Urban poolside oasis in Sydney- outdoor living at its best

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first saw “Urban poolside oasis” in the name, I was expecting some marketing fluff, but this place on Grosvenor Road actually delivers on that promise. It’s tucked away in what feels like a proper Sydney neighborhood (you’re in Lindfield, which most tourists never see), and there’s something refreshing about being away from the Circular Quay chaos while still being, you know, properly connected to the city.

The pool situation is legitimately the star here – I mean, it’s not huge, but it’s surrounded by this outdoor living setup that makes you forget you’re staying at a 3-star place. You’ve got these covered areas where you can actually hang out without getting scorched, and honestly, the whole vibe feels more like staying at someone’s well-appointed home than a hotel. The rooms themselves are pretty standard – clean, functional, nothing fancy – but step outside and you’re in this little bubble of calm. What I really appreciated was how quiet it gets in the evenings; you’re far enough from the main drags that you’re not dealing with traffic noise, but close enough to Lindfield station that getting into the CBD doesn’t become this whole production.

Here’s what nobody tells you though – parking is actually decent here, which if you’ve ever tried to park anywhere in Sydney, you’ll know is basically a miracle. The staff knows the area well too, so when I asked about good coffee nearby (because let’s face it, hotel coffee is usually tragic), they pointed me toward this local spot that was genuinely excellent. The 7.3 rating seems about right – it’s not trying to be the Four Seasons, but it does what it does really well. You’ll find yourself spending way more time in that outdoor area than you planned, especially if you’re there during those perfect Sydney autumn or spring days when the weather’s just… chef’s kiss. The only minor thing is that the rooms facing the street can get a bit of morning light earlier than you might want, but honestly, that’s me being picky. If you’re looking for somewhere that feels like actual Sydney living rather than tourist Sydney, and you want to swim laps without fighting for pool space, this place gets it right.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $403. Three-Bedroom House with 1 extra-large double bed, 2 × 1 large double bed, 2 × 1 futon bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 6

Reviews

• Nice property but severely overpriced – Travis from Australia – 1 March 2025 (7/10)

  The property itself was very nice, but the guests felt it was overpriced for what it was. We paid around $900 per night, which could have been justifiable for a whole property with pool access, but neither of these were the case, noting you only get access to the upstairs half of the house.
  
  The alarming downside to this property was that the booking was held hostage on the day. The owners did not communicate directly with me, but through someone called Usha who emailed me on the morning of the stay to ask that a $1000 deposit be paid, which wasn't mentioned anywhere in the listing.
  
  I was asked to pay it directly into a bank account, and told that property access would not be granted until it was paid. Their response times while I contested both the deposit itself and the requested means of payment this were slow, creating a stressful and difficult afternoon during which they eventually relented. Aside from the inappropriateness of this, this is an exorbitant amount for a deposit.
  
  For everyone – DO NOT PAY ANY MONEY DIRECTLY INTO A HOST'S BANK ACCOUNT
  Booking.com says that it handles all property payments. Bank transfers cannot be recovered if paid and are often requested by scammers who have accessed a host's account. This practice should not be continued or supported because it makes it harder to distinguish genuine hosts from scammers.
  
  In fairness to Usha, he/she seemed to genuinely think that the deposit was mentioned on the listing, so it may be that it was indeed removed at some point without them realising, and this was all an innocent misunderstanding. In the circumstances though, and given we were writing to each other at 2pm on the day of check in to negotiate access to the property, it felt like they were having us on.
  
  I didn't stay in or see the property myself and only handled the booking and communication, but repeat below what the guests told me.
  
  Of the six beds noted on the listing, only four were provided.

• "Superb host, breathtaking scenery, and although there are a few minor issues that can be quickly addressed, this p – Victoria from Australia – 12 June 2024 (8/10)

  Firstly thank you so much Usha, she was an AMAZING host! And lives across the road. Easy to communicate with and is just a lovely warm welcoming person. The property is beautiful and exactly what we needed for the two days we were there. We had our wedding there, and it was small, intimate, and perfect. We held the ceremony on the lawn and took pictures in the garden/bush area at the back, where there’s a bridge, seats, and other spots for capturing beautiful pictures. We also used the pool for photos. Then, we set up the reception on the decking area. It was an amazing day, and the scenery was just beautiful. There were plenty of blankets, sheets, towels, and kitchen accessories. The pool table was a hit for us, and the pool was huge. Although it was too cold to swim in, it would be perfect for summer. The house was cold but thankfully the house had ducted aircon throughout the home and kept us warm.
  
  What could be improved: I didn’t like that we felt like we were being watched by the cameras set up outside around the house, as it became a bit uncomfortable at times. Some areas in the home didn’t have blinds or curtains, such as the pool table/living area and the kitchen/dining area, and it felt like the cameras were pointing directly into the house.
  
  Also, one of our cars was parked on the road, and the side mirror got swiped. It's a busy, narrow road.
  
  There was also an incident that could have turned out very badly, but I notified Usha straight away. I am confident that this issue will be resolved for the next guests.
  
  The home was pricey, but because it was the perfect place for what I needed on short notice, I would pay that amount again. Once the bottom area opens up and more guests are able to stay, I think the amount I paid, regardless of our circumstances, would be worth it.

• Thanks again Thomas for hosting us, had a great time – the complaints – Christopher from Australia – 22 August 2024 (7/10)

  Nice view and quiet neighbourhood. Very big and top deck was amazing.
  
  What could be improved: The neighbours were very whingy. Music on a Friday night at 9pm was a problem for them and they repeatedly called the owner threatening to call the police. The owner was very nice to let us know and we turned the music down. I'd suggest this a quiet getaway and not a getaway for a birthday celebration

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities