The Darling

Character and identity

Set in Pyrmont and woven into The Star complex, this 171-room property delivers boutique-style polish at a larger scale than the room count suggests. The marble lobby with soaring ceilings sets a glamorous but restrained tone in black, grey and red. Rooms can be configured to guest preference, some with private gaming nooks, and five penthouses look out over the harbour, one with its own karaoke room. The spa is a serious operation: 11 treatment rooms, a Moroccan hammam, steam room, saltwater Jacuzzi and a Babor partnership. A Technogym-equipped gym and an outdoor pool with bar round it out.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining draw here is the spa-and-suite combination set against a casino-resort backdrop, more than the location itself. Spring for a harbour-view penthouse if you're marking an occasion, particularly over New Year's Eve for the fireworks; otherwise a standard room with a spa booking and a reservation at one of The Star's signature restaurants is the smart play.