This western Sydney high-rise is smack bang in a city on the up and up

Penrith is a city on the rise. This will come as no surprise to those who follow the National Rugby League competition, where the all-conquering Panthers have won the last four premierships. There's more, however, to the Western Sydney powerhouse than rugby league glory, and the Pullman Sydney Penrith shows how the Nepean River community is changing. Opened in August 2023 as the city's first five-star hotel, the glittering new build on Mulgoa Road is a sign of confidence in Penrith's future, funded by the Panthers Group as part of a transformation of the Penrith Panthers precinct to create a modern business and entertainment destination. The hotel also looks to benefit from the 2026 opening of the Western Sydney International Airport (about 20 minutes away) by bringing a new level of luxury accommodation to travellers who will no longer need to head to Sydney's CBD for a five-star experience.

On one side of the hotel is the Panthers' home ground, BlueBet Stadium, currently being redeveloped. On the other is the Penrith Leagues Club, with its many restaurants, bars and other attractions. Westfield Penrith is a five-minute drive away.

The building's striking architectural design is the work of Sydney-based firm Turner Studio. It features a fluid, ribbon-like form, paying homage to the nearby Nepean River. That concept continues inside: as guests walk through the entrance, they are met by a teal metal sculpture of the Nepean tracing its way along the walls and ceiling to the reception area.

There are 153 and mine, on the top floor, is a 38-square-metre junior suite with floor-to-ceiling windows providing extensive views of the area, a king bed, full-size fridge and freezer, coffee machine and a sleep therapy menu (more on that later). Other options include superior and deluxe rooms and all feature luxurious bedding, black-out curtains, and bathrobes and slippers.

Downstairs you will find the upscale cocktail bar Tori, and on the first floor is the fine-dining restaurant Marcel Bar & Bistro, where a modern European menu showcases exceptional ingredients sourced from Western Sydney's food bowl and its line-up of talented local producers - "the best of the west". The seared scallops, and the king prawns with bisque butter and curry leaf, are the heroes of the starter menu when I visit, and the roasted lamb shoulder main course is cooked to perfection.

The hotel is in the heart of the action-packed Panthers Leisure and Entertainment Precinct. Take a swing at aqua golf or try iFLY Indoor Skydiving. Or do the Great River Walk, an eight-kilometre route that takes in both the M4 Bridge and the Yandhai Nepean Crossing. The Museum of Fire - which explores Australia's firefighting history - is a popular local attraction, as is the Penrith Whitewater Stadium. Or, if you're a league fan, watch the Panthers push for yet another premiership (once their $309 million stadium redevelopment is finished).

The sleep therapy menu, accessible on the in-room tablets, is one of the first of its kind in Australia. At the touch of a button, guests can order everything from face and eye masks to aromatherapy pillow sprays, soothing teas and pillows (there's an extensive selection). The menu also has selections of background sounds and room lighting settings to help you sleep or wake up. Add to this some late-night room service, a hot chocolate and dessert. Divine.

The writer was a guest of the hotel