Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah: Northern Beaches Hotel Review.

LOOKING FOR AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF MERCURE SYDNEY MANLY WARRINGAH?

Lining the coastline on the north side of Sydney’s famous harbour is the Northern Beaches. Famous for its incredible beaches and spectacular cliffs, this region of Greater Sydney draws in visitors looking for a close coastal alternative to the ever-popular Bondi Beach.

And for those looking to explore the place for more than a day, Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah hotel just opened up its doors, but is it worth the stay?

Disclosure: This review is a non-sponsored post based on my stay at Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah in August 2022. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah lies in the Northern Beaches suburb of Brookvale. Although Brookvale isn’t a well-known place in Sydney, it’s not too far away from one that is. Manly is only 4.5kms south, and from there, the heart of Sydney is a 40-minute scenic ferry ride away.

Back in Brookvale, footy fans of all teams will appreciate 4 Pines Park (formerly known as Brookvale Oval), home of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, being just down the road.

Even when it’s football’s off-season, Mercure Manly Warringah is near numerous microbreweries, so those who like tasting different types of alcohol will find the hotel is in the midst of quite a few.

And although it’s not sitting oceanfront, a half an hour’s walk eastbound will take you to what the Northern Beaches is known for, gorgeous beaches and stunning cliff faces.

Room Types.

Brookvale’s Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah hotel has 120 rooms in various configurations catering to all sorts of guests.

• Standard Room With One Queen.
• Standard Room with One Queen Bed and Single Sofa Bed.
• Standard Room with One King Bed or Two Single Beds.
• Standard Room With 3 Single Beds. 
• Family Room With Two Queen Beds. – Accessible Room.
• Accessible Room With One Queen Bed.
• Standard Room with One King Bed or Two Single Beds – Accessible Room.

Standard Queen Room With Single Sofa Bed. – 305. 

Mercure is a hotel chain that provides fantastic stays, and as a new one that opened up about a month ago, expectations for it were high, but it didn’t follow through.

The room was not new at all. Accor, the company that owns Mercure, bought the former Travelodge Hotel, and it appears they did nothing to it after acquiring it. It doesn’t convey the level of sophistication Mercure is known for.

While the style is modern, it feels noticeably budget-level. The furnishings don’t give off a sense of expense and they are haphazardly positioned around the room. The TV stand was too small for the TV, the microwave seemed out-of-date and the air-conditioning adjustment panel still said Travelodge.

The sloppy finishings, the air-conditioning vent hanging down from the ceiling, and the random corners near the door didn’t help give the room a clean-cut feel either. There was also a long crack across the top.

Positively speaking, the room was clean, tidy, and spacious, and the bed was comfortable. The wardrobe was a good size, and there were plenty of drawers and cupboards to put belongings. The kitchenette and sink were also handy. 

Although the sofa bed wasn’t utilized as a bed, it was nice having it there to lounge on, and the windows opened. Not much. A couple of inches, but it was lovely to let the breeze in. The full-length mirrors were also a nice touch, but two seemed excessive.

Noise.

Another final thing worth noting is noise. Most people who stay at the Mercure would do so to see a football game at 4 Pines Park (Brookvale Oval), so it wouldn’t be an issue for them. 

But if someone is at the hotel while a game is on, they’d get a lot of noise. And it’s not low and muffled either. The commentary and cheers from the crowds are loud enough to be heard with adequate clarity through the closed windows. 

Bathroom.

The bathroom in 305 of the Mercure Hotel in Brookvale was of modest size. Like the room, it doesn’t appear like it was updated since Accor took over and is what you would expect from a budget hotel.

The space was almost entirely white save for a couple of squares that added contrast to the shower cubicle.

Speaking of the shower, there was mould in the grout between the tiles, which is not something you expect from a brand such as the Mercure nor a hotel listed as “new”.

And just like the room has a significant crack, so did the bathroom, only this one was in the corner behind the door.

View.

Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah only has three levels for rooms. Even though room 305 was at the top, the hotel isn’t that elevated above the surrounding boundaries. And because it was on the side, the views were not great.

The neighbouring building was the most notable aspect of the view, but on the right was a nicer scene. There were some trees and a couple of buildings, and at the extreme side, the edge of 4 Pines Park was visible, but nothing to write home about.

Reception & Hallways. 

The reception at Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah was beautiful. Fresh, clean, modern and stylish. It was spacious, and welcoming and reflected the hotel chain’s humble modern aesthetics.

Unfortunately, it appears only the ground level was refurbished during the takeover, as the halls felt as outdated as the rooms.

Restaurant. 

As the hotel had only just opened, the restaurant wasn’t yet available for dining. It shares the same space as the reception, so it shares all the same descriptions.

Garden.

Just behind the reception and restaurant is the garden. It’s only a little space between the U-shape of the building and the parking lot, but it’s a serene spot for those looking to have a moment outside without venturing too far. 

However, there are no seats, but there are a few shady trees, some hedges and a patch of grass.

Additional Facilities.

• Free Wi-fi.
• 24-Hour Reception.
• Ice Machine.
• Laundry & Dry Cleaning.
• Facilities For Disabled Guests.
• Concierge Service.
• Luggage Storage.
• Versatile Event Space. 

Parking.

Parking at the Mercure is on-site behind the hotel. It’s not undercover, and fees apply.

Staff.

The staff at Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah were fantastic. All the people we dealt with were friendly, welcoming and helpful.

There were a couple of minor issues with the computer, and one of the ladies was hard to hear as she speaks very softly, but all of them had smiles on their faces and were happy to assist and were the best part of the stay.

And they also put out welcome treats. As we arrived on game day, they had a stand with cupcakes with the playing team’s logos on them so that guests could eat to see how many supporters from each side were staying at the hotel.

I couldn’t eat them because of what I choose to consume, but it was a lovely, fun thing they did that made us feel more welcome. They also later gave us a gift of wine and chocolate.

Lastly, while the staff at the hotel were polite and lovely to deal with, they did accidentally double charge us, however, it was resolved within a week.

Attractions.

Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah has a handful of attractions within walking distance, most notably 4 Pines Park (Brookvale Oval), the home of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. It’s only a 450m walk for footy fans to see a game.

Warringah Mall is also just down the road for people who enjoy shopping, while nature lovers have a little further to walk. The spectacular shores of Dee Why Beach, Dee Why Rockpool and South Curl Curl Beach are a little over half an hour away.

The popular coastal/ harbour destination, Manly, is even further away at 4.5kms, but a bus takes passengers straight to the CBD. From there, explore the suburb, or catch another bus and explore Sydney Harbour National Park and North Head Fort.

Back in Manly CBD, guests can then catch a passenger ferry across Port Jackson and access a slew of Sydney’s most popular attractions. Circular Quay stops within walking distance of the Sydney Opera House and BridgeClimb, the company that allows tourists to climb the iconic arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Milson’s Point is on the north side of the bridge and stops right by Luna Park (theme park), while the Watson’s Bay Port is where people get off to see the Hornby Lighthouse and the spectacular Gap Lookout National Park.

Public Transport & Accessibility To Other Attractions.

Public transport near Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah isn’t the best, and those who have an aversion to buses don’t have any other options than to walk or get an uber or taxi.

Guests who don’t mind buses have the option of using the Pittwater Road at Warringa Road bus stop, which is only 350m away or Pittwater Road Opp Brookvale Oval, 400m in the other direction.

The nearest train station, Roseville, is an hour’s bus trip away, and the closest ferry is at Manly, which is a 25-minutes bus journey to get to.

My boyfriend and I stayed at the Mercure so he could watch a football game at 4 Pines Park (Brookvale Oval). For this, the hotel’s location was exceptional, but for everything else, it wasn’t the best because it’s so out of the way. It’s not close to any major attractions, the beaches are a little far away, and public transport isn’t optimal.

As for the room, we didn’t appreciate that the hotel was advertised as new when, besides the ground floor level, it was far from that. We felt we got ripped off and he paid a four-star price for an old three-star hotel.

What was also annoying was during this trip to Sydney, he booked another hotel with Accor (as he is an ALL – Accor Live Limitless member), which was also recently taken over from Travelodge and listed as new as well, and we got the exact same room. Except for the layout, everything was identical.

It was the Ibis Styles, a budget-friendly hotel chain, but it is in a better location at Sydney Central, has better access to public transport, is closer to attractions and has much nicer views than the Mercure and is way cheaper.

Overall, Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah was a letdown. If we were to head to Brookvale so my significant other could see a game at 4 Pines Park (Brookvale Oval), we may stay here again merely out of convenience. But if they do fully renovate it, it would be a solid place to stay for footy and brewery fans.

Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah would appeal to Manly Sea Eagles fans, first and foremost, as this is the ground their sacred team calls home. But it’s not just for them. Anyone who loves the sport and wants to see a game will appreciate its proximity to 4 Pines Park (Brookvale Oval) as it is the hotel’s best advantage.

Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah would appeal to Manly Sea Eagles fans, first and foremost, as this is the ground their sacred team calls home. But it’s not just for them. Anyone who loves the sport and wants to see a game will appreciate its proximity to 4 Pines Park (Brookvale Oval) as it is the hotel’s best advantage.

Other people whom the Mercure would appeal to are people who love microbrews. Brookvale has a lot, and people can embark on a walking brewery tour as there are numerous ones near the hotel.

And considering how football and alcohol often go hand in hand, those who love both will thoroughly enjoy tasting the brews while they are in town for the game and don’t mind not getting what they paid for.

And if you’re an ALL – Accor Live Limitless Member, you can get discounts on your stays, which is always a good thing.

Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah is an expensive place to stay for somewhere advertised as new by a hotel chain known for being on a midscale level but is far from being either of those things.

If you’re planning a trip to Sydney, consider checking out these other posts.

• What It’s Like Climbing The Sydney Harbour Bridge: BridgeClimb Review.
• Best Sydney CBD Accommodation Options For All Budgets.
• Discover why the Pylon Lookout is better than Bridgeclimb.
• Best Lookouts In Sydney. Where To Find The Most Incredible Views!
• Sydney Gallery.

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