After checking in for a recent staycation at the Four Points Sheraton Sydney Central Park, I discovered this isn’t your typical tourist-district hotel. If you’re after a more authentic Sydney experience and don’t mind being a short train ride from the harbour, read on to find out why this modern hotel might be exactly what you’re looking for.
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Location
The Four Points Sheraton Sydney Central Park sits in Chippendale’s newer development area, taking up the top floors of a modern building in this changing neighborhood.
The location puts you right between Sydney’s university district and the southern edge of the CBD. While it might not be the traditional tourist hub, this positioning offers something different – a chance to experience the city like a local, surrounded by students, creative types and some of Sydney’s most interesting dining venues.
What makes this location particularly well positioned is its proximity to both corporate and cultural Sydney. The CBD is a 15-20 minute walk north, the International Convention Centre at Darling Harbour is a similar distance while the creative neighbourhoods of Surry Hills and Chippendale are right on your doorstep.
Just keep in mind that tourist favourites like Circular Quay and Darling Harbour require a bit more of a walk – about 45 minutes to the Opera House, however the light rail and trains make quick work of it.
Arrival and First Impressions
Arriving just before the official check-in time, I found the process efficient. The spacious lobby offers plenty of comfortable seating, though the open luggage storage area near reception and another by the entry doors creates a somewhat cluttered first impression – tucking this behind doors would create a more polished welcome.
The staff processed my check-in smoothly and directed me to my room on the 18th floor, facing Central Park.
The Room
My 18th-floor King room (29sqm/312sqft) offered views over the Central Park Precinct with its mix of historic brewery, award-winning high-rise complex and Chippendale Green.
You will pay about $30 extra per night for the high floor, which I think is worth it for the views and quiet.
Room Features
The room welcomed us with a contemporary colour scheme of dark charcoal greys and greyish blues. The layout was straightforward – a king bed, a good-sized work desk with plenty of power outlets and a comfortable two-seater sofa (bed) in the living area.
The 42-inch smart TV came with premium channels and the ability to stream your own content. While the room service menu was available 24/7, we appreciated having a mini-fridge for our own snacks and the complimentary bottled water.
For business travellers, the room ticked all the essential boxes – a proper workspace with good lighting, plenty of power points and a laptop-compatible safe. The Wi-Fi was stable and fast enough for streaming.
Blackout curtains did an excellent job blocking out the morning light, and the air conditioning was effective and quiet – something that matters when you’re trying to sleep in a high-rise building that can get warm from the afternoon sun.
I slept like a rock, the bed was luxuriously soft with a good range of pillows and the sort of linen you expect in a 4 star hotel.
The Bathroom
The bathroom featured a rainfall shower head with good pressure, though some might miss having a bathtub. The hotel provided bathrobes and basic toiletries.
The towels provided in the bathroom were a traditional size rather than the larger bath towels often found in 5-star hotels.
Sustainability
The hotel has made efforts toward sustainability with energy-saving switches, recycling bins and LED lighting throughout. Single use bathroom ammenities are still being used for some items but large size products are used in the shower.
They’ve also moved to an on-request housekeeping model, which helps reduce water usage and energy consumption.
Hotel Dining
Dizzy Bird
The hotel’s casual dining venue, Dizzy Bird, surprised us with its quality. Their speciality is rotisserie chicken and they do it exceptionally well – tender, juicy and particularly good with their garlic sauce (though oddly, the sauce is charged as an extra).
We ordered several sides to share – a well-seasoned cauliflower salad with cashews, spinach and sultanas in tahini dressing, and shoestring chips with truffle oil and parmesan and two Middle Eastern dips. The hummus came topped with green shatta and crispy chickpeas, while the charcoal eggplant was served with chuma and fresh herbs.
While the food impressed, I would also love to see some middle eastern inspired drinks featuring things like lemon or pomegranate. However, the service was consistently friendly and accommodating.
The restaurant works well for both dinner and meeting friends, with comfortable modern seating. It’s worth noting that this isn’t just a hotel restaurant – it attracts plenty of local diners, which is always a good sign.
Breakfast
The breakfast buffet also served at Dizzy Bird. The menu is what you typically find in hotels at this level – eggs made to order, a large range of pastries, cereals and a selection of hot items. While not extraordinary, everything was fresh and well-prepared.
If you’re looking for a Sydney breakfast experience rather than a buffet, I’d suggest exploring the local cafe scene instead. The hotel’s central location puts you within easy reach of some of Chippendale’s best coffee spots. I really like Something for Jess just a few minutes away and Concrete Jungle on Kensington Street has some great breakfast specials.
Tip: Breakfast hours are relatively short 7am-10am so may not suit everyone.
Getting Around
The hotel’s address (88 Broadway, Chippendale) puts you right in the heart of university life, with several campuses nearby. For transport connections, Central Station is about an 8-minute walk, making airport transfers straightforward – it’s just 6.6km to Sydney Airport.
Nearby Attractions
The location works particularly well if you’re attending events at the International Convention Centre (10 minutes) or exploring Chippendale’s art scene. The White Rabbit Gallery is just around the corner and you’ll find several smaller galleries within a few minutes’ walk.
For shopping and dining:
- Central Park Mall: 2-minute walk
- Spice Alley: 5 minutes
- Chippendale Green: 3 minutes
- Queen Victoria Building: 15-20 minutes
Tourist landmarks are further afield but easily reached:
- Darling Harbour: 15-minute walk
- Sydney Opera House: 35 minutes on foot or 15 minutes by public transport
- Bondi Beach: 30 minutes by public transport
Practical Information
Check-in and Check-out
- Check-in from 3pm
- Check-out by 11am
Parking
While the hotel offers on-site parking for $45 per day, we found free weekend parking just three minutes away that allowed untimed parking until 6am Monday. However, given the excellent public transport connections and central location, I’d suggest leaving the car at home if possible.
Getting Here from the Airport
- By train: Take the Airport Line to Central Station (15 minutes), then it’s an 8-minute walk.
- By taxi/rideshare: Around 20-25 minutes depending on traffic
- By car: 6.6km via the Eastern Distributor (toll road)
Practical Amenities
You’ll find everything you need close by:
- ATM: 2-minute walk
- Convenience store: 3 minutes
- Medical centre: 5 minutes
Pricing and Booking Information
Room rates typically range from AUD $250-450 per night for standard rooms. Prices vary by season and availability. All charges mentioned were accurate at time of review but are subject to change. Please verify current pricing when booking.
The Bottom Line
The pros and cons at a glance.
Pros
- Excellent transport connections
- Modern, well-maintained rooms
- Quality dining at Dizzy Bird
- Good value for Sydney
- Authentic neighborhood experience
- Thoughtful sustainability features
Cons:
- 45-minute walk to Opera House
- Basic coffee at breakfast
- Short breakfast hours (7am-10am)
- Parking is expensive ($45/day)
Final Thoughts
The Four Points Sheraton Sydney Central Park offers good value in an interesting part of Sydney. While it’s not in the tourist centre, the excellent transport links and emerging Chippendale location make it worth considering, especially if you want to experience a different side of the city.
The modern rooms, thoughtful amenities, and surprisingly good restaurant make it a solid choice for both business travelers and tourists who don’t mind being a short train ride from the main attractions.
For the price point, it delivers what you’d expect from a four-star hotel, with sustainability features and local dining options being particular highlights. Just be prepared for the distance to tourist spots and factor in transport or walking time when planning your stay.
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This stay was hosted by Four Points Sheraton. As always, all opinions are my own.
