Crown Towers Sydney opens: A startling and glamorous new hotel

It's the big city, international Asian-style hotel that you're having when - at least for the rather unforeseeable future - you can't possibly have a big city international Asian-style hotel.

After four years under construction, Crown Towers Sydney, the city's 275-metre high, French baguette-shaped tower is open and wowing captive, cashed-up Sydneysiders, notoriously known for their ardour for the next big thing.

"Sydney is one of the world's great cities and it deserves a great hotel," says Crown Sydney's chief executive Peter Crinis. "A lot of time has been spent getting the offer right."

And this is apparent everywhere. Billed as Australia's most luxurious hotel, the 349-rooms (and 22-villa) Crown Sydney, based on Traveller's one-night stay, lives up to all of its six stars with a startling attention to detail in its design, fittings and amenities uncommon locally.

The controversial but glamorous Barangaroo precinct hotel - dogged by doubts over the regulatory viability of its all-important casino operation - has been buzzing, even with the absence of domestic and overseas guests.

Faithful to the tried and tasted Crown formula, as seen in Melbourne and Perth, fine food with a flourish of culinary theatrics, is at the forefront of the new Sydney branch.

Indeed, many of its 14 restaurants (some of which are yet to open), including Nobu, Woodcut and a'Mare, are booked out until April - and that's with state borders firmly shut.

Perhaps Crown's biggest showstopper is its lavish infinity pool, complete with resort-style private cabanas, day beds and poolside dining, set on the edge of Darling Harbour. Singapore comes to Sydney even if we can't get to Singapore.

Rooms at Crown Sydney start from $850 per night. See crownsydney.com.au

Anthony Dennis stayed as a guest of Crown Sydney. A full review of the hotel will appear in coming weeks.