The best luxury hotels in Sydney

Since first opening its doors in 1990, the 155-room residence has been setting the standard for luxury in the Harbour City. It’s played host to everyone from Elton John to Bette Midler, and while Sydney’s cityscape morphs and grows, this corner of the harbour remains untouched – and quietly spectacular. Sitting in splendour beneath the iconic arc of the Harbour Bridge, Park Hyatt is a celeb favourite for good reason. The location, right on the banks of the harbour in a quiet corner of Circular Quay, is remarkable enough, but the rooms, facilities and hospitality are all of an equally exceptional calibre. This is a no-notes luxury stay with a price tag to match. If you’ve got the cash to splash, a stay here is a no-brainer.

Time Out tip: Pack your swimmers: the beautiful rooftop pool has views of the Opera House.

Address: 7 Hickson Road, The Rocks, Sydney 2000

Price per night: From $1,300.

Closest transport link: Circular Quay train station and ferry wharves are 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel.

In a harbour full of skyscrapers and chain hotels, Pier One Sydney Harbour is somewhat of a gem. Strictly speaking, this Walsh Bay stay is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection – but there’s nothing remotely chain-ish about the boutique-vibe establishment. From its intimate lobby and hidden waterfront bar to the local-first approach of its top-shelf amenities and maritime-inspired decor, every aspect of Pier One has been crafted to celebrate the venue’s location and heritage, while creating a bespoke experience quite unlike anything else available so close to Sydney’s biggest attractions.

Time Out tip: One of the best parts of Pier One is that they’re as excited (if not more) to welcome your dog as they are you. Some of their water view rooms are specially designed for pets, offering direct pier access, a comfy dog bed, food bowl, water bowl, a mini-bar loaded with pup-friendly snacks and a doggy dining menu at Pier Bar.

Address: 11 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point, NSW

Price: From $305 per night

Closest transport link: Circular Quay Station (15-minute walk)

If this hotel was hidden in a dark, urban backstreet, it would still be worth a stay. The rooms are divine, the facilities are impeccable and the flagship restaurant (Cibraria) has firmly secured its position as one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. As it happens though, the location is one of its main drawcards – steps away from one of Sydney’s very best beaches, with incredible views across the sparkling ocean and super easy access to the best restaurants in the area. It’s every bit a luxury hotel, but with a distinctly Manly energy – calm, confident, and focused more on wellness than indulgence. Here, you’ll find detox shots at the breakfast table, massage therapists and personal trainers on hand for private sessions, and a friendly team who are more than happy to bring a Peleton bike up to your room, or sub it out for a bottle of chilled rosé.

Time Out tip: Save room for dessert and get a scoop of house-made gelato to go – the beach is just a few sandy steps from the hotel for a dreamy post-dinner stroll.

Address: 55 N Steyne, Manly, NSW, 2095

Price per night: From $425 per night

The Eve is a luxury hotel for everybody. Art buffs will love its eclectic yet stylish design, foodies will appreciate having Sydney’s hottest restaurants and bars on their doorstep, locals will enjoy a chic staycation in the suburbs, and holidaygoers will appreciate the lush green escape (and stunning rooftop pool) on the city’s edge.

The 102 light-filled rooms are snug yet spacious, with an unpretentious layer of sophistication (and nine room types to choose from).

The Eve is found in the trendy Wunderlich Lane precinct, rubbing shoulders with some of Sydney’s hottest new restaurants, including Bar Julius, Lottie, Olympus and Island Radio. While the hotel has everything you need at your fingertips – from a heated rooftop pool to a luxe spa – it also makes a perfect launchpad for exploring the best of Sydney's inner city suburbs. For a super luxe stay, head to Bar Julius for a pre-dinner drink, then go all out on a Greek feast at Olympus.

Time Out tip: Order the Mimosa at Bar Julius – it will make you rethink this beloved breakfast cocktail forever.

Address: 8 Baptist St, Redfern, 2016

Price: From $519 per night

Closest Transport Link: Eight-minute walk to Moore Park Light Rail

The Langham is the hotel you’d book for someone looking for a traditional hotel experience. Spa day followed by afternoon tea? Sorted. Champagne in your room, served on a private balcony overlooking a historic terraced street? Done. A stay here is like a sleepover at your wealthy auntie’s lavish mansion, with a team of expert hosts on hand to attend to your every whim. And though it’s an excellent spot for an indulgent vacay, the close proximity to the city and mansion-away-from-home feel make it a popular choice for (cashed-up) business travellers too. Spread across three floors, the 96 rooms range from king-sized bedrooms to a two-bedroom suite, but all rooms are incredibly spacious, especially by Sydney standards. The vastness, as well as the careful, heritage-style interior aesthetic, makes these rooms feel more suited to a vast country estate than a city hotel – in the very best way.

Time Out tip: Order the prawn toast at the Observatory Bar – you won’t regret it.

Address: 89-113 Kent St, Millers Point NSW 2000

Price per night: From $318 per night

Closest transport link: Wynyard Station is an eight minute walk from the hotel, but I’d suggest leaning into the luxe experience and booking a limousine or one of the hotel’s signature princess-pink London taxis.

Since opening in 2023, Capella has quickly established itself as the pinnacle of grandeur in Sydney's hotel landscape. Occupying a historic sandstone building (formerly home to the Department of Education), the overtly elegant space is home to a Parisian-style Brasserie, a naturally-lit 20-metre indoor pool, a marble-trimmed spa and 192 meticulously designed rooms and suites. Expect walls lined with custom artwork, pillow-top beds fitted with Italian linen and a dedicated 'Culturist' team on site to help you make the most of your stay in the city. This is a Sydney staycation taken to the most luxurious level, and we're absolutely here for it.

Time Out tip: Room service is available 24 hours a day, and with new clubs popping up in Sydney with delightfully late opening hours (we're looking at you Caterpillar Club) normal modes of operating need not apply.

Address: 24 Loftus St, Sydney, NSW, 2000

Price: From $562 per night

Closest transport link: Circular Quay station and ferry wharves are right on the doorstep.

Boasting 11 dining venues in the local area, a world-class spa complete infrared sauna and a 37-degree ‘vitality pool’, state-of-the-art fitness facilities including a waterfront yoga terrace, a luxurious lido with an infinity pool and private cabanas, and black-label retail outlets, it's best not to think of Crown as a hotel, but rather a luxury cruise ship, permanently docked in Barangaroo.

Time Out tip: Opt for a Harbour facing room for iconic views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Address: 1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000

Price: From $705

Closest transport link: Barangaroo metro station is a one minute walk from the hotel.

Anyone who knows good hotels knows the Shangri-La. The renowned hotel brand is synonymous with bringing a touch of luxury and peace to urban sanctuaries in more than 20 countries around the world – and the Shangri-La Sydney is no exception. The luxe hotel's biggest selling point is its unobstructed 270-degree views of Sydney’s glittering jewels – the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. But the panorama doesn’t stop there – it extends from the Blue Mountains in the west all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the east, meaning you can watch both sunrise and sunset without leaving your window (if you’re in one of the Horizon Club Premier Sydney Harbour Rooms).

Time Out tip: If you’re all about convenience, the Shangri-La is right in the heart of the action. The hotel stands tall in the historic Rocks precinct, steps from Circular Quay and an easy walk to the beautiful waterfront Barangaroo Reserve.

Address: 176 Cumberland St, The Rocks, Sydney

Price per night: From $305 per night

Closest transport link: Ferry, train and light rail stations at Circular Quay – just a four-minute walk away

Wildlife Retreat at Taronga is – as the name suggests – located in the heart of Taronga Zoo, Sydney’s most well-known conservation-focused zoo. And though you can be up close and personal with Taronga’s pygmy hippos, giraffes and elephants in under ten minutes, the sanctuary in which the Retreat is built feels totally secluded. The main appeal here is, of course, the zoo – Sydney’s historic harbourside institution that encases the Retreat. From your bedroom’s floor-to-ceiling windows, you’ll watch kangaroos grazing on the grounds and koalas snoozing lazily in the trees, and with an excellent restaurant on site and some of Sydney’s most magical harbour beaches within easy walking distance, the fluffy neighbours aren’t the only drawcard.

Time Out tip: Head to the safari camp-style lobby bar for a sunset cocktail as the sun sets over the harbour – the views are perfect.

Address: 2a Bradleys Head Road, Mosman NSW 2088

Price per night: From $550.

Closest transport link: Ferries run from Circular Quay straight to the zoo, or you can catch the 100 bus from Wynyard station in the CBD.

This is Kimpton’s first Australian outpost and it heroes the same mix of luxury and pragmatism showcased at its hotels in Barcelona, London, Tokyo and San Francisco, to name just a few of the 75 locations the group boasts worldwide. Rather than simply leaning into the luxe, there’s a real understanding of the little details tourists actually care about, like the option to bring their pets along on their vaycay – and all species are welcome “as long as they can fit in the lift”, we kid you not. Fitness and wellness are both high priorities at Kimpton establishments, and guests can take advantage of the rooftop lap pool, the expansive gym and the yoga studio in the basement, or for a more secluded stretch, an on-demand yoga tutorial via the in-room tablet – yoga mats are available upon request from reception. 

Time Out tip: Make sure you book in for the bottomless brunch at the hotel's in-house fine dining restaurant, Luke's Kitchen.

Address: 339 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000

Price: From $384 per night.

Closest transport link: Town Hall train station and Gadigal metro station are both less than five minutes from the hotel on foot. 

There are 140 contemporary rooms and suites, a rooftop pool with cabanas, several restaurants, bars and retail spaces. In its previous iterations, it hosted US presidents, our own Prime Ministers (Bob Hawke famously ran through the area in budgie smugglers), Princess Diana and, sadly, Michael Hutchence on the last night of his life. Now the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay is at its brilliant best after a huge renovation. 

Time Out tip: Walk along New South Head Road to the Murray Rose Pool, a harbour beach and large swimming enclosure that’s ripe for a dip any time of year.

Address: 33 Cross St, Double Bay NSW 2028

Price: From $519 per night

Closest transport link: Double Bay Ferry Wharf is just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel, with ferries running frequently from Circular Quay.

The wait for this sparkling Darling Harbour hotel has been a lengthy one, but not without good reason. The sprawling, futuristic space is home to 588 rooms and suites, a modern-Australian restaurant, an expansive spa, a sky-high cocktail bar and an infinity pool looking out across the city. With its bold design and playful approach, this isn't a cookie cutter luxury hotel, and it's all the better for it. W is luxury but with an alterntative edge: a little wacky, a little whimsical, undeniably wonderful.

Time Out tip: Make your way to the 2am desset bar for a six-course dessert degustation (best enjoyed on Saturday nights when Darling Harbour's fireworks display lights up the sky).

Address: 31 Wheat Rd, Sydney, NSW, 2000

Price: From $569 per night.

Closest transport link: Pyrmont Bay Light Rail is a five minute walk from the hotel.

Money might not buy you a lifetime of happiness, but it will certainly achieve it in the short term if you use it to book a weekend escape at Jonah’s in Whale Beach. It's a famous coastal romantic getaway for Sydneysiders who want to soak their troubles away in a spa bath or clifftop pool that has sightlines out to the ocean. 

Time Out tip: Arrange a private sail with Taylor Made Escapes, who will take you out on the high seas with a heartily stuffed picnic hamper and a bottle of Bollinger bubbly. Landlubbers might prefer to stay put and cruise the award-winning whopper of a wine list instead.

Address: 69 Bynya Rd, Palm Beach, NSW, 2108

Price: From $913 per night

Closest transport link: There's a bus stop a minute's walk from the hotel, but you'll need to change a few times if you're travelling from the centre of Sydeny. Your best off driving to get here.