The 13 best hotels in Canberra

For a true five-star experience, you can’t go past one of Australia’s oldest and most treasured hotels. The Hyatt has been a home away from home to rock stars, royals and politicians for almost 100 years, with the property celebrating its centennial year in 2024. Nostalgia echoes throughout the heritage-inspired setting and perfectly manicured gardens, with attentive service making it all feel like you’re officially Canberran royalty. The 230 Art Deco rooms are spacious, private and exceedingly clean, which is exactly what you’d expect from a Hyatt property. The generous marble bathrooms are a standout (especially the deep bathtubs), but if that isn’t voluminous enough for your liking, take a dip in the Hyatt’s 15-metre indoor heated pool, followed by a session in the spa and sauna, of course. Don’t you dare skip breakfast, either. The Hyatt’s Promenade Café puts on an impressive buffet spread with all the fixings, while The Tea Lounge lets you live out your bygone dreams, and Speaker’s Corner Bar invites you to stay for a good time and warm time with their open fireplace in the winter – and lord knows that’s a necessity for those cool Canberra nights.

Time Out tip: If you’re all about location, location, location, it’s hard to overlook the Hyatt and its central location, with Lake Burley Griffin and lush gardens right on the doorstep.

Address: 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla
Price: Starting at $286 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 2248 (Albert Hall Commonwealth Avenue)

When the clock strikes twelve, you’ll want to be fast asleep under the luxe linen sheets at Midnight Hotel. The centrally located Braddon accommodation boasts 199 guest rooms, each featuring a bespoke custom artwork by New York-born artist Thomas Bucich, a walk-in rain shower and a complimentary mini-bar stocked with boutique food and beverages. Style takes centre stage downstairs too, where you’ll find a large centrepiece garden atrium, cascading water feature, complete wellness centre and sophisticated diner, Braddon Merchant, serving modern Australian dishes paired with an award-winning wine list. The 20-metre indoor heated pool and sauna come in handy when you’re in need of a little warmth too. Midnight Hotel’s monochrome, contemporary abodes are spread across eight floors, so if you’re one that takes views seriously, we’d recommend requesting a room as high as you can for a floor-to-ceiling, hillscape vista.

Time Out tip: If proximity to public transport is high on your radar, the Elouera Street light rail is right outside Midnight Hotel’s lobby. It doesn’t get much better than that if you’re comin’ in hot to the vibrant Braddon area and beyond.

Address: 1 Elouera Street, Braddon
Price: Starting at $123 per night
Closest transport: Elouera Street light rail

Barely a 15-minute walk to the door of Parliament House, National Gallery of Australia, and the National Library of Australia, Hotel Realm’s sense of power is in more than its name. Like a good wool suit, it’s classic, comfortable and formal enough for all occasions. Inside one of the 163 rooms, you’ll find everything you need to get ready for a visit to the halls of influence – coffee pods, Smart TVs and free Wi-Fi. Stay in a suite, penthouse or two-bedroom residence, and you’ll also get a spa bath to warm up in after a long day. The Realm is one of the rare Canberra properties to offer 24-hour room service, as well as playing host to the onsite bistro and wine bar Louis Dining, and Canberra dining institution Chairman and Yip. The hotel’s wholefoods café doesn’t go astray either. And if people-watching is high on your radar, it’s not an uncommon sight at Realm to stumble upon brides and grooms getting ready for their big day, with an on-site hair salon and day spa making the accommodation a popular wedding prep venue.

Time Out tip: Visiting in winter and don’t want to brave the frosty walk around nearby Lake Burley Griffin? Fear not, Realm Hotel offers guests access to a state-of-the-art fitness centre, Hale Gym and Evo Health Club.

Address: 18 National Circuit, Barton
Price: Starting at $210 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 2255 (National Crescent after Bourke Street)

If your Instagram feed has been looking a little lacklustre lately, we have a surefire cure: take a bubble bath in a five-star hotel next to a pair of Malayan sun bears. Yes, we’re serious. This is a real, actual thing you can do at Jamala Wildlife Lodge, inside Canberra’s National Zoo and Aquarium. An overnight stay comes with all the behind-the-scenes perks you’d hope for from a sleepover at the zoo, including a guided afternoon tour; pre-dinner drinks featuring Moët, canapés and a pair of surprisingly adorable hyenas; an African-influenced dinner party next to the aquarium; and lots of Insta-worthy animal encounters. The Jungle Bungalows and Giraffe Treehouses offer direct views over the animal enclosures if you fancy observing a day in the life of a lion or feeding one of the spotty, long-horse things from the comfort of your balcony, too. And while this sounds like a glorified camping trip, rest assured that you’ll be snoozing in style in one of the 11, safari-themed luxury suites. And don’t worry, you won’t have to share the king bed with the herd.

Time Out tip: The best way to roll up to Jamala Wildlife Lodge is by the trusty ol’ rideshare. Although the site is only a ten-minute drive from the CBD and a 15-minutes from the airport, there’s no bus or tram service that’ll get you close by.

Address: 999 Lady Denman Drive, Canberra
Price: Starting at $1,195 per night
Closest transport: No bus services to the location

Comfort with a capital C is what you can expect at this boutique hotel set smack bang in the centre of town. The hotel’s design is best described as luxury chic, but with added political sensibilities – or “politique” as QT likes to call it. There’s Gough Whitlam on your room key, Fidel Castro and Julia Gillard are on the way to the bar, and Barack Obama’s in the mirror. 205 contemporary rooms are spread upon 15 floors, which means panoramas are forecast at QT, whether that’s lake reflections to the south or rolling hills to the north. But if you’re all out of luck and stuck a little lower than you’d like, head up the QT Lounge on the uppermost level for vast scenes across the entirety of Canberra. Make sure you reserve one night for dinner at Capitol Bar and Grill next door, where the dry-aged Berkshire pork is a narrow order over the wood grill minute steak. But the 24-hour room service is ever-so-tempting if you’re not vibing the outside world.

Time Out tip: QT Canberra is a prime locale if you’re exploring by foot, with the National Museum of Australia, ANU, and the hip Lonsdale Street strip just moments out the door for all your schmoozing and perusing needs.

Address: 1 London Crescent, Canberra
Price: Starting at $169 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 2601 (Edinburgh Avenue after London Crescent)

You may know the name of this designer hotel chain from its outposts in Melbourne and Sydney, but Ovolo Nishi has swiftly become a firm favourite for both Canberrans and travellers alike. Taking over the bones of the former arty establishment Hotel Hotel in 2018, Ovolo Nishi is a true guest-first hotel. Lap it up in one of Ovolo’s 82 stylish rooms situated across just three floors, individually furnished with timber, concrete, eucalypt and salvaged Tasmanian tree ferns. Then, max out on the perks, including complimentary continental breakfast, a 24-hour gym, Canberra’s long-standing favourite Monster Bar and Kitchen, and maybe most importantly, a free in-room mini bar for those midnight treats. Pop down the road for some skimming at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia on a rainy autumn day, or on a sunnier ACT afternoon, head across the neighbouring highway to Acton Beach, where you can hire a boat and test out your lake legs in style. 

Time Out tip: Ovolo Nishi offers rooms that face both inwards and outwards, aka towards the atrium for a cosier atmosphere, and in the way of the sun if you’re in the mood for an au naturel wake-up call.

Address: 25 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra
Price: Starting at $136 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 2601 (Edinburgh Avenue after London Crescent)

Located smack bang in the centre of arguably Canberra’s trendiest suburb, Kingston, this moody 140-room property is perfect for a family getaway. Though playful in spirit, East Hotel doesn’t play around when it comes to your hotel experience. The studios are spectacularly spacious, decorated with jewel-tone couches, velvet cushions, plush carpets and cheery art. In the apartments, you’ll find enough closet space to satisfy a RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant, as well as an open-plan living area, a fully equipped kitchen, a separate bedroom and a large bathroom with an oversized Jacuzzi bathtub. Got kids in tow? East Hotel has specialised child-friendly cubby rooms that can connect to any of their standard apartments. These rooms are decked out with bunk beds, play tables, bean bags, board games and Xbox 360s, plus a mini bar that’ll make adults jealous. But if all that is a little too much excitement for you, don’t worry, East Hotel welcomes all to experience the eccentric accommodation.

Time Out tip: You’re in safe hands when it comes to feasting at East – the family-run hotel plates up their heart and soul by means of an authentic Italian restaurant, Agostinis, which actually began as a bar back in Northern Italy. Pizza and pasta galore incoming.

Address: 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston
Price: Starting at $199 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 2329 (Giles Street before Canberra Avenue)

From the outside, the Little National seems to be mostly a carpark, wearing a hotel as a jaunty cap. Inside though, they’ve managed to create an exceptionally comfortable hotel that is pitch-perfect for business travel. The rooms aren’t huge, but their clever, Japanese-influenced design means you never feel cramped – queue the wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows that open the spaces right up. Automated blackout curtains mean that your sleep is deep and undisturbed, in no small part thanks to the very soft, super king mattresses that feel like you’re sleeping on a bed of warm, rising dough. Plus, thoughtful details like ambient lighting, divine rain showers, speedy Wi-Fi, free gym access and a 24/7 public library show that this truly is an experienced hotel group. Said library-lounge is an ideal pozzie to set up a working space too where comfort is front and centre. Settle in around one of the library’s fireplaces and get stuck right into your duties – just try not to get distracted by the cityscape views.

Time Out tip: Little National Hotel is in a prime location if you’re eager to stay in the heart of Canberra's Parliamentary Triangle, with government buildings right around the corner.

Address: 21 National Circuit, Barton
Price: Starting at $137 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 2256 (National Crescent before Bourke Street)

A short walk from the hip and happening Lonsdale Street, this luxury hotel in Braddon has the perfect set-up for both pleasure and business travel. It’s all about first impressions at the Deco Hotel, with guests warmly welcomed into the dramatic double-height lobby featuring statement paintings and abstract sculptures. From here, you can ascend into the spacious, light-filled one- or two-bedroom apartments that are fitted with all the modern comforts, including rainfall showers, decked-out kitchens, separate work desks and movies-on-demand. Essentially, Deco Hotel does what it says on the box with sleek and sophisticated touches. And as expected from one of the top hotels in Canberra, Deco has you covered with a 24-hour gym and an eatery too that’s dishing out breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus some sneaky bar tipples too. But if you’re feeling adventurous, the bustling Braddon neighbourhood is home to quite a few of Canberra’s best restaurants that are bound to satiate the most critical of diners. Jump on the nearby Macarthur Avenue light rail and you’ll be amongst it within minutes.

Time Out tip: Sometimes your own private balcony makes everything all the more better, and Deco Hotel’s one- and two-bedroom apartments are complete with sun-drenched alfrescoes where breakfast in the morning breeze is on the cards.

Address: 214 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon
Price: Starting at $149 per night
Closest transport: Macarthur Avenue light rail

Plan a Canberra adventure with some pals and set up camp inside this cool New York-inspired hotel. Situated a stone’s throw from the hip suburb of Braddon, Avenue Hotel is as cosy as slipping into flannelette pyjamas, but with luxurious touches you wouldn’t expect. With 213 spacious rooms, you can take your pick from no-nonsense king rooms, one-bedroom apartments that boast floor-to-ceiling views of the CBD, two-bedroom apartments with private balconies or a wheelchair-accessible room. Each is fitted with plush ‘Bliss Beds’, dreamy rainfall showers and a fully equipped kitchen in the apartments. You can even splurge on Avenue Hotel’s super-luxe spa suite, which comes complete with a spacious two-person bath if communal bathing is your thing. As anticipated, the 24-hour gym is a major draw card for fitness buffs, while the hotel’s award-winning steakhouse, Marble and Grain, is enticing for food enthusiasts out there…fitness buffs too, come to think about it. However the Braddon locale demands a suss, with its dining and shopping scene a go-to for locals and tourists alike.

Time Out tip: Leave the bathrobes at home, Avenue Hotel is ready and waiting to coddle you come the end of the day.

Address: 80 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon
Price: Starting at $188 per night
Closest transport: Elouera Street light rail

The corridors and gardens of this historic, Art Deco hotel are steeped in the capital’s political history. For almost a century, the property has served as an interstate base for pollies and public servants, and is best known in the capital for being PM Ben Chifley’s home from 1945-49. The whole place has a kind of refined country club vibe, with a charming courtyard and Garden Pavilion-style building with long, meandering wings that are lined with black-and-white portraits of our nation’s former PMs. The heritage-listed, Hotel Kurrajong’s 147 guest rooms have been beautifully refurbished with luxe add-ons, including private balconies, alfresco terrace areas, breakfast in bed and high tea at Chifley’s Bar and Grill. The stately accommodation also sees its fair share of weddings, as every nook and cranny makes for a sublime backdrop with a hint of old-world charm to match those black and white prints. Who knows, a Canberran matrimony could be cute. Despite Hotel Kurrajong’s historical roots, best believe it’s equipped with a fitness centre for all your lifting needs.

Time Out tip: Hotel Kurrajong’s locale is within equal walking distance to Canberra’s Capital Hill as it is to the foreshore of Lake Burley Griffin – it’s the best of both worlds.

Address: 8 National Circuit, Barton
Price: Starting at $127 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 2258 (Barton Station)

With all bases covered, Burbury Hotel and Apartments boasts a mixture of schmick, classic hotel rooms, fully equipped apartments, smaller studios for bigger groups and wheelchair-accessible rooms. Close enough to the action that you can practically taste it, Burbury shares amenities with its sister hotels across the street, five-star Hotel Realm and Little National Hotel, including their health club, day spa, hair salon and restaurants. Bike hire is available, as are front-row seats at one of Canberra’s best rooftop bars, Leyla, where you can take in sweeping skyline views with a creative cocktail in hand. The contemporary-minimalist Burbury Hotel and Apartments has no hidden agenda – the only thing that may be hiding is your pooch. Yep, there’s a dog-friendly stay in Canberra, who knew. Complete with a dog bed, food and water bowls, and even a ‘treato minibar’, your four-legged friend is set for the time of their life.

Time Out tip: If you’ve just gotten off a long-haul flight (aka from Perth and beyond), you won’t regret booking in for a deep-tissue massage or a float in the cave-like spa pool at Burbury’s sister establishment, Realm – it’s class.

Address: 1 Burbury Close, Barton
Price: Starting at $161 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 2255 (National Crescent after Bourke Street)

Part of the urban village that is the NewActon Precinct, Peppers Gallery Hotel has set up shop in a renovated 1926 apartment block. The perfect base for exploring the city or for a quick business trip, Peppers’ contemporary rooms range from standards to suites and deluxe rooms with deep baths, plush bedding, rain showers, marble finishes and easy access to the northern shoreline of Lake Burley Griffin. The hotel also has an impressive sculpture garden, a fully-equipped gymnasium, 24-hour room service, and a homestyle Italian trattoria, Bicicletta, right on site. Here, you can expect to delve into seasonal, locally-sourced fare that translates to house-made pizza pies, daily pastas and ice-cold gelati too. The adjoining Library Bar delivers on charm too, with a lush courtyard that can be relished year-round thanks to the supplied winter blankets.

Time Out tip: It’d be rude not to do the scenic, lakeside walk from Peppers to the National Museum of Australia, which is set on the tip of Acton Peninsula. There’s plenty to see and do on the way, with gardens to discover, cafés to ponder, and a steamboat to check out, among the peninsular pit stops.

Address: 15 Edinburgh Avenue, Acton
Price: Starting at $169 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 2601 (Edinburgh Avenue after London Crescent)