The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, one of the city’s most recognised hotels, has undergone a $70 million revival, combining mid-century modernist heritage with contemporary Australian design. Led by multidisciplinary design practice FK, the new-look hotel brings a fresh offering to Sydney’s hospitality scene within the walls of an architectural icon.
Situated within walking distance of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Sydney’s central business district, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth first opened its doors in 1966 as Australia’s first international luxury hotel and the first Qantas hotel. It quickly gained a reputation as the premier destination for A-list celebrities visiting the city such as Princess Diana. With new ownership came the opportunity to reinvent the hotel and introduce new bars and restaurants.
The design team explored what defines luxury hospitality in modern-day Australia, blending this with the nostalgic glamour of international travel, inspired by the property’s architectural and cultural heritage.
Retaining its distinctive curved architecture, the 2024 redesign focused on elevating the interiors to honour the building’s 1960s glamour while reimagining key spaces and rooms for the modern traveller.
A single brick-lined threshold leads to a lush, forecourt adorned with climbing greenery in a deliberate and dramatic moment of arrival. Inside, a softly polished interior skin of curved plaster and stone offsets the exterior’s solidity. Natural light is drawn deep into the building via skylights, voids and hanging gardens.
Warm Turkish limestone runs throughout in varied honed, bush-hammered and carved finishes to delineate space and function while offering a meditative sense of continuity.
Rising the full height of the home, a 14-metre wall frames a staircase lit from above connects all levels in one sculptural sweep, inviting daylight to dance across polished plaster walls. Suspended within this void, a custom light piece by New York-based lighting designer Lindsey Adelman crafted from hand-blown glass flecked with gold, hangs like ornate jewellery within an otherwise restrained canvas, where daylight is the true artwork.
Overlooking the courtyard with elongated views to the framed sky, the ground floor study heroes a bronze-lined bookcase. This same bronze detail is subtly referenced throughout the home, on the handrails, in the kitchen joinery, and vanity unit in the master bedroom.
The second level is occupied by an open plan living area, kitchen and dining space, defined by generous 3.4-metre ceilings that allow uninterrupted light to pour in from a striking east-facing window placed at the edge of a void to create a dynamic sense of space. Framed by a clean architectural shell with a gallery-like feel, the living area is enriched with textural furnishings and art inspired by garden hues—leather seating, the raw grain of stacked firewood, and a handwoven Nepalese rug.
Inspired by the client’s interest in holistic wellbeing, a subterranean wellness area looks out onto a sunken stone courtyard, adorned with ferns and climbing greenery and natural light pouring down from the void above. The consistent application of textured cracked limestone, from the sauna and meditation room walls, the basin and the bush-hammered floor provides a grounded backdrop for moments of quiet restoration.
The revitalisation begins at the bronze-clad entrance, leading into an entirely reconfigured lobby that connects to the new bar and restaurant on the ground floor. The lobby features a seamless and swift arrival experience through new personalised check-in technology and an intimate guest relations lounge, reflecting a shift towards innovation and curated service that defines luxury hospitality.
A restrained colour palette and natural materials such as timber panelling and travertine, balance a warm, open aesthetic with intimate pockets for quiet conversation or relaxation.
A striking light installation comprising 400 lights individually mounted into the ceiling illuminates guests’ journey through the lobby. In a contemporary gesture designed by Shaun Dudley, this bespoke light feature pays homage to the Sofitel’s French heritage in a nod towards guests being taken to their rooms by candlelight in traditional guesthouses.
A reflective lift with chrome panelling was preserved and enhanced at ground level, replacing the original combination of chrome and timber with a fully metallic finish to create an engaging interplay with lighting through its mirror-like surface.
All 436 rooms and suites have been refurbished to reflect the hotel’s new design philosophy. Guestrooms and corridors underwent a light-touch exercise, focusing on high-impact interventions with minimal structural work. New flooring, wall finishes, and bespoke joinery details revitalised these spaces, enhancing the overall guest experience and renewed sense of luxury.
The transformation introduces a bold new hospitality offering with the addition of four restaurants and bars curated by the globally inspired House Made Hospitality group. Each venue has been designed to channel its own unique character, while maintaining an authentic connection to the hotel’s design narrative. Open for late night dining and drinking, the new F&B venues add a contemporary offering to Sydney’s hospitality scene.
Its adjacent sibling, bar tilda, offers an elegant cocktail bar experience for hotel guests and locals, from morning till late nights. This all-day and late-night service heavily influenced the material palette, balancing light, textured fabrics against the backdrop of deep burgundy hues, creates a versatile ambience that can shift from light-filled days to intimate and moody evenings. A nostalgic setting for cocktail enthusiasts, bar tilda features an elaborate whisky collection displayed in an armoire-inspired cabinet referencing the mid-century design heritage of the hotel. Dramatic drapery to the host desk and timber venetian blinds along the street-facing windows were added to pique the interest of passers-by.
Describing bar tilda, Morris said, “We wanted to create a space that captures the essence of Australian living through a fresh and understated luxury design language that builds a connection to place and truly reflects the menu offering.”
A subtle tribute to the building’s history as the Southern Hemisphere’s largest brick structure in the 1960s is evident in the “brick-like” travertine pavers that extend across tilda and bar tilda, grounding the interior with an honest and slightly tumbled finish.
Upon level 5, Delta Rue, a Vietnamese-French dining concept evokes a sense of fresh escapism with its light-filled interiors. Verdant greens, rattan-backed chairs and reclaimed teak furnishings complement the open kitchen, providing a vibrant yet relaxed environment that transports guests to a grand colonial villa
retreat.
The level five terrace, defined by the curve of the heritage-listed building and once an underused space, has been transformed into the lively alfresco Wentworth Bar. Nestled beneath the glass and copper canopy by H&E Architects, the bar offers an exceptional outdoor drinking and dining experience with lush planters and elegant terrazzo tables where guests can enjoy a lunch or an evening tipple amidst the city’s skyline.
Throughout the venues, FK has worked with Australian artisans to create bespoke design elements that celebrate local craftsmanship. From Sarah Nedovic’s ceramic lighting to Kerrie Brown’s custom wallpaper in Delta Rue, every detail has been thoughtfully curated to pay homage to great Australian design.
