Shangri-La Sydney Review – A Return 20 Years in the Making

Arriving in Sydney late at night after a long flight from the UK, the Shangri-La Sydney felt like the perfect place to land. Check-in was smooth, calm and efficient — exactly what you want when jet lag is kicking in and all you’re thinking about is getting to your room.

What made this stay especially meaningful was the sense of coming full circle. I first visited the Shangri-La Sydney almost 20 years ago while backpacking in Australia. Back then, a group of us decided to splurge on cocktails at the hotel’s top-floor bar — a huge indulgence on a backpacker budget.

The cocktails were undeniably pricey, but standing there with a drink in hand, looking out at the Sydney Harbour Bridge lit up at night, we weren’t disappointed. It was absolutely worth it, and it’s a memory that stayed with me long after that trip ended.

Horizon Club Room Review – Same View, Different Chapter

Fast forward two decades, and returning to the Shangri-La Sydney felt quietly surreal.

After checking in, we headed back to the bar hoping to relive that memory, only to find it completely full. Disappointing at first — but it turned out not to matter at all. Instead we headed a short distance from the hotel and enjoyed a cold drink in the evening heat at a more traditional establishment by the name of The Glenmore which at 10pm on a Sunday evening was still buzzing.

Walking into our Horizon Club Room after leaving The Glenmore, we realised we had the exact same view, just a few floors lower than the Blu Bar on 36. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House perfectly — and this time, we had the view entirely to ourselves.

The room itself was spacious, calm and beautifully comfortable, ideal after such a long-haul journey. But it was waking up the next morning that really sealed it.

Pulling back the curtains on our first morning in Sydney to those iconic harbour views is one of those travel moments that never gets old — no matter how many times you’ve seen the photos.

The room also came with access to the Horizon Club Lounge, which genuinely elevated the stay.

Breakfast in the Horizon Club Lounge

Breakfast here was a highlight and, in our experience, far preferable to the main restaurant. It was calm, refined and refreshingly queue-free.

Expect:

Soft, perfectly poached eggs Freshly ground coffee made to order Cold-pressed juices A high-quality selection of hot and cold breakfast options

All served against uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour — a pretty unbeatable way to start the day.

Evening Drinks and Canapés

In the evenings, the lounge became a relaxing retreat after busy days exploring Sydney. Drinks and canapés were generous and more than enough for a light evening bite.

Watching the city transition from daylight to night, glass in hand, felt like the perfect contrast to that backpacker memory from years ago — same skyline, same bridge, very different stage of life.

Final Verdict – Is Shangri-La Sydney Worth It?

Absolutely.

After such a long journey from the UK, the Shangri-La Sydney delivered exactly what I was hoping for: seamless late-night check-in, exceptional harbour views and a calm, luxurious base in the heart of the city.

If you’re considering staying here, I’d strongly recommend booking a Horizon Club Room. The lounge access, quieter breakfast and elevated overall experience make a real difference.

Twenty years on, the views are still just as impressive — the only thing that’s changed is how you get to enjoy them