Crowne Plaza, Coogee, NSW review: a classy beachside hotel beyond the Bondi glitz

A classy beachside hotel beyond the Bondi glitz.

Shutters Restaurant and Bar at the Crowne Plaza, Coogee.

Fame or beauty? Ask most people to nominate the best beach in Sydney and they’re likely to name Bondi, or maybe Manly, often accompanied by the word “iconic”. Rarely will you hear mention of Coogee, which is a pity, because this golden stretch of sand south of Bondi, hemmed by pine trees and bookended by stunning coastal walks, is one of the city’s prettiest.

Even in ordinary weather, when new-world restrictions mean travel is largely reduced to our own turf, Coogee is a lovely place to be as we discover over an unseasonably wet weekend. Although the beach beckons, all we can do is sit and stare at it. Which is no bad thing when you are ensconced on the balcony of an ocean view room overlooking a moody Pacific.

Coogee Beach. Picture: Patricia Mado.

Coogee’s Crowne Plaza hotel has stood at the southern corner of the beach for years, a welcome if unlikely international hotel in the heart of this formerly working class seaside suburb, home to century-old sea baths. The main shopping strip is in nearby Arden Street, where the old fish and chip shops have been replaced by a multitude of cafes. Yet compared with nearby Bondi, the suburb, like the beach itself, is just that bit more low-key.

Ocean-view room.

Across the road from the beach, our king ocean front room looks straight out to the waves lapping against the rocky outcrop Wedding Cake Island and beyond. Our room has been refreshed as part of the recent first phase of the hotel’s refurbishment, with new carpets and some new furniture (although we could do with more than a single armchair when a sudden temperature drop sends us inside). The bathroom has been remodelled and renovated with a long step-in shower rather than a bath. The hallways in these upper floors have also been repainted in lighter, fresher hues, with white wainscoting adding to the beach feel. Six floors down, a poolside lounge chair provides a sand-free spot on a sunny day.

The most impressive part of the renovations is downstairs, where the lobby has been redesigned in light, summery tones and Shutter’s Restaurant and Bar serves a fresh and copious breakfast and Italian and French coast-inspired lunch and dinner dishes in a very attractive space.

Dining area at the Crowne Plaza, Coogee.

Even with heavy clouds threatening more rain and a strong breeze blowing most people away from the beach, the restaurant is a beautiful place to start the day, surrounded by oversized potted plants and marble-topped tables with light streaming through the namesake white shutters.

And to end it? Just go back upstairs. Thanks to the hotel’s proximity to the water across a relatively narrow road, you can fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves. Take that, Bondi!

• Perfect for: Beach holidays and staycations.

• Must do: Enjoy one of Sydney’s less celebrated beaches and the surrounding stunning coastal walks. A short stroll from the hotel brings you to Wylies Baths, a historic sea pool classified by the National Trust and due to reopen, newly refurbished, in late July.

• Dining: The hotel’s new dining area Estate is divided into three eateries: a taqueria; a beach club-like Terrace, and the more upmarket The Kitchen, all inspired by “Sunny America”. Plates at The Kitchen include a tasty combo of stracciatella, beetroot and rye, cherry ripe Bombe Alaska and a whole roasted pineapple with pomegranate glaze and golden currant ice cream. Or check out the nearby cafes, bars and restaurants, including the Coogee Pavilion.

• Getting there: The hotel is at 242 Arden St, Coogee, about 25 minutes’ drive from Sydney Airport and the CBD.

• Bottom line: Rooms from $185 a night.

coogeebeach.crowneplaza.com