Meriton Suites World Tower

Rooms and decor

The thing we like most here is that these aren't single hotel rooms — they're suites, with a clearly separate living area and dining nook. Each one has a full kitchen with a real, full-size fridge and an oven, plus an in-room washer-dryer. You can duck down to the Coles supermarket under the building, carry your shopping back up and put together your own breakfast with the view in front of you, then run a load of laundry mid-trip without hunting for a launderette. For a family or anyone settling in for several nights, that kind of space and privacy pays off.

Food and amenities

The shared facilities sit on the wellness side rather than the restaurant side: an indoor pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna and a gym that's open 24 hours. Reviewers suggest the obvious move — a swim in the evening, then the sauna to loosen up your legs after a day of walking. With a full kitchen in every suite and a Coles plus restaurants in the World Square mall downstairs, self-catering is the natural rhythm of a stay here.

Location and getting there

The lobby is on Liverpool Street, and the lift runs straight up to floor 61 and above — reviewers say you can feel on the way up that this isn't an ordinary hotel. World Tower was the tallest residential building in the city, so the roughly 115 suites float above the rooftops of the whole district. Step out of the building and you're a few paces from Chinatown, where the restaurants run late, and about a 7-minute walk from Hyde Park. Central Station is around 0.9 km away — call it an 11-minute walk.

Things to know before booking

This is the highest starting price on our Sydney list, so it's the bigger spend among these picks. Parking in the building is an extra charge of around $39 a day on top of the rate, which is worth factoring in if you're driving. And while you can walk to Central Station, the 0.9 km is a longer haul than the hotels over in Haymarket if you're dragging luggage.

Our take

Meriton Suites World Tower is at its best for families and groups of friends who want home-sized space, a kitchen and a panoramic city view all at once. If you're planning several nights in Sydney and want to keep food costs down by cooking some meals yourself, this is the list-opener we're happy to point you to. Real guests on Trip.com score it 8.6/10.