Rydges Canberra

Great location. Food was good. Cocktails were good. The middle area of the whole building is like a green house!! Big trees and a water fountain, seating was surrounded by greenery. Has a spa, swimming pool, sauna. We stayed 2 nights - would certainly recommend.

I recently stayed at this hotel, which is marketed as one of the richer or more premium 4-star options in the area. To be fair, the entrance and downstairs common areas do make a great first impression — the lobby is beautiful, and the staff are warm, attentive, and genuinely helpful. Their professionalism and friendliness gave me high hopes for the rest of the stay. However, once I stepped into the room, the experience took a noticeable downturn. The accommodation itself felt very outdated — from the worn furniture to the overall layout, it was clear that the rooms haven’t been refreshed in quite some time. There’s a sense that the space isn’t being utilised to its full potential, which is frustrating given the price point. It’s the kind of room that might have been impressive two decades ago, but now feels tired and neglected. For what the hotel is charging, I expected a much higher standard in the rooms — modern touches, better lighting, even just a feeling of comfort and freshness. Instead, the contrast between the elegant front-of-house areas and the dated rooms is so stark that it almost feels like two different hotels. It’s not the worst place I’ve stayed, and again, I can’t fault the staff — they’re doing a wonderful job with what they have. But for a hotel positioning itself at the higher end of the market, there’s a serious need for an upgrade upstairs. Until then, I’d consider exploring other options in the same price range.

Look... I would love to say 1 night in to our 5 that the place is good... There was a massive line to check in. They apparently had chefs off, they ran out of 3 tap beers one of which was a promotion which they were championing but had none of. Another member of our group didn't have any towels in their room and were told that they are full so there aren't any available. The bathroom is quite putrid and was in need of a deep clean... All in all there is a massive amount of room to improve.