Kimpton Margot Sydney – Hotel Review

Original Art Deco details, a lively lobby scene and the city’s largest rooftop bar and pool zone ensures Pitt Street’s Kimpton Margot Sydney retains its heritage charm while showcasing its contemporary cred. Read on for the full review.

The hallmarks of this 1930s building’s former life as HQ for the Sydney water authority are here, from retro dumb waiters to original tiling. But the heritage-listed property doesn’t feel dated at all. The central lobby space – the pulsing hub of the hotel – features soaring pink marble columns, a vaulted ceiling with skylight and a cluster of house eateries (café, bar and restaurant). Almost all venues are perpetually abuzz with city dwellers toasting birthdays, digital nomads tapping away while perched on pink velvet lounges during complimentary social-hour drinks (for guests only) and families enjoying a meal at Luke’s Kitchen (helmed by top chef Luke Mangan). It’s the perfect scene for an energising city break.

Where is Kimpton Margot Sydney?

Tucked away from the transiting crowds of Sydney’s CBD, the hotel entrance can be found in an arcade on Pitt Street – less than 200 metres from the Town Hall train and light-rail stations on nearby George Street.

What’s near Kimpton Margot Sydney?

It would be easier to state what isn’t close by. Situated in the heart of Sydney, with the Queen Victoria Building, Westfield shopping centre and Pitt Street Mall all within a few hundred metres, the city’s major landmarks are never far away. There are ample options for retail therapy (The Galeries, The Strand Arcade and Martin Place, to name an additional few). Art-lovers can take a flat and scenic 20-minute stroll to the Art Gallery of New South Wales and, for a show, the Capitol Theatre is just a few blocks south.

Room types

The route to every guestroom is a passage back in time, reminiscent of the building’s past as head office for the Sydney water board – you’ll spot original dumb waiters outside some rooms and perfectly intact tiles lining the hallways. The accommodation, ranging from 33-square-metre boltholes to grand suites spread over 160 square metres, is adorned with navy carpets, bright artworks, plush king-sized beds and heritage-feel bathrooms. In King Bed Premium rooms (and above), bathtubs are also part of the package. The Kimpton is pet-friendly, too – if it fits in the lift, your pet can stay for free. (It’s also welcome in the lobby and at Harper Rooftop Bar.)

Restaurants and bars

Attentive waitstaff hum around diners at Luke’s Kitchen at virtually any hour – breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner are all served here. The menu for the evening service is warming and hearty, including steamed coral trout with goji berries and Asian greens, lamp rump with smoked eggplant, and parmesan-and-truffle fries.

The lobby lounge comes alive between 5pm and 6pm, during the nightly social hour, when complimentary wine and a seasonal cocktail make their rounds for guests.

On warmer evenings, treat yourself to a trip to the hotel’s supersized rooftop space on Level 7. Although the delightful pool is reserved for guests, at Harper bar, a lively crowd bumps in for drinks and Middle Eastern bites around clock-off time.

Accessibility

You can book accessible king rooms at Kimpton Margot, while most common areas – including the fitness centre – can accommodate guests with accessibility requirements.

Travel for work

That central lobby is the stuff of remote-work dreams, with lounges of all shapes and sizes mere steps from coffee and pastries at in-house mini café Pantry at Margot’s (open from 7am daily). Several rooms are available for hire on the dedicated event floor and the property has facilities such as built-in projectors and lecturns for full-scale events.

Gym

Beyond the familiar hotel-gym set-up – rowing machines, treadmills, weights and – the hotel caters for yogis, too. While private yoga classes and videos can be arranged on request; those who prefer to saunter up at all hours for their daily asana will find mats, blocks and stretch bands for self-practic.