Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney

The elegant sandstone building that houses the Radisson was built in 1856, and was originally the location of John Fairfax & Sons, publishers of the Sydney Morning Herald. It opened as the Raddison Blu in 2000, and was redesigned 10 years later. Today the hotel is a popular stop for business travelers, owing to its conference facilities and central location. The structure's crowning glory is arguably its massive cupola, under which guests must pass in order to reach the lobby -- an opulent space with loads of marble, subtly lit ceiling panels, oversized mirrors and modern paintings, shimmering red rugs, and a shelf lined with beautiful pottery. A screened-off sitting area with blond-wood floors and plush, beige chairs offers a place for guests to lounge or hold informal meetings. 

The hotel sits directly in the Central Business District. There aren't too many restaurants or cafes in the immediate vicinity -- though there is some ongoing construction that can be noisy. It's a 10-minute walk to The Rocks neighborhood and the Museum of Contemporary Art, and about a 15-minute walk to the Sydney Opera House, Australian Museum, and Hyde Park. Taronga Zoo and Bondi Beach are both about a 15- to 20-minute drive from the hotel. The Sydney Airport is a 15-minute drive, or about 30 minutes by T2 train, which stops at Circular Quay, a five-minute walk away. 

The Radisson has 336 rooms and 26 suites; adjoining and accessible rooms are also available. The standard Atrium Rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, tea and coffee facilities, and work desks. Bathrooms are outfitted in white marble and granite, with separate showers and deep tubs; some have shuttered windows that open into the rooms. Deluxe Rooms offer balconies, while Business Class Rooms on the 10th floor include access to the chic Business Class Lounge and free breakfast. Suites with jetted tubs and Nespresso machines are available; the Presidential Suite has a full kitchen. Decor throughout the rooms and suites is modern and minimal, and -- unsurprisingly -- somewhat corporate: wood-paneled headboards, crisp white bedding with brown throw pillows, beige-patterned carpeting and chairs, wood-laminate furnishings, and colorful modern paintings. 

The hotel has two restaurants and 24-hour room service. The Bistro Fax Bar serves a daily buffet breakfast with international dishes (for a fee), and an afternoon tea service that attracts overnight guests and Sydney locals alike. The more sophisticated Bentley Restaurant & Bar serves modern European and local cuisine (and tasting menus with vegan items) for lunch and dinner, though is closed on weekends. There are eight meeting rooms, the largest of which can fit 200 people; audio-visual equipment is readily available, as are wedding services, and the Bistro Fax can be rented out during the day. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. The large fitness center offers weight machines, treadmills, exercise bikes, and a rack of free weights. The hotel's two-lane, 15-meter lap pool sits below an atrium-style skylight, and next to a shower and steam room. Valet parking is available, but the fees are high, even by CBD standards.