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Capella Sydney
Sydney, Australia · Capella · Grand Luxury
A seven-year restoration of Sydney's 1912 Edwardian Baroque sandstone government building — designed by Scottish-Australian architect George McRae, who also designed the Queen Victoria Building — opened as Capella Sydney in 2023. Make Architects excavated three new basement levels, added a four-storey rooftop extension, and opened the ground floor to the public for the first time in over a century. The hotel ranked #12 on the World's 50 Best Hotels in 2025.
- 192 rooms
- Opened 2023
- Neighborhood: Millers Point / The Rocks
- Rooms from 560 sq ft (52 m²)
- Architect: Make Architects; George McRae
- Interiors: BAR Studio
About Capella Sydney
- The sandstone building was constructed in two halves roughly 15 years apart: the northern wing for the NSW Department of Education (1912), the southern wing for the Department of Agriculture — they share one facade but served different government departments for decades.
- Make Architects excavated three entirely new basement levels beneath a listed city-block building while preserving its heritage facade — one of the most technically demanding adaptive-reuse projects in Australian hotel history.
- George McRae, the government architect who designed the building in 1912, also designed Sydney Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building, making this a rare case of a single architect defining three of Sydney's most recognisable landmarks.
- Capella Sydney ranked #12 on the World's 50 Best Hotels 2025, the highest-ranked hotel in Australia or New Zealand.
- Entry-level rooms start at 560 sq ft (52 m²).
History
A seven-year renovation of Sydney's former NSW Department of Education building — a 1912 Edwardian Baroque sandstone landmark by Government Architect George McRae. Make Architects excavated three new basement levels, added a contrasting four-storey modern rooftop extension, and opened the ground floor to the public for the first time in the building's history. Opened as Capella Sydney in 2023.
The setting
Capella Sydney occupies an entire city block on Loftus Street in Sydney's Sandstone Precinct, bounded by Bridge and Young Streets, in the CBD's historic colonial core. The Edwardian Baroque sandstone building was designed by government architect George McRae in 1912 for the Department of Education and, after a seven-year restoration, opened as a hotel in 2023 — welcoming the public through its grand facade for the first time. The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is seven minutes on foot, the Royal Botanic Garden eight minutes, and the Sydney Opera House thirteen; the precinct's density of heritage institutions and landmark luxury neighbours confirms this as Sydney's most culturally layered five-star address.
Restaurants and bars
- Brasserie 1930 — Restaurant · Modern brasserie classics using local produce
- Aperture — Restaurant · Chef Gabriele Taddeucci
- McRae Bar — Bar · Cocktails
Experiences
- Aperture dining with 'Meadow' kinetic sculpture — Tranquil dining space with a bespoke kinetic sculpture 'Meadow' by Studio Drift, and food curated by Executive Chef Gabriele Taddeucci.
- Winter Rituals — Seasonal programme presenting the hotel as Sydney's winter sanctuary for culture, wellness and considered luxury.
- Auriga Spa and Wellness — Restorative spa in a restored heritage space on the sixth floor, with a heated indoor pool, fitness centre, sauna and steam room.
- Lunar New Year partnership with LEO LIN — Exclusive one-of-a-kind experiences in celebration of the Year of the Horse.
- Chef in Residence series at Aperture — Inaugural series featuring Federico Zanellato of Lode Pies.
- Brasserie 1930 Express Lunch and Pre-Theatre dining — Express lunch and pre-theatre menu at Brasserie 1930, run with The Bentley Group.
Amenities
- Auriga Spa
- Indoor pool
- The Lands by Capella events precinct
- Capella Living Room
- Curated art program by The Artling
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
- World's 50 Best Hotels (2026)
- Australia's Leading Hotel Suite 2025 (World Travel Awards) (2025)
- Australia's Leading Luxury Hotel 2025 (World Travel Awards) (2025)
- HM Awards Luxury Hotel of the Year (2025)
- HD Awards — Luxury Hotel Public Space (2024)
- HD Awards — Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park (2024)
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