits nicely between the corporate towers and the more residential pocket toward Hyde Park, so you get the best of both worlds.

The rooms – and this is where The Clarence really shines – feel like someone’s well-appointed apartment rather than a hotel room. The beds are seriously comfortable (I’m talking about actually sleeping through the night, not just surviving), and the bathrooms have that rainfall shower situation that actually works properly. You know what impressed me most though? The soundproofing. Sydney CBD can get pretty lively, especially on weekends, but I never felt like I was camping out above a construction site. The WiFi is solid too, which matters if you’re trying to work or just want to video call home without dropping every five minutes. There’s something to be said for a place that handles the basics exceptionally well – good coffee setup in the room, blackout curtains that actually black out, and enough power outlets that you’re not playing musical chairs with your devices. I stayed there during a pretty busy conference season and never felt like the service suffered, which tells you something about how they run the place. If you’re looking for something that feels more personal than the big international hotels but with the reliability of a solid four-star, The Clarence hits that sweet spot perfectly.

The Clarence Hotel Sydney Accommodations

Reviews of The Clarence Hotel Sydney

• Superb – Beata from Australia – 12 July 2025 (9/10)

  Very convenient location, clean, comfortable beds and friendly staff.

• Superb – Rebecca from Australia – 11 July 2025 (9/10)

  Great central location for CBD and very close to Darling Harbour. Pleasant, helpful staff, larger room than expected, clean and well prepared with sofa bed already made up.
  
  What could be improved: Sofa bed not comfortable for sleeping with bars felt through the mattress.

• Superb – Kim from Australia – 11 July 2025 (9/10)

  Clean and modern facilities. Comfortable bed and pillows. Great location.
  
  What could be improved: 1. Tv does not swing out enough to have comfortable viewing from the bed.
  2. We added breakfast with our two night stay. Breakfast is provided next door and choice was limited. There were only four to choose from on the menu. A few more simple Breakfast selections would improve the menu, eg. cereal, fruit, yogurt, toast/fruit/crumpets. We managed ok for two breakfasts but we're glad we had not paid for more.

• Very helpful and friendly staff. Perfectly situated to walk to everything in the city. – Kim from Australia – 7 July 2025 (10/10)

  Very clean with a cool renovation.

• Great value boutique hotel near the CBD. – Theresa from Australia – 30 June 2025 (8/10)

  Great location close to the Queen Victoria Building and CBD generally. A compact but comfortable room with a nice little sitting/dining area. Great value for Sydney. The staff were friendly and helpful.

• Central, convenient, nice design but still a bit meh – Susan from Australia – 27 June 2025 (8/10)

  Cute room, comfy bed, good shower
  
  What could be improved: Very loud street side – lots of partying going on – and lobby experience/staff greeting was a bit meh. Doesn’t match the rooms which are quite lovely.

• I highly recommend this hotel when you’re in Sydney, Australia. – Regina from United States – 26 June 2025 (10/10)

  It was conveniently located, very clean & the staff was very friendly & helpful!

• Wonderful stay. Close to everything in the CBD and Darling Harbour. Comfortable bed. – Ashley from Australia – 24 June 2025 (10/10)

  Fantastic location, very clean room, comfortable bed. Early check in was extremely helpful. Staff were very accommodating with requests.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing it was all good.

• Will defo be back. – Kyra from Australia – 23 June 2025 (9/10)

  The staff! All so accomodating and kind.
  
  What could be improved: Can be a bit loud due to vehicles/people outside and would’ve loved it if they provided slippers and dental kits.

• Superb – Tanya from Australia – 22 June 2025 (9/10)

  Great location, colourful room, friendly staff

Surroundings

Facilities