Rydges North Sydney

The Rydges North Sydney is a towering property surrounded by lush vegetation, including a few palms. The front desk area is a little less inspiring, with gaudy patterned sofas and a mix of gray generic carpeting and checkerboard tile floors. The on-site bar and restaurant follows the same color scheme but has slightly more contemporary furniture that gives it a fun, cheery vibe. The rooms are pretty by comparison, but overall the hotel could use a refresh, or at least some updated furniture. Most of the guests are business travelers, many of whom come to the hotel for on-site conferences and meetings. 

Rydges is in a quiet part of North Sydney, next to a retirement home in an area dominated by office buildings. There are a few cafes and restaurants in the immediate vicinity, and it's a five-minute walk from St Leonard's Park and the North Sydney Oval cricket grounds. The area is well connected by bus, with more than 25 different lines stopping within a five-minute radius of the hotel.

The Luna Park amusement park is a five-minute drive south of the hotel, while the Taronga Zoo takes is about 10 minutes away without traffic.  The Rocks neighborhood  and the Sydney Opera House are about seven minutes away by car, while Bondi Beach can be reached in about 20 minutes. The Sydney Airport is within a 20-minute drive and can be reached on public transportation in 50 minutes. 

There are 167 rooms at the hotel, ranging from simple Queen and Twin Rooms facing out on the park to Two-Bedroom Suites that can sleep up to six guests. Rooms and suites have simple, contemporary decor with off-white and gray walls and trim, maroon-and-gray-striped carpets with bed throws and cushions to match. All rooms come with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities, minibars, irons, and windows that open. All rooms come with ultra-comfortable "Dream Beds" designed by Australia's oldest bed manufacturer, A.H. Beard. Bathrooms are simple and more functional than beautiful, with black-and-white-tiled floors, shower/tub combos, vanities with big sinks, counter space, and wall-mounted hairdryers. Suites have kitchenettes with mini-fridges and microwaves, and some have balconies.

The on-site restaurant, Mundo Latin Grill, offers Latin-inspired meals on weekday evenings, along with burgers and an eclectic selection of Middle Eastern snacks and dishes. Their wine menu includes picks from around Australia and a few foreign wines. The Mundo Bar is open for lunch every day of the week and serves tapas in the evenings. Room service is also available. A buffet breakfast with lots of health food selections, including wheatgrass shots and fresh juices and smoothies, is served daily in Mundo. The buffet also includes hot items, including eggs made to order, as well as a huge selection of fruits and baked goods, but it's expensive.

As a business hotel, Rydges North Sydney offers free Wi-Fi throughout the property along with a number of meeting rooms, ranging from small rooms that fit 14 to 20 guests to the sprawling Jacaranda Ballroom that's big enough for a 200-person banquet. Mundo Latin Grill can also be rented out for private cocktail parties. All conference rooms have modern audiovisual equipment, and there's a full-time event staff to help with logistics. On-site parking is available for a daily fee, and there's also free Wi-Fi.