Walsh Bay / The Rocks

Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection

★★★★★

Pier One Sydney Harbour is the hotel to choose if you want to sleep over the water. It occupies one of the historic finger wharves of Walsh Bay, on Hickson Road just west of The Rocks, and is literally built on and over the harbour, with the southern pylons and arch of the Harbour Bridge looming directly overhead. The wharves of Walsh Bay were built in the early twentieth century for the shipping trade, and when the port moved, they were converted into apartments, theatres and this hotel, which has been part of Marriott's Autograph Collection since 2014. The design celebrates the heritage of the building, with Federation-style touches, timber and exposed structure mixed with contemporary art and plenty of natural light. Many of the rooms and suites look out over the harbour or Walsh Bay, with views of the Bridge, North Sydney and Luna Park across the water; no two suites are quite alike. The hotel's bar and dining room, Pier Bar and Pier dining, sit at the water's edge and are lovely at sunset, and there is a private dining room for groups. A distinctive touch: the hotel is dog-friendly, with dog-friendly rooms that open directly onto the pier. The location is quietly excellent. The Rocks, BridgeClimb and the free bridge walk are a few minutes away on foot, Circular Quay and the Opera House about fifteen minutes, and the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct next door, home to the Sydney Theatre Company and other arts companies, makes it an ideal base for theatre-goers. Barangaroo and its restaurants are a short walk in the other direction.

What makes Pier One special is the sensation of being on the water without the price of the Opera House frontage. Wake up to the sound of the harbour, watch ferries and yachts pass under the Bridge from your window, and take a morning walk along the Walsh Bay promenade to Dawes Point, where the Bridge soars overhead and the Opera House comes into view across the water. In the evening, the bar on the pier is a relaxed place for a drink, popular with locals as well as guests.

Choosing a room: book a harbour-view or water-view room or suite; the extra cost is modest relative to the experience, and the views of the Bridge and the north shore are what you come for. Some rooms face the street or the inner wharf, so check the description carefully. Suites have the most heritage character and the largest windows. Families and travellers with dogs will appreciate the pier-access rooms.

Who it suits: couples, theatre-goers, travellers with pets and anyone who wants a quieter alternative to the Circular Quay crowds while staying within walking distance of the sights. Trade-offs: it is a little out of the way for the city centre and shopping, and public transport means a walk to Wynyard or Circular Quay stations. Rooms are comfortable rather than lavish, and some reviewers find parts of the building showing their age. But for character and the harbour on your doorstep at a price below the top waterfront hotels, Pier One is one of the best choices in Sydney.