Inside InterContinental Coogee Beach, Sydney’s ‘Only Luxury Beachfront Hotel’

For a city with as many world-renowned beaches as Sydney, you might expect luxury beachside escapes to be in obnoxious abundance. You’d be wrong. While the Harbour City plays host to a range of remarkable hotels and resort properties, including the best hotel in the Oceania region, the famed beaches of Bondi, Bronte, Coogee and Manly are surprisingly threadbare on the luxury front.

In fact, prior to this month, only two properties, QT Bondi and the Manly Pacific Hotel, could claim five-star status with true beachside views. Now, you can add InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach to the list.

On December 1, IHG Hotels & Resorts officially flung open the doors to the much anticipated five-star resort, offering guests a first look inside the stunning oceanside property. A delightfully Australian fusion of sun, sand and sophistication, InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach marks the brand’s third Sydney property and first beachside address. So what can travellers expect from the self-proclaimed “new era of beachfront elegance“?

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach

• Address: 242 Arden St, Coogee NSW 2034
• Phone: (02) 9315 7600
• Rooms: 198 guest rooms w/22 suites
• Check-in time: 15:00
• Check-out time: 11:00
• Dining Options: Shutters Restaurant & Bar, Rick Stein’s Coogee Beach
• Price: $$$

Described as ‘Sydney’s only luxury beachfront hotel located within 20 minutes of the city’, InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach is a welcomed addition to the city’s seaside. Now, it bears reminding that while this is a brand new InterContinental, it’s not exactly a new hotel. The latest property is housed in the old Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach location, having been rebranded and completely gutted by IHG and lifestyle luxury hospitality partner Salter Brothers earlier this year. The results are outstanding.

“Welcoming our first guests on the first day of summer is an extraordinary milestone,“ general manager Melinda Lampier said in a statement. “Over the coming months, we will finalise our remaining facilities, and seeing this vision take shape in the heart of Coogee is something we are extremely proud of.“

As Lampier rightly points out, the launch is an important milestone for IHG, but for Sydneysiders, it answers a long-held question: Why aren’t there more five-star hotels on the beach? International guests travel from all corners of the globe to take in the unrivalled scenery of the Sydney beachfront, it’s about time we made the most of it.

Suites and Rooms

In terms of accommodation, InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach features a total of 198 sun-swept guest rooms, including 22 luxury suites that offer serious beachside sophistication. Each of these suites employs a refined indoor-outdoor design complete with multiple lounge areas, outdoor baths and an interior design that reflects the rich and vibrant coastline of Sydney’s east.

The colour palette is your typical restrained coastal chic, with a soft, beige hue radiating across all rooms. Simple? Perhaps, but when married with the teal blue of the neighbouring Coogee Beach, it’s hard to argue against the sand-coloured finish.

Amenities

The December launch now sees the hotel’s public areas and dining venues open to the public, however, more facilities are set to open in 2026. According to the hotel, wellness will play a significant role in the future of InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, with the property set to offer a sanctuary that feels both restorative and connected to place.

When phase two of the launch kicks off in March 2026, guests will be able to start their day with sunrise yoga by the sea, indulge in a game of pickleball on the hotel’s dedicated courts or head down to the beach for a morning stroll. For more relaxed travellers, mornings may start with a top-tier breakfast from acclaimed executive chef Stephen Lech delivered directly to their door.

Shutters Restaurant & Bar

Lech is heading up the new Shutters Restaurant & Bar, a contemporary outpost with a menu that draws on seasonal Australian produce with Mediterranean influences. As Lech explained, the culinary offering, and indeed the coastal textures of the dining room, are designed as a ode to the wholesome nature of the local region.

“Coogee has such a welcoming energy, and I wanted the food to reflect that,“ Lech said. “We’ve created a menu designed to share and to change with the seasons, celebrating seafood and local produce at their best.“

Alongside Shutters, InterContinental Coogee also plays host to Rick Stein, with a 224-seat venue launching earlier this year. The restaurant follows a similar style to Stein’s acclaimed restaurants in Mollymook and Port Stephens, employing a fresh, seafood-heavy menu.

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach Opening

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach will open in two distinct phases. Phase one, which launched on 1 December, sees all 198 guest rooms, including 22 suites available for booking, alongside the new Shutters Restaurant & Bar.

The opening will continue in March 2026, when phase two of the launch kicks off with the White Lotus-inspired leisure deck opening. From here, guests will be able to enjoy the ocean-facing infinity pool, poolside bar, outdoor event terrace, Eliva Spa, and Club InterContinental.

For more information on InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach or to make a booking, visit the IHG Hotels & Resorts website.

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach FAQ