Walking out of a windswept, wintry Wednesday night into the lobby at the Moxy Sydney Airport was a revelation. The warm lobby/bar/restaurant space was anything but beige and dreary; it hums with checking-in guests, two busy bartenders serving up cocktails and hungry diners responding like Pavlov’s dog to their buzzers notifying them dinner is ready.
Moxy Sydney Airport is Australia’s first Moxy, and also the first airport hotel for the brand anywhere in the world. Part of Marriott Bonvoy, the brand is aimed at ‘Fun Hunters’ or ‘anyone with a youthful mindset’ rather than a specific age group.
Less than 10 minutes from the airport via the complimentary shuttle, the Moxy Sydney Airport is also close enough to the CBD and all the Emerald City’s showstopper attractions.
CHECK-IN
Check-in is efficient with non-stop smiles. I quickly discovered that the Moxy not only looks different, but it’s fun. Moxy signals its intention from the start with a complimentary Hello cocktail – the Got Moxy. Starting with a Rosé base, it’s topped with sparkling water, berry puree, cranberry and lemonade.
The bar as a check-in desk is a signature feature of the Moxy brand. Unlike the soulless airport hotels of your past, the industrial-light warehouse space is somewhere you want to be, providing a great alternative to being on your lonesome in your room.
The design leans into a handsome, understated, aesthetically pleasing look, with exposed concrete, clever joinery, and pops of the brand’s signature pink, all working to create a space that feels both raw and thoughtfully composed.
THE ROOM
Out of the shipping container-inspired elevator, I turn left, past the chilled, filtered water fountain (carafes in room for filtered water), to the airport-facing Room 1216. The windows are gladly triple-glazed. The Moxy Queens Sleeper is a snug 18 square metres but is designed to be spacious for one or two.
Here, modular furniture isn’t just a feature; it’s a philosophy. A clever pegboard wall replaces the bulky closet, while a foldable work/dining table from Stellar Works appears when needed and vanishes when it’s not.
DESIGN
If you are a design nerd, you’ll like the Bauhaus-like principle at play in the guest rooms: form rigorously follows function. Every element is engineered for purpose – a veritable masterclass in economy of space, with the timber pegs adding a homey, Shaker feel.
If you’ve ever been a fan of the highly functional peg board, you’ll love how the Moxy has taken the idea and run with it. A table for two hangs happily next to collapsible stools perfectly proportioned to serve as a suitcase stand.
The tech is equally intuitive – motion-activated lighting that anticipates your needs, keyless entry, and a notable absence of clutter. Abstract art by Sydney creator Evi O gives a nod to the area’s past as market gardens.
Meanwhile, as a minor tribute to the analogue in a digital world, you can dial a themed bedtime story on the rotary phone. The addition of earthy terracotta accents and the artwork gives the room a low-key mid-century vibe.
The bathroom is oversized, well-designed with a shower and a loo. The quality, 5 Wits Bergamot and Tea Tree refillable shampoo, conditioner, and body wash keep guests sweet-smelling. The basin is just beyond the door, doing double duty as a bathroom basin and a coffee/tea station. On the shelf below there’s a hair dryer, steamer, kettle, glasses and cups.
There are 301 guestrooms across twelve floors, from quad king single bunk rooms, Loft Rooms to King Sleepers, which are ideal for those staying longer with a generous desk space.
THE EATS
While the ubiquitous Club Sandwich was once symbolic of a good hotel, in 2025, I’m declaring the cheeseburger as the new benchmark. And the Moxy Cheeseburger more than fits the bill.
Can I say ‘Beef patty, lettuce, onion, burger sauce, provolone cheese, beetroot, tomato relish, on a charcoal bun’ in less than 4 seconds? Maybe. Can I demolish it in under 10 minutes? Definitely.
With a glass of Hunter Valley Tempus Two Silver Rosé, this burger and fries is precisely what I needed.
The next morning, although breakfast is included in all stays, I opt for a flat white and almond croissant at Mr Baxter before I head north. A Grab and Go annex in the lobby makes for 24/7 snacks and nibbles.
VERDICT
Be it an airport layover before you take off or your last stop on your way home, Moxy Sydney Airport goes above and beyond.
I wish I could have stayed longer to explore the other areas of the hotel. From the hopscotch-floored gym to the laundry, complete with an Iron Man mural. No, not a metallic-suited Robert Downey Jnr but a tattoo aficionado ironing his shirt. Here you’ll also find a stash of towels, toilet paper and tissues. There’s the Art Gallery and the Record Room for vinyl aficionados and games from giant Jenga to chess and more.
Extra points for charging stations across the lobby/bar and the free airport shuttle.
The Moxy Sydney Airport, 56 Baxter Road, Mascot.
