Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach: A Hotel Review
A modern award-winning hotel conveniently located minutes from Sydney’s stunning Coogee Beach. It’s the perfect stay for a weekend escape, international retreat or an overnight break in a buoyant beachside suburb.
It may have only been two-and-a-bit months into 2023, but by early March, I needed a serious break from reality. Exhausted from an Everest-sized mountain of work, tied to never-ending personal commitments and trying desperately to save all holiday leave for the second half of the year – I needed a break and it needed to be short, somewhat close to home, affordable and most importantly, relaxing.
Then, like a 6-foot man in a blue and white beach-inspired cape, an opportunity to stay at the Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach swooped in to save my sanity. And unsurprisingly, I was quick to accept.
Although the hotel’s association to the Crowne Plaza brand was enough to win me over, it didn’t stop me from doing a little pre-staycation research (and some early holiday fantasising). Google Images presented a light-filled, luxury hotel with modern dining, decor inspired by the nearby eastern suburbs beach and high-end hotel offerings from oceanfront views, a rooftop pool, tennis courts and a healing spa.
In reality, the Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach did not disappoint – the hotel delivered on its internet personality and then some. It’s in a great location with easy-to-access parking and fitted with spacious, inviting rooms, balconies with premium views and delicious dining. Staff was informative, helpful and friendly and I could have easily extended my two-night stay to indefinitely.
There’s a reason the Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach was awarded Australian Upscale Hotel of the Year in 2020 and recognised as for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence in 2021. And I can’t wait to go back.
The Location
The Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach is located on Coogee’s Arden Street – the main strip in the popular eastern suburb. This places the hotel within walking distance to almost anything you could want to see, do or eat during your stay.
The beautiful sands of Coogee Beach are literally across the road, as are all its seaside temptations including the women’s pool, Wylies Baths, and the Sydney must-do Coogee to Bondi walk.
While the hotel has great dining options (which I highly recommend), a few steps away from your stay are some of the best cafes and take-out options from tacos to fish n’ chips, fishbowl, sushi and more.
At night, the beachfront bars located down the road from the hotel, are the place to be. The sports bar was the most popular with a line to get in that was so long, I hadn’t seen one quite like it in Sydney since pre-covid.
The Room
I stayed in a Premium Room with two double beds and a partial oceanview. The room was spacious and felt relatively fresh. Natural light filled the room and while décor was simple, small touches such as the blue and white carpeting coupled with framed photos of Coogee Beach filled the space with a bit of the surrounding seaside.
The two double beds were comfortable and topped with two sets of soft and hard pillows. A large flat screen TV faced the beds and offered access to Australian TV channels along with the option to cast entertainment direct from your phone or laptop. The room was also equipped with a large glass office table, easily accessible electrical outlets (so important!) and a reader chair.
While the minibar was empty, the concierge was quick to deliver large glasses or jugs of water upon request and the bathroom was stocked with usual amenities plus some, including soap, hand and body lotion, a nail care set, a comb, a vanity kit and more.
The balcony was probably my favourite perk. It was fitted with two chairs and a small round table for people watching and/or appreciating the ocean view.
The Dining
During my stay I tried three types of dining – Breakfast at Shutters Restaurant, Dinner at Shutters Restaurant and Lunch from room service.
For breakfast, Shutters serves eggs your way with a gorgeous view of the morning surf. The restaurant offers a convenient all-you-can-eat Australian buffet with eggs on order, hashbrowns, sausages, bacon, grilled tomatoes, a variety of bread options, jams, pastries, muffins, etc.
In the evening, the twilight paired with a live and multitalented musician completely changes the restaurant’s ambience from flip-flop breakfast to romantic date night. The menu offered a small range of options but managed to cover all dietary requirements whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-intolerant or a carnivore.
I was extremely satisfied with and highly recommend the Roasted Eggplant Steak – it’s like a full-size Middle Eastern or Turkish dolma without the grape leaves. I also tried the Caprese salad as a starter and ordered a bowl of Shoestring fries to share. Serving sizes felt quite large, so order with your stomach and not with your eyes.
For those who would prefer to eat in the comfort of their room, room service is available until 10pm. The Wagu Cheeseburger was juicy and went down a treat after a morning in the pool.
Who is the Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach for?
The Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach is perfect for anyone looking for a Sydney escape and want to do so by one of Australia’s iconic beaches.
Families will appreciate the spacing in the rooms, couples will enjoy the in-hotel treats such as the tennis courts and spa, and singles or groups of friends will love the surrounding nightlife.
Rates start from $418 a night including free Wi-FI. Parking is available from $45 a night.
For more information and bookings visit https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/
