Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney is the five-star anchor of The Rocks at 199 George Street, beside Circular Quay with harbour and Opera House views, and it runs a proper pet program rather than a grudging exception. One dog up to about 11.5 kilograms is welcome per room.

Dogs at the Four Seasons

The pet program carries a fee of 150 dollars per room, per stay, which covers a plush dog bed, food and water bowls and toilet pads, with welcome extras such as toys or treats often added on arrival. The hotel markets the program under its own tag, and staff treat it as a service rather than an exception. Rules are the usual five-star set: the dog cannot be left unattended in the room, and pet-sitting can be arranged with advance notice. Dogs are not permitted in the restaurant, spa, fitness centre or pool area. Flag the dog when you book through reservations so the room is set up before you arrive.

The vibe

Guests rate it highly for the views, the concierge and the generally welcoming staff, with comfortable beds and the full luxury fit-out. The location is the real draw: the Circular Quay foreshore is at the door, the Rocks laneways are a stroll, and the harbour foreshore walk makes an easy flat morning loop with a dog on lead.

Getting there and parking

The hotel fronts George Street in The Rocks, a short walk from Circular Quay station and the ferry terminal, with valet parking on site. Arriving by train or ferry with a small dog on lead is straightforward, which spares you the CBD parking bill.

Close by with the dogs

The Australian Heritage Hotel around the corner is a classic dog-friendly pub stop, and the Writers Walk along the Quay makes an easy leashed leg-stretch. For another CBD stay that takes dogs, Ace Hotel Sydney is the other high-end pet-friendly option in the city.