Star City: Casino glitter on Darling Harbour
Sydney’s only casino, Star City, opened to much fanfare in 1997 in the inner city suburb of Pyrmont. While some of the original lustre has undeniably worn off in recent years, it still has all the high glamour you’d expect of a world-class casino – dazzling harbour views, lavish lounges, high rollers rooms and glittering lights and aplenty.
Still, this enormous "mini-city" has something for punters of every persuasion, with fine dining restaurants and cocktail bars balanced out by all you can eat buffets, big screen sports, souvenir shops and a coffee lounge.
Australia’s second largest casino after the Crown in Melbourne, Star City features two gaming floors, eight bars, seven restaurants, 351 hotel rooms and 130 serviced and privately owned apartments. Card pros from all over the world fly in daily for high stakes action in the invitation only high rollers rooms. For the rest of us, there are 15 different table games, 1,500 poker machines and a 24-hour sports bar.
The 2,000-seat Lyric Theatre hosts glittering live stage shows, often showcasing big-ticket performers as well as Broadway musicals, ballets, operas and theatre productions. Hungry punters have a choice of steak and seafood, Chinese, Vietnamese, smorgasbord, or the acclaimed 17th floor Astral Restaurant. The 36° Degree Bar specialises in vodka and hosts DJs and live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
HelloSydney Tip: Right on Darling Harbour, Star City is easily accessible from the central business district. From Town Hall or Cockle Bay Wharf it’s an easy stroll away along the Pyrmont Bridge, and it’s also accessible by monorail, light rail, ferry and taxi.
Posted by Fiona Davies
