Criterion Hotel Sydney

Hotels
7.2 (1161 reviews)
260 Pitt Street , Sydney , au

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Children allowed

Facilities

Nightclub
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Family rooms
Luggage storage
Evening entertainment
Staff adhere to local safety protocols
Guest rooms disinfected between stays
Physical distancing rules followed
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Central location
Friendly staff
Good value for money
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Small rooms
Limited amenities

Categories

Cleanliness
6.03
Room cleanliness needed improvement; specific mentions of dirty a/c units and bathroom fans.
Service
8
Staff were generally friendly and helpful, though some reports of unresponsive communication.
Location
8.54
Consistently highlighted as excellent and central.
Room Quality
5.99
Rooms described as small and not matching online photos, with some issues like noise.
Amenities
6.52
Limited amenities mentioned; missing microwave and basic setup.
Value for Money
6.98
Overall a good value given the location, though some found it overpriced for room quality.
Food and Beverage
8.03
Evening meals were reported as excellent.
Overall Experience
7.5
The stay was enjoyable with great location, but issues with cleanliness and room discomfort affected overall satisfaction.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-08 07:17

Property Description

Centrally Located Luxury Hotel in Sydney CBD

Refurbished Rooms and Modern Amenities
Experience comfort and style in our newly refurbished rooms equipped with a cozy seating area, air-conditioning, and private bathroom facilities.

Convenient Access to Top Sydney Attractions
Explore Sydney with ease as our hotel is just a short walk from Darling Harbour and Sydney Zoo. The iconic Sydney Opera House is also a quick 6-minute drive away.

Dining and Entertainment Options
Indulge in a delightful evening at our on-site restaurant and bar, offering a variety of culinary delights and beverages. Stay connected with complimentary WiFi in rooms and the public bar area.

Book your stay at The Criterion Hotel for a memorable Sydney experience!

Important information:

You must show a valid photo ID and credit card upon check-in.

Please note that there is a 1.75% charge when you pay with a credit card.

Please note that this property has a strict 'No Party Policy'.

Please note that construction work is taking place nearby, and guests may be affected by noise.

Please note that the property can only be accessed via stairs.

Please note that the property and rooms that are located on first and second level floors have no elevator access.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Airport code: SYD

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    No parking available.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

Location

Guest Reviews

7.2
Based on 1161 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.03
Service: 8
Location: 8.54
Room Quality: 5.99
Amenities: 6.52
Value for Money: 6.98
Food and Beverage: 8.03
Overall Experience: 7.5
C
Cassandra • couple • au
3
Unpleasant
Pros:

Staff are great

Cons:

Wet carpet…. Smelt badly of mould. Was difficult to sleep and have stayed many times. Last time

2026-03-21 • via Nuitee
N
Nadine 1970 • solo_traveller • gb
10
Excellent value for money in a brilliant location
Pros:

the location was excellent, very central, so close to most things

Cons:

It was quite noisy other guests making lots of noise plus banging and drilling from the building next door at 530 in the morning. the hotel and staff itself were lovely

2026-03-18 • via Nuitee
J
Joe • couple • au
5
Pros:

Staff were super friendly.

Cons:

While the room was spacious and clean, it absolutely reeked of damp, so much so I went and bought an air freshner. Walls are paper thin, old mate next door snored like a champion all night. So I went back to the store and got ear plugs.

2026-03-18 • via Nuitee
J
Jenelle • couple • au
10
Good value for money and the staff were really nice
Pros:

Central to everything

Cons:

The amenities , they were just an add on, very clean though

2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
Y
YUANHUI • couple • cn
9
2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
J
Jazmyn • couple • au
7
2026-03-15 • via Nuitee
H
Hannah • solo_traveller • gb
10
Comfy, convenient and great cocoa!
Pros:

Convenient location, super comfy beds, very quiet despite being mid city and easy to find

Cons:

Would be great if they had breakfast but appreciate the logistical chaos that brings!

2026-03-14 • via Nuitee
J
Jennifer • couple • au
6
Pros:

Great location.

Cons:

Tiny bathroom.

2026-03-14 • via Nuitee
J
Julieanne • couple • au
9
Pros:

Staff polite, clean

Cons:

Door between could clearly hear the people next door

2026-03-13 • via Nuitee
P
Philip • family_with_children • us
2
uncomfortable
Pros:

rooms were clean. amenities like towels and bottled water were provided.

Cons:

no hotel reception or front desk, just a pub/bar attendant and only during bar hours. no room phone to call guest services. no elevator and not accessibility friendly. shower, sink, and toilet water ran dry. Squeky noise on floor when walking

2026-03-09 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa • couple • au
5
Pros:

The location

Cons:

The walls are paper thin and people next door were talking blow drying there hair at midnight kept me up until 3am

2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
M
Margaret • couple • au
3
Disappointing
Pros:

Bed comfortable

Cons:

Couldn’t close the bathroom door. Bed was pushed up against the wall. Musty smell. No chair

2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
C
Colleen • couple • nz
5
Stairs, stairs, stairs!..no lifts..not easy walking up stairs to get into pub with luggage (no ramps) then lugging heavy
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Stairs!.and booking in.

2026-03-05 • via Nuitee
E
Erika • extended_group • nc
10
Je vous le recommande vivement
Pros:

Personnel au top et très serviable.
Le jeune homme a monter notre valise car pas d'ascenseur. La chambre propre et la literie très agréable

Cons:

Rien à dire

2026-03-05 • via Nuitee
N
Nhu • extended_group • au
8
Good location
Pros:

Spacious room, 2 toilets, good location, friendly staffs, TV added

Cons:

The room was too dark and not much light. Window could not be opened, feeling trapped. Need more spare toilet papers as room was shared with 5 people.

2026-03-03 • via Nuitee
J
Jacob • couple • au
5
Passable
Pros:

Beds were comfortable, Helpful staff member by the bar.

Cons:

Checking in at the bar was difficult. Security had 200 questions before they'd even let me in the door. Once checked in sadly the cleaner had missed our room and already gone home so we had to come back later for them to clean it. Air conditioner panel wasn't responding so the room was very hot & musky. Reasonably loud room also.

2026-03-02 • via Nuitee
M
Maria ignacia • extended_group • au
5
Pros:

The staff was amazing, they helped us with an early check in (one of us was sick) and took our luggage upstairs. Very welcoming and friendly

Cons:

The bathroom was mouldy and the shower curtain had a humid smell, there was no ventilation of the room, all windows were sealed.

2026-03-02 • via Nuitee
T
Trista • extended_group • au
10
2026-03-01 • via Nuitee
M
Melanie • couple • au
6
Convenient location.
Pros:

Convenient location.

Cons:

In the middle of renovations that was not communicated to us upon check in or prior that construction would begin at 6am (definitely sounded earlier) so was woken by VERY loud drilling with no warning.
Room smelled damp (and also overpowered by 2 room scent diffusers at the same time) and the bathroom fan was not sufficient enough to exhaust the shower steam. Unable to open a window to support the steam.
Bedside table (on one side on the bed) was full of dust/cobweb. Air conditioner kept resetting itself to 28 degrees overnight and would not stay cold.

2026-02-27 • via Nuitee
A
Andrew • couple • au
8
2026-02-27 • via Nuitee