France The Night Away At The Sofitel Wentworth-Sydney

General Visiting

The Sofitel Wentworth Sydney

It is always nice to have a letter of welcome when you check into a five-star hotel room, especially when it explains that housekeeping will be endeavoring to keep the room moth-free. We spent the weekend at the Sofitel Wentworth Sydney along with thousands of other guests, most of who could fly. Sydney has recently experienced a bad moth plague.

The CBD hotel where the Liberals bunker down on election nights was also bogong moth headquarters. When Sofitel took over the running of the hotel in 2002, they refurbished it for $60 million. Club Sofitel was launched in September after another $10 million renovation and 100 rooms were upgraded.

Club Softie packages include nice touches such as late check out, valet parking, large LCD Tv, gym access and modern business facilities, espresso maker, show shine, shirt pressing and 2Bose radio with iPod connection.

Sofitel's "My Bed" concept aims to provide the most comfortable night's sleep possible, with layers of feather down and range of pillows. The bed was certainly cushy and made for a great night's sleep, notwithstanding the noisy air conditioner and dive-bombing bogongs.

The room was a bit on the petite side but we really liked the Roger and Gallat bathroom products in the bathroom that housed a Toulouse Lautrec-sized bath.

The Club Sofitel bar and lounge is beautifully furnished in earthy tones, with sumptuous sofas and chairs. You guessed it we spent a lot of time here. Club Bar and Lounge

The club hosts breakfast in the mornings, Lenotre afternoon tea from 2.30pm to 5pm and canapés, horsd'oeuvres and cocktails from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. All these are included in the package and at times it hardly seemed worthwhile leaving this wonderful fifth-floor retreat.

Our first taste of club hospitality was in the evening. Club management who immediately put their champagne puring skills and product knowledge to the test greeted us.

The cuisine in the Garden Court Restaurant opposite Club Sofitel is contemporary Australian, with a French influence and technique.

I had the seared Queensland sea scallops in celeriac cream with truffle vinaigrette ($20) followed by a wagyu sirloin and Paris mash with shiraz jus ($68) and it was all tres yummy. Most main courses run to about $38.00 (AUS).

The wine list was extensive and fun to browse, with about 20o choices ranging from a glass of Patina Riesling for $11 to a bottle of 1962 Dom Perignon for $4900.

Our French born waiter Claude enhanced the evening with his humor, knowledge and impossible hair.

In the morning, we returned to the club for breakfast and the French theme continued with TV5 Monde on one of the flat screen TVs. The omelette was magnifique, while the croissants were suitable buttery and the coffee suitably strong.

Afternoon tea featured superb tarts, cakes and pastries of the Lenotre haute cuisine brand of cakes, pasties and desserts prepared by Chef Patissier Mark Stone.

As we were leaving, buzzing from the sugar and espresso fix, another wonderful accent inquired, "Will we be seeing you again?" Yes of course.

Sydney at night from The SofitelIf ever you are in Sydney the Sofitel Wentworth is a wonderful Hotel to stay at whether it be over night or for some time. You will be able to take in some Aussie culture at Circular Quay,the Botanic Gardens and the Opera House that are all close by. Browse the shops or visit the spa in the arcade attached to the hotel or cross the road to the Chifley Square retail complex.