Crystalbrook Kingsley - Newcastle, New South Wales

Wiza C.

Disappointing Stay
We stayed at Crystalbrook Newcastle over the weekend and were really disappointed, especially considering its reputation as one of the top hotels in the area.

Room Smell and Cleanliness
From the moment we entered our room, there was a strong damp, musty smell—like it hadn’t been aired out or used in a while—which made the space feel unclean and uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable Bedding and Towels
The pillows were flat and offered no support, making sleep difficult. On top of that, the towels provided were extremely small—more like hand towels than proper bath towels.

Limited Room Service
Room service ends at 10pm, which is surprisingly early for a hotel of this standard. If you arrive late or get hungry afterward, there are no food options available.

Misleading Breakfast Offering
We had booked a breakfast-inclusive package, only to find that the buffet consisted solely of cold items like cold cuts and pastries. If you wanted a proper hot breakfast—eggs, bacon, etc.—you had to pay extra. This felt misleading and poor value for money. This was the most disappointing.

Visual Appeal and Friendly Staff
The one bright spot was the check-in experience. The lady at the front desk was genuinely lovely—warm, welcoming, and helpful. The hotel itself is also visually stunning, with modern, stylish design.
This was the only positive to be honest.

Overall Experience
We chose Crystalbrook based on its branding and reputation for luxury, but the actual experience fell far short of expectations. Compared to other premium hotels we’ve stayed in, Crystalbrook Newcastle lacked comfort, clarity, and service consistency.

Pen S.

Hubby and I had a lovely stay. Very clean and comfortable. Breakfast on the top floor was beautiful. Only downfall is parking but the staff offered a valet service, parking cost was a little on the high side, but worth it.

RDMCO P.

One of the best Aust Hotel stays we have had. Fantastic repurpose of a brutalist building to a very high level. Rooms were quiet, very comfortable and stylish fitout. Staff very helpful, happy and friendly. Breakfast in main restaurant good with fab views. Hard to fault except having to pay for valet parking as spiral carpark seems easy enough to navigate - mystery?

Sean D.

Crystalbrook Kingsley in Newcastle is a striking blend of modern luxury and thoughtful design, offering a unique stay in the heart of the city. Housed in a transformed 1970s brutalist building, the hotel boasts beautifully appointed rooms that are both stylish and comfortable. The technological amenities, including in-room tablets for service requests, add a contemporary touch to the guest experience. A highlight is Romberg’s, the rooftop bar on the ninth floor, which provides a lovely atmosphere and panoramic views of the city .  

However, parking can be a challenge. The hotel offers valet parking at $50 per night, but spaces are limited and often need to be pre-booked . Street parking is scarce, with only a few 15-minute spots available out front, making it difficult to find a space upon arrival . Alternative self-parking options are available nearby, such as Wilson Parking at 317 Wharf Road and First Parking at 11 Argyle Street .  

Despite the parking inconveniences, Crystalbrook Kingsley offers a memorable stay with its luxurious rooms, advanced technology, and exceptional rooftop bar. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking a sophisticated experience in Newcastle, provided you’re prepared for the parking situation.

judef

I stayed for business fortnightly for 6 months. There is serious no recognition or customer service at reception in the hotel ! I provided feedback to suggest customer service training but no one contacted me. Valet parking means they abandon your car on the rear driveway without cover and the car has never been ready when requested. No service in ground floor cafe - staff are disinterested and no coffee after about 7pm. They encourage you to use the in room tablet but any requests go nowhere and have never been actioned . Shame coz rooms are nice and I liked in room Nespresso and filtered water.

Anna G.

I really wanted to love this hotel, but was so disappointed by the cleanliness and service.

The windows were filthy, which really impeded the amazing views. The table had greasy marks on it, and the phone and coffee machine coated in dust.

I ordered both dinner and breakfast to my room and both orders arrived wrong! Not sure how they managed that. My dinner was cold by the time they fixed their error and no apology from the receptionist I spoke to, and in the morning I had to wait so long for them to bring the right order that I had to rush to eat it before check out. Not enjoyable. I was surprised they even charged me for the breakfast after that experience, so it was pretty cheeky that they also added on tray charges to my food bill! Especially for such terrible service.

I also had to remake the bed with my rheumatoid arthritis just to make it comfortable because the bottom sheet wasn't tucked in at all and was uncomfortably crumpled up underneath me. Not easy to do as the sheet was not large enough for the bed.

They advertise soundproof walls but you still get a lot of noise from the hallway.

I still had a good time having high tea downstairs with good company (although it was very weird that they brought out food coated in nuts that we had to refuse them to put on the table with the other food, despite me booking a high tea with nut allergy which they acknowledged I had done), but very disappointed that I had to do my best to overlook so many things at this hotel to not let it ruin my trip. They did do their best to make up for the error at the high tea at least, and I appreciated the waiter who looked after us there as it wasn't their fault.

StephenR285

Lovely room, great to be able to get a good coffee late in the afternoon and friendly staff. We opted for valet parking both for convenience and to be able to charge our EV as we brought our charging cable that plugs in to wall sockets. The downsides were that all the 5 min parking in front of the hotel was full when we arrived and we had to park in a no parking zone around the corner and then wait for the car to be valet parked before we were able to visit the underground carp[ark to get our luggage. The hotel is in a good location for restaurants and coffee shops which was another plus.

iTravelThe

Okay property, service underwhelming.||We stayed the Crystalbrook Kingsley in April 2025. The designers of the property should be commended with how the hotel has utilised the building, however the service and cleanliness is needing attention.||Upon check in we were advised that only valet parking was available, which was fine. However the parking options out the front of the hotel were limited which did not enable a smooth transition into the property. The staff on the front desk were not the most welcoming when checking in. The room itself was fantastic, however some areas of the room were not clean, particularly the windows and a significant amount of dust on the furniture and bed areas. The rooms design was fantastic and the bed was incredibly comfortable.||The restaurant itself was completely underwhelming. The food was average and service was not great. Water was not topped up and wrong drinks orders were provided. Breakfast selection was good but not worth $45.||Upon checkout I provided my membership card in which the staff member advised that it was not able to be processed at the front desk, which is crazy for a “5 star establishment”||Overall a incredibly underwhelming stay