It's one of the most iconic hotels in Sydney; this former-W Hotel now known as Blue was one of the first W's outside the US. But after a few years and rumored disagreement between the owners and the W management, the hotel traded in its ever-hip W flag for one by India's Taj Resorts. Debuting under the all-new Blue concept, the hotel is housed in a turn-of-the-century wharf in Sydney's Woolloomooloo, a short drive from downtown and trendy Pott's Point. While conveniently accessible by cab, the area is not the most accessible by foot.

Hovering above the harbor, Blue Sydney is located inside the infamous Woolloomooloo Pier with its selection of boutique media businesses as well as several trendy restaurants that line the structure's northern exterior. The hotel interiors haven't changed much since opening, a red and black color-palette of ultra-suede furnishings and hip lobby hangout, Water Bar, echoes with martini glasses by afternoon and late night lounging by night. Nearby is Blue Cafe, home to an eclectic fusion menu offered for lunch and dinner mostly frequented by curious tourists and hotel guests. The in-house spa is located at the rear of the lobby, with its super-small wading pool and nearby fitness room with handful of cardio machines.

The Room:

We were astonished to grab a room for the price that we did, especially a two-level loft-style suite with views of the harbor. A hard-to-navigate elevator carries guests to an atrium level, where we made our way down a dark corridor with the gentle beats that sounded a lot like the former W-Hotel soundtrack. An oversize housekeeping trolley greeted us in front of our room, which stayed there for the remainder of the stay when not in use by the staff. A narrow corridor opens into the two-level room, with industrial carpeting the showed the wear of numerous spills and good times. The first floor contains the main living area with three-seater sofa and writing desk arranged with heavily frayed hotel literature and dated city magazines. Large windows overlook the pedestrian-friendly pier area with tippy-toe views of the harbor and even better views of speedy cars exiting the nearby freeway tunnel. A second floor loft-space with queen-size bed and full bathroom overlooks the main living area, connected by a small staircase. Brittle poly-blend sheets and a throw blanket thrown a few many times cover the bed, with two side tables adorned with bottled water priced in the double-digits. The bathrooms were the doozey; lined in square times with gross grout with third-world toiletries that made us checkout after a single night.