The Darling at The Star
An outdoor pool and bar inside Pyrmont's casino complex
About this hotel
The outdoor pool at The Darling at The Star comes with its own bar rather than a lifeguard chair and a rack of towels, which sets the tone for a stay built around Pyrmont's casino precinct. Guests move between the scented pool, a Turkish bath and Rock Lily Bar's live music without leaving the property, and rooms range from city-skyline views to outlooks over Pyrmont and the surrounding suburbs. The Sydney Opera House and The Rocks sit an eight-minute drive away, while the Sydney International Convention Centre is a ten-minute walk, useful for conference travellers who still want a proper outdoor pool at the end of the day. Restaurants inside the complex include celebrity chef Luke Nguyen's Fat Noodle, and valet parking and 24-hour reception round out a stay pitched at a full weekend rather than a quick city stopover.
- Outdoor pool and pool bar
- Pyrmont casino complex
- Turkish bath and day spa
- 650m from Cockle Bay
Our take
The Darling at The Star suits travellers who want the pool to be part of a bigger night out rather than a quiet lap swim, given the bar built into the deck and the casino complex around it. It's a strong pick for a Pyrmont weekend or a conference stay near the Convention Centre, less so for anyone wanting a calm harbourside base close to the Opera House, which sits an eight-minute drive rather than a walk away.
- ✓Book a room with a city-skyline view rather than the Pyrmont-facing side if the outlook matters as much as the pool.
- ✓Use the Turkish bath on cooler evenings, since the outdoor pool itself isn't heated.
- ✓Walk the ten minutes to the Convention Centre instead of taking a taxi if you're here for a conference.
Why we love it
- Outdoor pool with its own bar
- Turkish bath for cooler evenings
- Twenty bars and restaurants on site
- Ten-minute walk to the Convention Centre
Why guests love itA group booking rooms together for a Pyrmont weekend finds the outdoor pool becomes the easiest place to reconvene between the casino floor and dinner, with the pool bar keeping everyone in one spot rather than scattered across the complex. The Turkish bath earns its keep on a cooler evening when the outdoor water feels less inviting, and the ten-minute walk to the Convention Centre makes it easy to fold a work session into what's otherwise a social trip built around the pool deck.