When you look at any of the world’s sprawling “big cities”, whether that be Tokyo, New York City or Chicago, you’ll find that their accommodation options aren’t all clustered around the central business district.
Sure, the grand dames and big chains tend to favour a central location, but you can find interesting, premium accommodation in places you wouldn’t usually expect. The Robey in Wicker Park (Chicago), Mustard Hotel in Shimokitazawa (Tokyo), the gorgeous Moxy out in Williamsburg (New York City).
Sydney has always been a bit different. There are some great hotels in the inner-city suburbs like Surry Hills and… well, just Surry Hills. But the city has a long way to go if it wants to push tourists to different areas around the city. And that’s why One Global Resorts Green Square is such a good proposition for both visitors and staycationers.
Green Square is quietly becoming a hub for shopping and lifestyle, drawing attention away from the centre of the city with an enormous $22 billion urban renewal that’ll see the area rapidly grow over the next decade. By 2036, Green Square is projected to sit among the highest densities in Australia for a renewal area of this size. Residents and workers will flock, and the bars, restaurants and shops will inevitably follow.
The area around Green Square Station is now the first site of such renewal. It seems One Global Resorts wanted to get in early. Yet the biggest question: is Green Square exciting enough as it is to justify a staycation?
So far, the hotel’s biggest claim to fame is hosting stars from MAFS. Nothing to do with reality TV is a sell for me personally, but I can see why that gives the property a bit of oomph in an increasingly competitive market. At the very least, it validates the hotel’s premium pitch.
Location
One Global Resorts Green Square has a few things going for it that many city hotels don’t. First, it’s a 10-minute drive from Sydney Airport, making it super convenient without framing it as an “airport hotel”. Then, and rather uniquely, it stands just a shuffle away from the architectural triumph of Green Square Library – one of the most picturesque, peaceful and well-stocked in Sydney.
The award-winning, underground library was named World’s Best Library at the 2018 Architectural Review Awards, and it still very much has that cred. There aren’t many Sydneysiders who make time to leave the city for these kinds of places, however, so aside from the plaza – which is still very much “getting there” – this is the area’s main appeal.
That said, the shopping villages of Zetland and Waterloo are nearby. As are the coffee shops and restaurants that sit on this side of Alexandria, like Mecca Coffee. Give it a few years, and you’ll see Green Square packed with its own destination venues.
Another strong point is that the hotel is part of the same complex that houses Green Square Station, which makes it incredibly easy to zip on over to the city and back.
Design
Koichi Takada Architects have put together a very on-trend design for this 90-room boutique hotel. The entrance is obscure and rather plain, but clean lines and soft curves help pull together a seamless, contemporary look. A large outdoor pool and courtyard open towards the skyline and would be the property’s visual centrepiece if it wasn’t for the striking geometry of the building itself, which, taken from afar, reveals a smart, symmetrical strip of green spaces.
There’s a restrained confidence to the interiors. Rather than leaning heavily into luxury clichés, the public spaces favour muted colours, warm timber finishes and plenty of natural light. It’s modern without feeling clinical, and polished without crossing into the kind of overly stylised aesthetic that can date quickly. It also feels appropriately scaled.
Rooms
The rooms continue that same design language. Mine was bright, thoughtfully laid out and comfortably sized for a longer stay, with floor-to-ceiling windows helping make the space feel larger than its footprint suggests. The palette stays neutral throughout, allowing the views across Green Square to do most of the work.
The bed is comfortably premium, storage is generous, and the work desk makes the room just as practical for business travellers as weekend visitors. Bathrooms continue the minimalist theme with quality fittings, rainfall showers and enough bench space that you don’t end up balancing toiletries around the basin.
It’s also impressively quiet. Being so close to both the airport and a major train station naturally raises questions about noise, but soundproofing is excellent. Once you’re inside, the outside world largely disappears.
Food & Drink
One Global Resorts doesn’t have a signature restaurant of its own, which somewhat dents its luxury pitch. The surrounding options are fine, but they aren’t “I’m treating myself to a lovely staycation” fine.
Instead of asking guests to dine inside the hotel every night, it effectively outsources that experience to the growing Infinity Square precinct directly downstairs. That means breakfast from Social Society, which brews Gabriel Coffee and has quickly become one of the neighbourhood’s busiest cafés, lunch at one of the casual eateries, or dinner at Nam2, whose Southeast Asian menu has already developed a loyal local following.
The biggest advantage is variety. Rather than being limited to one hotel kitchen, guests have multiple cafés, restaurants and takeaway options within a minute’s walk of their room, alongside a Woolworths if you simply want to stock up on snacks or breakfast supplies. It gives the hotel a flexibility that many traditional properties can’t really offer, particularly for longer stays.
Amenities
For a boutique hotel, the facilities keep it simple. The outdoor infinity pool and heated spa make good use of the elevated position, while private cabanas and sun lounges encourage guests to actually spend an afternoon there rather than simply ticking the “pool” box.
There’s also a well-equipped gym with modern cardio and strength equipment, landscaped outdoor spaces and secure parking for those arriving by car. Combined with the retail precinct below, the property feels more like a self-contained neighbourhood than a standalone hotel, which shifts towards the modern trend of working social spaces into the accommodation experience – an approach refined many years ago by hotel hotshot Ian Schrager.
Service
I interacted with exactly one lovely and professional person (front desk) across my stay. Which is fine. When you’re angling this as a staycation, you want to be left to your own devices. You already live in this city (or nearby). You just want somewhere nice to stay. I’m just glad the decidedly modern hotel hasn’t resorted to contactless check-in.
Value
One Global Resorts Green Square isn’t trying to compete with Sydney’s grand luxury hotels. Instead, it offers something the city arguably needs more of: a genuinely premium hotel outside the traditional tourist core.
The biggest question is whether Green Square is already a destination in its own right. For some travellers, perhaps not yet. But the transport links, growing food scene and enormous investment pouring into the precinct make it one of Sydney’s most interesting areas to watch.
Plus, average nightly rates are typically below $300, making it an attractive option if those city hotels are jacking up their prices.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
One Global Resorts Green Square
Address: 8 Tweed Pl, Zetland, NSW 2017
Contact: +61 2 8317 3088
The writer stayed two nights as a guest of One Global Resorts.
