The 25 best hotels in Sydney

The spectacularly grand 192-room Capella is housed in Sydney’s historic Sandstone Precinct, and it's without question one of the city's most luxurious stays. But this is not a flashy chandeliers-and-knockout-views type of luxury. This is quiet, confident, understated elegance. Every single detail has been thoughtfully considered. Everything is beautiful, yet also practical and has been designed with guest comfort at the forefront. It's situated right in the heart of the city, but with a spa and several excellent venues on site, you might find it hard to pull yourself away from the hotel's indulgent embrace. 

Time Out tip: Head to McRae Bar for a pre-dinner cocktail (you might well find yourself back there after you've eaten for a digestif, it's that kind of place).

Address: 24 Loftus Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia

Price per night: From $747

Closest transport link: Trains & ferries at Circular Quay; Metro at Martin Place

The Eve is an everybody hotel. 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. 

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

There's a sense of history in every room of this former Carlton Brewery site. While its hotel rooms have all the mod-cons (and some have baths in the bedrooms), original features have been retained, and the result is one of Sydney's most divine hotels. There's an Art Deco-style bar (The Clare Bar) on the ground floor, a rooftop pool bar, some great food on offer, and plenty of action when you step out the door. 

Time Out tip: The Old Clare is in the centre of Sydney's coolest neighbourhood, Chippendale, so go exploring. Nearby you’ll find five-star restaurants, a party palace called the Abercrombie, a three-storey warehouse of contemporary Chinese art, and a beautiful, modern cinema complex.

Address: 1 Kensington Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008

Price per night: From $208.

Closest transport link: Central Station is six minutes away on foot.

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.

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

Closest transport link: If you’re coming from the centre of Sydney, we’d suggest catching the ferry over to Manly to experience one of the world’s most beautiful commutes.

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)

This breezy, Hamptons-coded hotel is the ultimate beachside stay in Sydney, just a 30-minute ferry ride from the CBD. For Sydneysiders, Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is best known for the huge, indoor–outdoor pub that occupies the ground floor – a popular spot for long summer lunches and rosé-fuelled sunset sessions. But behind the busy, beach club-style venue you’ll find a small, carefully curated boutique hotel – a comfy, laid-back stay that makes the perfect base for travellers looking to spend a few days in Sydney living like a (remarkably wealthy) local.

Time Out tip: Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is five minutes’ walk from the turquoise waters and golden sands of Camp Cove. Take a book, or your snorkel gear, and get to know the locals gathered by the beach kiosk. 

Address: 10 Marine Parade, Watsons Bay NSW 2030

Price per night: From $300 per night.

Closest transport link: The ferry wharf opposite the hotel connects you to Circular Quay in 30 minutes.

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.

In October 2024, Sydney’s oldest five-star hotel reopened its doors after a $77-million makeover – and the reimagined Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is better than ever.  With A-grade dining options, a sexy-as-hell (and surprisingly affordable) bar and 436 beautifully redesigned bedrooms, this CBD tower has firmly reclaimed its place among the best stays in the city.

Time Out tip: Head downstairs to Bar Tilda between 3pm and 6pm on weekdays for one of Sydney's best happy hours – $12 Martinis, Negronis and Spritzes.

Address: 101 Phillip St, Sydney NSW 2000

Price per night: Prices start from $399 per night.

Closest transport link: Martin Place Station is four minutes away on foot, and Circular Quay is an eight minute walk away if you’re catching a ferry or a bus to the beach.

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.

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

The Ovolo Woolloomooloo occupies the front half of the heritage-listed Finger Wharf, which means you’ve got waterside wow-factor, knockout vistas and some of Sydney’s best dining at your fingertips. That’s a pretty tempting proposition in and of itself. Plus, you get to stay in the world’s largest wooden building, according to the Guinness World Records.

Time Out tip: The Finger Wharf is also home to some of Sydney's best waterfront restaurants – Otto is our top pick.

Every detail in the Paramount House Hotel has been carefully considered, meticulously placed and kept affectionately local. The 29-bedroom hotel straddles the former Australian HQ of Paramount Picture Studios and its former film storage warehouse; the latter is where you’ll find the timber-floored, terrazzo-tiled guest rooms (some with chic Japanese timber bathtubs).

Time Out tip: Head downstairs to Paramount Coffee Project for an excellent flat white. Come sunset, go for dinner at Poly, then catch an indie flick at the Golden Age Cinema – all within the same building.

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. Since a major facelift in 2015, the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay is at its best. There are 140 rooms and suites –all decorated in a contemporary, tasteful style that wouldn’t offend you, or your grandmother.

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.

This 590-room five-star high rise sits next to the International Convention Centre, in the heart of Darling Harbour. There are three bars, including a Champagne bar with an impressive selection of wines by the glass, and an onsite French restaurant called Atelier, which transforms into a decadent breakfast buffet each morning.

Time Out tip: You’ll want to spend some time in the infinity pool, which juts out dramatically over Darling Harbour and has its own bar for waterside cocktails. 

If you want to be smack-bang in the middle of the city, The Hilton Sydney is where it’s at. It’s located on George Street, diagonally across from Town Hall Station, opposite the historic Queen Victoria Building (QVB), with easy access to the light rail down to Circular Quay and The Rocks or up the other way to Chinatown. And the other side of the hotel backs onto Sydney’s shopping heart, Pitt Street. Of course it’s gone through classy refurbishments since it was first built in 1974, but refurbs have kept the rooms’ original structures, so you won’t find big, glass walls overlooking the city like you often do in modern hotels – instead, you’ll feel like you’re up in your own private abode, with smaller windows that look out across Sydney. From right up high on the 39th floor where we stayed, we looked down at all of the tops of the surrounding buildings, including the green copper domes of the QVB.

Time Out tip: Be sure to pay a visit to the hotel's Marble Bar for live music, dancing and crafted cocktails. 

The Darling Harbour structure that might just lay claim to the title of Sydney’s most interesting skyscraper has finally opened. The New York-born hotel chain is known around the world for its edgy architecture and luxury offerings. The hotel houses 588 rooms and suites that are futuristic – there are lots of shiny, reflective surfaces, light features, interesting shapes and pops of colour, with fancy features like the W Mixbar so you can make your own cocktail in the comfort of your home for the night.

Time Out tip: Don't skip the breakfast buffet at Btwn restaurant – we reckon it's one of the best in Sydney.

The rich history of Surry Hills' artistic, social and aesthetic evolution has been the inspiration behind the design of the Ace Hotel Sydney, the first of this luxury accommodation brand’s Australian outposts. Situated in the renovated Tyne House brick factory, the site of Australia’s first industrial ceramics kiln, the 264-key hotel also features a ground-floor all-day eatery, a lobby cocktail lounge and a rooftop restaurant and bar.  

Time Out tip: Start with a Martini in the always-buzzing lobby before heading upstairs to Kiln for a fire-powered feast you won't forget, then chuck on a vinyl in your room. This is like being in the '70s, but without the downer bits. 

The Sheraton Grand Hyde Park is a hotel whose name reflects its offering: it’s opulent and old-school in the very best way. And though it would be easy for this hotel to rest on its laurels – with its super-central location guaranteeing its popularity – the team manages to deliver something that’s at once intimate and awe-inspiring. With 588 rooms and 48 suites stretching above the city for 22 expansive floors, this is a hotel that reminds you that you’re in one of the world’s major cities.

Time Out tip: The restaurant downstairs – Sydney Common – is truly exceptional, and with a pool on the rooftop, there's really very little reason to leave. 

Address: 161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Price per night: From $259 per night.

Closest transport link:
St James train station is just a two minute walk from the hotel, and buses leave from just outside connecting you to the Inner West and the Eastern Suburbs (including Bondi Beach).

Little National perfected its combination of upmarket finesse and petite chic in Canberra, and has executed yet again at its purpose-built 230-room Sydney hotel, which sits atop the Wynyard Station complex, a stone’s throw from the Barangaroo precinct, Martin Place and Circular Quay. Luxury touches, such as Brogo bathrobes, complimentary movie access and Appelles Apothecary and Lab toiletries, plus other little perks like in-room T2 tea service and the Little National’s own in-house newspaper, make the rooms feel cosy rather than cramped.

Time Out tip: The hotel has partnered with Uber Eats to create a room-service menu that spans the entire CBD – order dinner from a city eatery straight to your bedroom.

This 35-room hotel gathers together a kaleidoscope of design cues that, far from feeling anachronistic, honour the many style revolutions this building has borne witness to. There’s a ‘60s-inspired sunken lounge, an honour bar that Gatsby would covet, flashes of Deco chic in the pink terrazzo floors and brushed-brass room numbers, a bohemian roof terrace with ecclesiastical views, and a ‘70s-worthy lime-green patterned carpet.

Time Out tip: You can bring your pooch.

Australia’s largest upscale hotel overlooks the water at Sydney’s Darling Harbour – it takes in views of the CBD waterways, as well as providing vistas of the peak of the graceful ANZAC Bridge and the beginnings of the Parramatta River. The best bit: because the harbourside rooms face west, you get stunning views at dusk, as the sun sets over the water. The 887-room Hyatt Regency undertook a multi-million dollar upgrade, emerging with a chic new look channelling a subtle nautical vibe inspired by its harbourside setting. 

Time Out Tip: Head up to Zephyr Bar for a sunset cocktail overlooking the city, then downstairs to Sailmaker for a remarkably affordable, sustainably-sourced seafood feast.

If the thought of a red-lit, golden-windowed New York-meets-Italian art deco hotel enchants you (but you don’t have the funds to pop over the ditch), Hotel Morris could be the answer to your dreams. Housed within a towering Renaissance-style building that was once Australia’s tallest hotel, Hotel Morris is the closest most of us in Sydney will probably ever get to living out our best Great Gatsby imaginings. With 82 bespoke suites on offer, Hotel Morris is a boutique hotel filled with warm, unusual corners.

Time Out tip: Head downstairs to Bar Morris early, Piccolo Hour runs from 3.30pm until 5.30pm

Not unlike the gleaming exterior of the elegantly curved sapphire shard that now dominates Sydney’s skyline, bling is the watchword of the Crown Resort aesthetic. All that glitters may not be gold (although there’s still a lot of it), but it will otherwise likely be silver, chrome or crystal, like the six-storey chandelier atrium in the hotel lobby. Encrusted in no fewer than 396 sparklers, accented with a pulsing LED light show, it punches a hole straight through the building, offering guests on the first six floors a glimpse of the comings and goings below.

Time Out tip: Book in the warmer months – spending time at the infinity pool that looks out over the water at Barangaroo is a must.

For a quirky high-end stay in the heart of the CBD, you can’t go past QT Sydney. It packs 200 individualised rooms, a day spa (spaQ), men’s barber, two bars, a café and a restaurant into the heritage-listed Gowings building – and still feels boutique rather than behemoth.

Time Out tip: Though its central location makes a night out in the city easy, there's really no need to leave the hotel for an evening sampling Sydney's finest fare. On the first floor, Gowings is an opulent New York-inspired space serving up perfectly decadent steaks and excellent Martinis, and downstairs you'll find Parlour; a sultry space that will transport you to the intimate bistros of Paris.