Looking for an affordable, comfortable hotel near Circular Quay? Well, the Tank Stream Hotel Sydney might just be the thing. Writer Joanne Karcz recently spent a weekend there and shared her experience below.

Location, location, location. Ideally located in Sydney’s CBD, the Tank Stream Hotel is the perfect base to discover all that Sydney has to offer. Arriving by train? Then exit Wynyard train Station via the George Street exit and walk into the hotel reception less than five minutes later.

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Checking into the Tank Stream Hotel

The fact that we’re early to check in isn’t a problem for the helpful staff. However, I booked one night with booking.com, adding a second night later with the hotel directly.

This causes desk staff some confusion but is easily sorted and we’re soon entering our sixth floor Deluxe Queen Room.

The Room

Rooms in The Tank Stream Hotel are small and compact but clean and comfortable. My take on the small rooms that with central location and so much to explore on the doorstep, I’ll only be using the room to sleep in.

Furnishings are finished in a blonde wood and the ‘feature wall’ of contrasting textured coloured wall paper behind the bed is the only ‘decoration’.

Our room comes in at 22m sq. With a city view, it looks onto Australia Square Plaza where office workers meet at outdoor tables over coffee. Block out window blinds and double glazing ensure a quiet good night’s sleep.

Atrium rooms look out onto a central open area, opposite the lifts. Most occupants keep their curtains closed. Starting at 15m 2 for an Atrium Queen, rooms increase in size to 25m 2 for a Premium King.

While small, the clever design provides reasonable storage with bedside shelving and drawers, small nooks for keys, wallets and phones and hanging and drawer space in the cupboard. There’s a small desk and desk style chair.

A range of lighting options suit the needs of most guests. I particularly like that my bedside light doesn’t interfere with my sleeping partner.

In Room Facilities

There’s a fold away luggage rack, hairdryer, safe, ironing board and iron, mini fridge, kettle with Aurora premium tea selection and espresso coffee machine. The air conditioner is individually operated.

Movies on demand are free and there’s free WiFi. An abundance of easily accessible power points facilitates charging numerous devices simultaneously.

The Bathroom

The bathroom is reasonably sized, with all the expected amenities. Our walk-in shower with adjustable shower head had a squeaky shower door that irritatingly kept rolling open.

The Location

While the address is Pitt Street, confusingly the hotel entrance is actually in Curtin Place.

Centrally located, The Tank Stream Hotel ideally situated for both business and holiday travellers. It’s only a short walk to the Sydney’s major tourist attractions and to Pitt Street Mall.

The Harbour Bridge, Opera House and botanic gardens are a 15-to-20-minute easy walk away as is the Queen Victoria Building in the opposite direction.

If you prefer, light rail stations in George Street are less than 5 minutes away. Theatres, Cinemas and various eating options are also close by.

Learn how to use Public Transport in Sydney – it will save you time and money

Food and Drink

Instead of availing myself of the hotel breakfast, I walked around the corner to 2 Hunter Street and Dean & Nancy on 22, a cocktail bar and dining venue by night which offers breakfast in the mornings. On the 22nd floor of the hotel A by Adina, it offers sweeping city views.

Le Petit Flot, the Tank Stream Hotel Restaurant is open for lunch (Tuesday – Friday) and dinner (Tuesday – Saturday), however with many options nearby, I chose to join my daughter for a very pleasant meal at Ash Street Cellar.

If you’re exhausted by sightseeing and just want to rest in your room, Le Petit Flot offered a dinner ‘Bento Box’ from Monday to Saturday with a choice of one main and one side dish and an optional glass of wine.

History of the Tank Stream Hotel Sydney

The hotel name and wave feature on the façade hints at the history surrounding the hotel. Aptly named The Tank Stream Hotel, the hotel is situated on the path of a fresh water stream which was the reason for the city of Sydney being where it is.

Five-metre-deep water storage tanks, which held around 20 000 litres of water, were dug out of the sandstone and the stream became known as The Tank Stream. A sign on a wall opposite the hotel indicates an entrance to the Tank Stream and shows the path of the stream.

Is the Tank Stream Hotel good value

It’s not easy to find a decent hotel room for under $300 per night in the centre of Sydney. Rates change daily and even during the day. I felt that paying an average room price of $260 per night for two nights was excellent value. I received a good rate through booking.com for the first night.

When I added the second night directly with the hotel, I had to upgrade my room (an extra $10) so as not to have to change rooms.

One more thing

The Independent Collection of Hotels took ownership of The Tank Stream Hotel less than two months before my visit. This meant that while I expected a free non-alcoholic mini bar, that was no longer offered and the price of breakfast had increased, since I made my booking, from $20 to $28.

You can check the current rates and availability of the Tank Stream Hotel here

The writer travelled at her own expense.

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