By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Salt in the air, linen on the skin, the horizon melting into blue. Sydney has always done coastal living well, but this Summer, it’s stepping things up. Opening in December, InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach brings a new kind of barefoot luxury to the city’s shoreline – a coastal sanctuary where the pace slows, the light softens and the ocean feels close enough to touch.
Perched steps from the sand, the hotel is the first of its kind in Sydney: a true luxury escape right on the beach. From the moment you arrive, it feels more like a Mediterranean daydream than a city stay. Soft curves echo the tide, sun-washed tones glow against the light and every space is designed to draw the coastline in. It’s relaxed yet refined, the kind of place that invites you to linger long after checkout.
Inside, 198 rooms and 22 suites stretch along the water’s edge, each one a quiet retreat framed by sea views. Balconies open to salt air and sky and the suites take it one step further with outdoor baths that overlook the Pacific. It’s all about easy indulgence – mornings with coffee and the crash of waves, evenings with Champagne and the scent of the sea drifting through open doors.
The hotel’s design mirrors the mood of Coogee itself: unhurried, elegant and quietly glamorous. Sunlight filters through floor-to-ceiling windows, glancing off soft timber and sand-hued stone. There’s a sense of calm in every corner, a reminder that luxury doesn’t always need to shout.
When it comes to dining, Shutters Restaurant and Bar anchors the experience with a menu that blends Mediterranean warmth and modern Australian flair. Expect plates built around coastal produce – fresh seafood, olive oil, citrus – the kind of food that tastes like Summer.
Guests can also look forward to the return of Rick Stein at Coogee Beach, where the celebrated Chef’s signature "fresh seafood, simply prepared” ethos will bring his unmistakable charm to Sydney’s Eastern suburbs.
The coastal calm continues well beyond the restaurant. In March 2026, the second phase of the hotel will be unveiled, featuring an ocean-facing infinity pool, spa, poolside bar and Club InterContinental. The leisure deck has been designed to disappear into the horizon, creating that perfect moment where pool and sea meet in one endless line of blue.
Club guests will be treated to the brand’s signature experience: breakfast, afternoon tea and twilight canapes with fine wines, all served in a private lounge with uninterrupted ocean views.
Wellness runs through every detail – from sunrise yoga by the beach and pickleball on the hotel’s dedicated courts to spa rituals that draw inspiration from the sea. It’s a retreat that feels as restorative as it is luxurious, offering space to exhale while the city hums quietly beyond the headland.
Only 20 minutes from the CBD, InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach feels worlds away. It’s where Sydney’s easy-going spirit meets the sophistication of the InterContinental name, creating something entirely new for the city’s coastline.
This December, a new wave of luxury will wash over Coogee. All that’s left to do is check in, breathe out and watch the horizon melt into blue.
