Young At Heart: Moxy Sydney Airport

Moxy Sydney Airport is Sydney's newest airport hotel, designed for people that want a playful, fun airport hotel to stay at before an early flight or that live far from the airport. Part of the Marriott chain, Moxy is aimed at younger clientele or the young at heart that prefers a well priced self service style of hotel. Come along and see what life is like at the Moxy Sydney Airport!

"I love the airport!" I say chirpily to Mr NQN as we are on our way to stay at the Moxy Sydney Airport. We aren't headed anywhere on a plane but airports always signal something exciting and the promise of good things.

When we arrive at Moxy Sydney there are spots to park out the front and pink trolleys. The concept at Moxy is self service whether that be taking your own bags to your room or helping yourself to any supplies that you need. The hotel opened in August 2023 and it is very busy with most of its 301 guest rooms booked up. We leave the car out front for valet parking which is $40 per night.

Reception is still the traditional service although if you are a Marriott Bonvoy member you can check yourself in and get a key through the app. But then you might miss out on the welcome drink or welcome mocktail.

After finishing our drinks we head upstairs to our room #1216 on the 12th floor, the hotel's top floor. The elevators are designed like shipping containers as a nod to nearby Port Botany. Although the hotel was purpose built, the rooms are on the "cosy" side. There are 5 types of rooms available and no suites. We are in a queen room which is 19 square metres/204 square feet.

There are other rooms like ones with 4 bunk style king single beds and another loft room with a queen bed with a single bed positioned right above it. The most popular room is the king room but there are only 5 of these rooms (versus the 200+ queen rooms) in the hotel and these king rooms book up very quickly.

The beds are comfortable - even the queen bed which is smaller than what we are used to gives us a good night's sleep thanks to the pillows, one low profile and one higher profile. Each bed has charging connectivity next to it.

There are two views to choose from: airport and city facing. Airport facing rooms have small, triple glazed windows but look out onto the working airport below. They do tend to be quite dark as the window is quite small so if you're looking for a brighter room choose a city facing room. To make the most of the space, there are no cupboards as most guests only stay a night or two and use the hooks on the wall. Even the table and chairs hang on the wall along with hangers and there's a safe under the bed along with luggage storage space. There is a cute personalised touch with a personal message written on the mirror.

Each room type has the exact same bathroom - that is, a moulded sink next to the bed with tea, coffee and kettle as well as a clothes steamer. There is a large shower with house shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in scents like bergamot, teatree, grapefruit and mint. There are no rooms with baths and there is no fridge in this room type (there is a fridge in the loft room). Internet is fast and free for unlimited devices.

The only thing missing that would be helpful is a QR code in place of a compendium giving you information on the hotel like breakfast times, cafe and dinner menus and opening hours for the gym and laundry. Otherwise you have to call reception for this info and they can get very busy and you wouldn't know the little details about the hotel that can enhance your stay.

There is also a good size gym (complete with pink boxing bag!) as well as a laundry room. Each room has a steamer but if you're looking for a traditional iron and ironing board they're housed here. There's also a large Stash cupboard with room supplies like towels, toilet paper and tissues which you can help yourself to. This room is also where the ice supply is kept and where you can fill up your water carafe.

Because the rooms are on the snug side they designed the lobby to be a place for people to play in and it is busy this Friday night. There are people working on their computers in a quiet nook or meeting up over drinks. The nearby reception area is also very busy checking people into the hotel.

The two event spaces are also available for guests if not booked out already. The Art Gallery is booked out but the Record Room is free and has a ping pong table. Guests are encouraged to put on some vinyl and have dinner in here too. There are also games like Skee Ball, chess and a giant Jenga.

There is no room service so dinner is downstairs at the lobby. There is also a small shop near reception where you can grab snacks or supplies from salads, sandwiches, ice creams, sleep masks and toiletries. And if you're looking for still or sparkling water, grab your carafe and fill it up for free in the lobby.

Ordering is done at the bar where you take a buzzer and collect the food when it is ready. Mr NQN is famished so I order a salad to share as well as a quinoa salad and chicken. Service ranges from absent to attentive at the bar. Prices for burgers are around $26 and $36 for mains. As we aren't big drinkers, we avail ourselves of the complimentary sparkling water at the cafe.

We both really enjoy the chicken breast smothered in melted Cafe de Paris butter. The chicken is perfectly cooked and still juicy and the flavour of the compound butter has melted through the chicken enough to flavour it. It comes with some delicious char grilled broccolini, green beans and carrots and a bowl of French fries.

The quinoa bowl is exactly what I want and it's a mixed leaf salad with red cabbage, edamame, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, spring onion and a roasted sesame dressing. There's a choice of field mushroom, grilled halloumi, hot smoked salmon or grilled chicken and we go for the halloumi. It has a really nice range of texture and the sesame dressing really pulls it all together nicely.

Mr NQN demolishes the roasted harissa cauliflower which is delicious. It sits on a bed of hummus with cherry tomatoes and a tahini dressing. The cauliflower has plenty of flavour from the harissa.

Unfortunately the donut fries are not available this evening but we opt for the other dessert, a sticky date pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, fresh berries, Biscoff crumbs and butterscotch sauce and berry coulis. The cake is soft and sweet and it's a nice dessert to end the night off with.

Breakfast is included in all stays and consists of a selection of fresh fruit, pastries and hot items like scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, mushrooms and baked beans with a couple of types of white bread available. It's a simple selection but it's also nice to have hot items available. You can also help yourself to juices, coffee and tea and it is all included.

The The Little Baxter cafe alongside this breakfast area is for barista coffee and matcha lattes. I order an excellent iced matcha latte ($7) and a cappuccino ($6.50) as well as a Mediterranean scroll ($7.50) and cinnamon scroll ($6.50), warmed up by the friendly staff.

One of my favourite parts of the breakfast is taking the warm cinnamon scroll and pumping some of the giant jar Nutella from the buffet on top. The Nutella hits the cinnamon just right (and I'm not even a sweets person!). HEAVEN.

I also love the DIY virgin Mary station, hash browns and mushrooms while Mr NQN enjoys the fruit plate and muesli. Late checkout is an option too for those that have later flights.

My favourite Moxy touch is one that you might not necessarily know about: the bedtime story. Press the centre button of your room phone and you will get an automated, rotating pre-recorded bedtime story!

Tips For Staying at Moxy Sydney Airport:

If you live far away from the airport or in a regional area, the "Park Stay and Fly Extended Parking" deal gives you one night's accommodation with 5 nights of free valet parking, any additional days are $15 per day or $100 per week.

Transfers to the airport are currently $12 per person but if you book the summer essential package then it is included along with a late checkout of 1pm and daily breakfast.

You can help yourself to complimentary sparkling and filtered water. Still water is available on every floor and sparkling water is available at the Little Baxter Cafe. Use the carafe in your room.

Self service Laundry is easy to use and inexpensive. One load is $3 and includes detergent.

So tell me Dear Reader, do you like or dislike airports?

Moxy Sydney Airport

56 Baxter Rd, Mascot NSW 2020

Phone: (02) 9132 4800

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sydxp-moxy-sydney-airport/overview/