It’s hard to resist a hotel with personality. When your accommodation brings you to a greater understanding of a destination, it becomes a part of the journey.
Spicers Retreats always offer more than just a place to stay. The news that they were opening a hotel in Sydney had aficionados eager to see how Spicers would bring their trademark intimate luxury to a city setting.
Four lucky Travel Associates advisors experienced a stay at Spicers Potts Point soon after it opened, and these are the things they loved the most.
Room Service with a difference
“So you’re in this gorgeous hotel in the middle of a thriving restaurant district, and you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your room to eat like a gourmand.
Spicers Potts Point will order from a selection of nearby restaurants on your behalf, pick up your meal, plate it up beautifully and deliver it to your door. The cost is added to your room bill and there’s a token fee for the service. It’s pure genius, and a great example of how they’ve integrated their surroundings to benefit their guests.”
Alison Mark - Wye & James Travel Associates, NSW
Gym and yoga
“Step out the back door of the hotel and you have basically arrived at P.E. Department, a boutique Sydney gym that is a thousand times better than your usual hotel workout room. A few doors down is the Yoga Department, a gorgeous studio with a very local feel.
I love that these facilities are included in the price of a stay at Spicers Potts Point; it represents impressive added value to a city hotel. You simply book your yoga class online the night before, then breeze downstairs for your stretch session before hitting up the fantastic breakfast buffet.”
Karen Majsay - Low & James Travel Associates, NSW
The Breakfast Buffet
“The breakfast room is gorgeous - there was so much natural light that you feel like you’re dining al fresco, and then there’s the buffet... It’s not often that I’ll take a continental buffet over a hot meal, but the array of fresh fruit, homemade muesli, prosciutto, smoked salmon, fluffy breads and artisan jam tempted me away from the cooked menu, even though it’s all included!
The jam deserves its own special mention. A local company called Jam Alchemist deliver small batches of seasonal preserves to the hotel every week. They aren’t your everyday jams though - think pear and lavender, plum and rosemary, nectarine with Baileys... they’re all fresh and bursting with local flavours.”
Kylie Apps - Apps & Turner Travel Associates, NSW
Decor and interiors
“You can tell they spared no expense on the acoustic engineering when they renovated the original terrace house. You are right in the heart of lively Potts Point, but you’d never know. The hotel is an absolute oasis of quiet.
There’s been a master hand at work when it comes to the decor. The tones are neutral and classic, with splashes of vibrant blue and green coming through in little touches such as the water glasses, the occasional papered wall, a pattern on a curtain or a feature upholstered chair.”
Yvette Kerr - O’Sullivan & Turner Travel Associates, NSW
Rooms
“All the rooms were stunning, but the renovated terrace rooms were absolutely amazing. Spicers have taken an old Sydney terrace house and transformed the rooms into havens of comfort with wooden floors, intimate balconies and amazing bathrooms.
You can just picture yourself on the balcony, kicking back with your morning coffee in the sunshine and browsing the paper.”
Alison Mark - Wye & James Travel Associates, NSW
Artwork
“I love the way that the artwork embraces the essence of Sydney and celebrates local talent. Street scenes and seascapes convey the unique energy of the city.
In almost every room you’ll find art by Sydneysider Martine Emdur, who creates these incredible, large-scale underwater scenes. They have an original oil painting in the dining room called Glide, which is replicated in a few choice locations throughout the hotel.
There are also paintings from Brisbane artist Keith Burt, who is famous for his seascapes, as well as some iconic pieces from John Olsen. My favourites may have been those by Fiona Greenhill, who paints these really arresting abstract pieces of local street scenes.”
Karen Majsay - Low & James Travel Associates, NSW
Location
“Spicers have created an oasis in the city, a modern property that has retained the charm of the original terrace buildings. It’s located in a lovely, tree-lined street in a great location to explore the Potts Point area.
It’s a delightful area of Sydney with so much to offer - there are great little shops, cafes, bars and local markets to explore, and you can easily walk into the city or the Botanic Gardens.”
Kylie Apps - Apps & Turner Travel Associates, NSW
Reading material
“I loved the books scattered throughout the hotel, whether it was a beautiful collection of beachscapes on the coffee table or a local memoir like Kings Cross by Louis Nowra on the bedside table.
There was a book called The Good Old Bad Old Days: Curious Histories of Potts Point, Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay and Elizabeth Bay - I was dying to dip into it but I’ll have to wait until my next, much longer stay!”
Yvette Kerr - O’Sullivan & Turner Travel Associates, NSW
Home away from home
“General Manager Wendy told us that Spicers Potts Point aspiring to be Sydney’s most personal hotel, and I think they are off to a flying start.
We rang the front doorbell to be admitted, and a selection of staff were soon there to take our bags and usher us into the library. Some of our party were tired and opted to go straight to their rooms, but I stayed and chatted with Wendy for a good 20 minutes!
There was no credit card to secure the room or list of rules and regulations to go through - it was a good old fashioned yarn about what I was planning to do while visiting the area. Wendy had plenty of recommendations to offer, and I felt like I had arrived at a friend’s house!”
Alison Mark - Wye & James Travel Associates, NSW
Potts Point Passport
“Upon arrival you are handed a Potts Point Passport - a folded guide to the nearby restaurants and shops of the region. There is a legend of symbols that indicates whether the restaurant in question is one that you can order from for “Room Service”, and it’s the perfect little companion for exploring the vibrant streets of Potts Point.”
Karen Majsay - Low & James Travel Associates, NSW
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