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Hotel Review: Novotel Sydney Parramatta
As someone who has lived in the inner city for about five years, I was excited to go out to check out Novotel Sydney Parramatta, and things to do in the Parramatta. I know that Parramatta has changed drastically since I first lived in the area when I moved to Sydney from New Zealand. I was just 19 at the time and yes things really have changed since those days! The area is a vibrant hub of shopping, culture and a foodies haven.
Photo Mark Rogers
On arrival we were warmly greeted by the friendly staff and took a look around the reception area before checking the rest of the hotel out. Unfortunately, the pool was having maintenance so we didn't get to swim, but there were other plans, and lots to fit in anyway including a visit to the Sydney Festival Circus across the road to watch The Tipping Point, and what a great show that turned out to be; five very fit and talented people demonstrating balance, agility and acrobatics. Think along the lines of Cirque du Soleil.
Photo: Sydney Festival
The hallways of the Novotel Sydney Parramatta remind me of a cruise ship for some reason, I think maybe the decor is why. The photo below is of a King room, which is nicely decorated and has a renovated bathroom. I did find the pillow much different than what I'm used to because it's one of those that mould to your shape, so I imagine that would take a while to get used to. The room has an iron, TV, lounge, coffee and tea making facilities, glasses so all the necessities plus room service, however, as I'll talk about later, the Novotel Sydney Parramatta is right in the heart of the theatre and restaurant district so eating in the room did not appeal to me.
Photo Mark Rogers
Now it was time to explore the many cafes and restaurants in the area and I think that's a great feature of the Novotel Sydney Parramatta; it's convenient to many restaurants, parks and a short walk down to the wharf if you feel like catching a ferry to the city. We settled on pizza for lunch at Criniti's with a bottle of chardonnay from the Margaret River. Patrons can sit inside or out. We chose to soak up the atmosphere of the area and eat outside.
Photo Mark Rogers
After lunch and the Tipping Point show it was time to explore Parramatta Park. I loved this Park full of birds, trees and grass, the perfect place to relax on a lovely summer afternoon. As I mentioned before the Novotel Sydney Parramatta is in a great spot with plenty to do around the area. Perfect for business people who want a comfortable hotel with somewhere close to escape to either run, walk or just relax.
Photo Mark Rogers
Can you spot the elephant below? What an amazing tree.
Photo Mark Rogers
Can you spot the big kid?
For dinner we ate at the hotel's 350 Restaurant and lounge and were lucky enough to meet Executive Chef Kiki who cooked us a beautiful meal
Click to enlarge pics (by Deb)
350 Restaurant and Bar is certainly worth staying in for dinner. Chef Kiki has created a gorgeous menu that we thoroughly enjoyed. The Pork Belly was a standout with shredded apple. The meat was tender and pulled away easily. I thought it had a hint of five spice but Chef told me he only uses Himalayan Sea Salt. The crackling was perfect.
The with grilled skirt steak with sourdough, cherry tomato & chimichurri was cooked to perfection and very flavoursome.
Lamb rack with pomegranate, quinoa salad, grilled lemon & salsa verde was a big hit with the pomegranates adding a nice touch. We also had Cape Grim rib eye steak, grass fed, and that made for a sensational meat lovers dinner!
Chef Kiki has over a decade of culinary knowledge and experience and has worked in hospitality and the Accor group for over 11 years. Chef Kiki brings a relaxed blend of Asian and Western fusions which fit perfectly into Parramatta's diverse cultures. Chef Kiki also encourages his team to explore and demonstrate their skills in the kitchen.
The breakfast buffet is substantial, with plenty of choice. One of the standouts of the buffet is a juicer for those who want to make their own fresh juice with a choice of vegetables and fruit on offer. You can also order a coffee from the bar which the friendly staff will bring over to you.
On departure the Sydney Chic team headed up the river to the ferry wharf and enjoyed a relaxing trip back to Circular Quay taking in the views along the way. The trip takes nearly an hour but much more pleasant than the train or driving in Sydney traffic.
Photo: On The Parramatta Ferry by Mark Rogers
Photo walking to the ferry by Mark Rogers.
Photo Mark Rogers
If you are visiting the Parramatta area and looking to stay at a clean, comfortable hotel then I'd recommend the Novotel Sydney Parramatta. There is plenty to do in the area and the hotel also provides for conferences and events.
Website: www.novotelparramatta.com
Phone: 02 9630 4999
Address: 350 Church St, Parramatta 2150
Email: h8787@accor.com
DISCLAIMER: Sydney Chic stayed as guests of Novotel Sydney Parramatta and enjoyed the Tipping Point courtesy of Sydney Festival. If we don't like it we don't publish. Please read full disclaimer here.
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