Inside Sydney's coolest new hotel, where the photo booth is a surprise hit

Opened in October 2025, Caption by Hyatt Central Sydney is the cool new kid on the block in Haymarket. It offers an accessible entry point to the luxury Hyatt brand and joins locations around the world in Shanghai, Osaka, Nashville and Tokyo, with its colourful, design-focused approach to mid-range stays.

Positioned in the middle of Haymarket, the hotel is the perfect base to explore the city - especially if you plan to see a show at The Capitol Theatre (our stay included tickets to The Lion King). The venue is literally a 30-second stroll across the street. Chinatown and Paddy's Markets (where the newly revamped food hall serves up a smorgasbord worth checking out) are both only a few minutes away on foot, as well as Darling Harbour and the ICC Sydney. If you want to explore further, hop on the light rail and head to the city centre's Pitt Street Mall or Sydney Harbour within a 15 minute ride.

Adopting a young, fresh and modern-retro aesthetic, the hotel is full of personality from the moment you step inside. Bold artwork by Sydney-born Asian-Australian artist Chris Yee splashes across room wall murals and public spaces, creating instant photo backdrops. And because it's a brand-new build, everything feels - to quote OutKast - so fresh, so clean.

There are 174 rooms including king suites, which offer a New York City vibe in the heart of Sydney's buzzing Haymarket. Sized like a studio apartment, my level-12 suite features floor-to-ceiling windows taking in city skyline views, while the interiors blend mid-century style with pops of tan, orange and teal. Flop onto the comfy king-sized bed after a long day exploring the city or sloth around on the sofa with a drink before heading out.

The rooms also include a mini-fridge, a full-length mirror and stacks of space for hanging clothes. The only downside? There's no bathtub. However, the bathroom's wallpaper, designed by Melbourne artist Samy Baby as a nod to the neighbourhood's history as a market, is a cute touch.

Caption By Hyatt's Talk Shop is open for all-day dining (breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner), or a pre-show drink. You'll find quick bites and cafe-style meals - the miso-glazed salmon bowl and falafel burger with pickled onions are both light and fresh. For breakfast, fuel up with the $32, deal which includes any item from the mains, a coffee, juice, pastry and a fruit plate. Options include a spiced shakshuka, or try one of the Asian-inspired dishes such as the wonton noodle soup.

Talk Shop isn't just a cafe and bar. It's a place to hang out - with a stack of board games and card games to play while sipping on a cocktail, or a coffee (which gets the thumbs up from my coffee-snob husband). The vintage-style photo booth, which costs $12 for two photo strips, is an instant hit of nostalgia for older guests and a novelty for those born post-2000.

The hotel's Instagram-worthy interiors and photo booth in Talk Shop are obviously a drawcard. On arrival, a guest in full glam was posing under the theatre-style entrance lights while her partner snapped shots on an iPhone. Upstairs in Talk Shop, a queue formed as two groups waited for their turn in the photo booth.

The writer was a guest of the hotel