Rydges Capital Hill Canberra
by the TopOfHotel team
Rydges Capital Hill is a 4-star hotel on the slopes of Capital Hill in Forrest that closes the list with the most complete set of facilities in the tier — indoor pool, jacuzzi and sauna. Score 8.7.
Rydges Capital Hill is a 4-star hotel on the slopes of Capital Hill in Forrest that closes the list with the most complete set of facilities in the tier — indoor pool, jacuzzi and sauna. Score 8.7.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The hotel runs to roughly 186 rooms, and they're noticeably spacious — most have a separate sitting area set apart from the bed. The standout, by every account, is the pillow-top bed with premium linens, which guests single out as a genuinely good night's sleep. Every room has a flat-screen TV, a minibar, tea and coffee gear and in-room cable movies. It's the kind of room you're happy to hole up in on a cold night with the heating on.
Food and amenities
This is where Rydges pulls ahead of the smaller picks at the tail of the list. There's an indoor pool, a jacuzzi and a sauna — and in Canberra's cold months, guests rate the warm indoor pool and jacuzzi as a real bonus rather than an afterthought. The on-site restaurant, The George Grill, has a bar and lounge and serves a full cooked breakfast every day. Add express check-in and check-out, laundry service and free Wi-Fi, and there's a fireplace in the lobby to thaw out beside in winter.
Location and getting there
The hotel sits on Canberra Avenue in Forrest, on the slopes of Capital Hill where Parliament House stands. The first thing you notice is how close that puts you — about a 3-minute drive to Parliament House, and roughly 5 minutes by car to the railway station. The Manuka dining and shopping district is close by too. Forrest itself is a calm, leafy government neighbourhood, so it's quiet at night rather than buzzing.
Things to know before booking
First, the rebrand: Trip.com now lists this as Rydges Canberra, an EVT hotel. It's the same building at 17 Canberra Avenue, not a closure — but signage and a few services may still be settling in. Second, Forrest is not walkable for dinner; you'll need a car or a short rideshare to reach the Kingston and Manuka restaurant strips. Third, it's a large hotel that hosts weddings and functions, so the lobby can get busy and loud when an event is running. None of these are dealbreakers, but they're worth knowing.
Our take
Rydges Capital Hill Canberra is the right closer for families and business travelers who want a full-facility hotel — an indoor pool for any season and a quick drive to Parliament House. Real guests rate it 8.7/10 across 107 reviews, with rooms from around $160 a night. If you value having everything on site and a Capital Hill address over being able to walk to a restaurant, this is a confident way to round out the list.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A large 4-star hotel of roughly 186 rooms on the slopes of Capital Hill in Forrest, the best-equipped property at the budget end of the list.
- Has an indoor pool, jacuzzi and sauna — genuinely useful in Canberra's cold winters, when an outdoor pool would sit unused.
- Every room comes with a premium pillow-top bed, a separate sitting area, flat-screen TV, minibar, tea/coffee gear and in-room cable movies.
- The George Grill restaurant has its own bar and lounge and serves a full cooked breakfast every day, plus there's a fireplace in the lobby for cold evenings.
- Location is about a 3-minute drive from Parliament House and close to the Manuka dining and shopping district.
- Recently rebranded as Rydges Canberra, an EVT hotel — signage and a few services may still be in transition, though the building and address at 17 Canberra Avenue are unchanged.
- Forrest is a quiet government district, so you'll want a car or a short rideshare to reach the Kingston and Manuka restaurant strips for dinner.
- It's a big hotel that hosts functions and weddings, so the lobby can get busy and noisy when an event is on.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Make the most of the indoor pool and jacuzzi in winter, when Canberra nights turn genuinely cold.
- Book a rate that bundles the full cooked breakfast at The George Grill rather than paying for it separately.
- Drive or grab a short rideshare to Manuka for dinner — it's the nearest cluster of good restaurants and bars.