I am an absolute sucker for the theatre.
I was a drama kid in high school and I have a ‘musicals’ playlist on my phone.
But living in regional NSW has meant theatre trips always include an encore of my own: belting Les Miserables in the car with my mum, in an attempt to keep us awake while we manage the very long and very late drive back home.
So take it from me, having a comfortable place to stay after a show is a gamechanger.
And The Capitol Hotel is more than just comfortable.
Wedged in the heart of Sydney city’s Haymarket, the hotel stands alongside the Capitol Theatre and is easily found in between light rail stations Chinatown and Capitol Square.
After a deep two-year refurbishment, there is a theme through the freshly relaunched hotel that is unmistakably edgy.
Like a flight, the Capitol gives you the option to check in online the day prior to your stay. This makes your arrival a seamless experience when the lift presents you to the buzzing second level where self-serve check-in desks await. The whole process took me two minutes tops, and friendly staff members were poised to help if needed.
Traversing the halls, you’ll find the design team has snuck in surprises wherever they can. Door peepholes are eyes winking back at you, novelty pillows nod to different stage shows, and each floor boasts a unique colour palette of teal, gold, sage or red, flowing from the carpets to the custom artworks on the walls.
There are 95 rooms in the building, some perfect for one guest and family rooms that can accommodate groups of seven. My king room was an equal mix of uncluttered, modern, and royally warm. Heavy drapes hung by the tall windows, and gold lamps gave off a theatrical air. Sweet treats and tea sat by a sleek black kettle with a collection of glasses and gold teaspoons. The matching black bar fridge held sparkling water and a bottled cocktail, which is exactly how I prefer to be welcomed to every room I enter.
While grand, warm and theatrical in every essence, the Capitol Hotel acknowledges where minimalism is required. Inside my bathroom was a chic, matte black and white scheme, from the new tiles to the black rainshower and detachable shower head.
The digital ease of self check-in carried through to room service, with a tablet on the desk offering everything I could possibly need, from laundry service to midnight snacks. But as room service isn’t rolling out for a few more weeks, I headed to the Capitol Kitchen to pacify my hungry stomach.
The Capitol Hotel’s bar, which will soon include happy hour, does a brilliant Aperol Spritz (I downed a few), but it’s the Kitchen’s lounge menu offered daily from 12-9pm that could upstage your theatre show altogether.
The warmly lit, sleek dining room offers a selection of pre-show bites, from truffle fries and olives to creamy four-cheese arancini balls that made it difficult to leave the premises.
For the evening, I walked the short distance to the newly reopened IMAX theatre, but there is a plethora to do in the heart of the city, from the harbour restaurants to (of course) the theatre right next door.
Or, if a night in with some Netflix is what you’re craving, anything you want to watch can be accessed quickly via chromecast to the room’s TV using a QR code.
After a deep slumber on the comfy king bed that can be split in two if needed, I grabbed breakfast on the way out. For $20, a buffet in the dining room offers an array of pastries, waffles, muesli, juice, and there’s espresso coffee to be made the moment you say the word.
All in all, this would be my pick for somewhere dazzling to stay post-theatre show. It’s equal parts cosy, sophisticated and artsy, and that to me is the perfect combo.
The room
8/10
Warm, inviting and classy, the Capitol Hotel’s king room held everything I needed. My only gripe was the lack of cupboards or drawers in the room or bathroom, however a luggage stand and ample wall hooks did suffice.
The food
8/10
Those arancini balls made up most of those stars all by themselves.
The location
10/10
Whether you’re going to the theatre or not, this hotel is in a brilliant spot for visiting Sydney. Plus, triple-glazed windows block out the noise that comes with a convenient location.
