Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Australia
A 1960s Modernist Landmark Reborn with Australian Warmth and a Touch of French Glamour
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● Sydney’s original international five-star hotel, opened in 1966, has emerged from a AUD 70 million transformation that celebrates rather than erases its mid-century identity.
● FK’s “Modern Heritage” approach retains the extraordinary curved architecture while introducing warm Australian materials, local craftsmanship, and subtle references to the hotel’s jet-set past.
● A completely reinvented food and drink scene by House Made Hospitality gives this grande dame new relevance, from seafood at tilda to Australian whisky at Bar tilda and the expansive fifth-floor terrace.
Sydney’s Jet-Set Original
Long before Sydney was filled with international luxury hotels, there was the Wentworth. Opened in 1966, it was Australia’s first international five-star hotel and one of the city’s great symbols of jet-age glamour. Royalty, politicians, movie stars, and international dignitaries passed through its doors, while its remarkable curved brick façade became a landmark in its own right. Nearly sixty years later, that architecture remains. The glamour has simply been recalibrated.
Modern Heritage
Australian architecture and design practice FK approached the AUD 70 million transformation with restraint. The heritage-listed curved façade remains untouched, while its geometry is echoed inside through sculptural furniture and softly rounded joinery. Ochres, clay, natural linen, sea blue, bronze, and warm timber reference the Australian landscape, complemented by pieces from local makers including Jardan and ceramic lighting by Sarah Nedovic. Above the lobby, 400 individually mounted lights by Shaun Dudley create a glowing contemporary interpretation of Sofitel’s historic candlelight ritual. 1960s glamour, without the pastiche.
436 Rooms Around the Curve
The hotel’s 436 rooms and suites follow the distinctive sweep of the building. Rather than completely reinventing them, FK has introduced new carpets, joinery, tactile finishes, softer lighting, and subtle nostalgic references that connect them to the hotel’s mid-century origins. Sofitel MyBed comfort, MySmart lighting, Nespresso machines, and Balmain amenities bring the experience firmly into the present. The mood is calm and polished. The curves remain the star.
A New Social Heart
Perhaps the biggest transformation has happened around food and drink. House Made Hospitality has turned the hotel into a genuine dining destination. At ground level, tilda is an Australian seafood grill whose ochres, natural fabrics, and local craftsmanship allow it to sit discreetly within the lobby. Next door, Bar tilda shifts into deeper burgundy tones, with live music, nostalgic cocktails, and an impressive library of more than 100 Australian whiskies. The Wentworth is social again. Just as a great city hotel should be.
From Vietnam to the Terrace
Level five reveals another personality. Delta Rue layers French and Vietnamese influences across both its menu and interiors, with reclaimed teak, rattan, tropical planting, and custom wallpaper by Kerrie Brown creating a richer, more atmospheric setting. Outside, a previously underused terrace has become Wentworth Bar, sheltered beneath a new glass-and-copper canopy and filled with terrazzo tables and greenery. What was once leftover space is now one of the hotel’s defining features.
Why It Works
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth demonstrates how to renew a landmark without designing away the reasons it mattered in the first place. Its extraordinary 1966 architecture remains unmistakable, but warmer interiors, Australian craftsmanship, sophisticated new restaurants and bars, and carefully judged references to its jet-set history have given it another life. Nearly sixty years after Sydney’s original international luxury hotel opened its doors, the Wentworth feels relevant again—and still entirely itself.
