In our list of Top Luxury and Chic Boutique Hotels in Sydney, a great variety of hotels matches a multitude of hospitality concepts, types of luxury, design ideas, and styles. A few must-have features are a frequent occurrence, too. Among them are harbor views, extra-spacious rooms, and destination dining. A few hotels on our list are heritage conversions, especially the smaller boutique hotels. One thing you won’t find: anything boring!
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Park Hyatt is synonymous with five-star luxury as one of the city’s finest hotels. Housed in an S-shaped building in a coveted harborfront location, the hotel offers various facilities, including two restaurants, a spa, a fitness center, and a private pier accessible by water taxi. The outdoor rooftop pool and terrace — the highlight of the hotel experience — are reserved exclusively for residing guests. Among the 155 spacious rooms are three rooftop suites with private terraces and panoramic views of Sydney Harbour. The accommodation is finished in neutral earthy tones and features marble bathrooms and the latest in-room technology, including a digital key.
Alternatively, book Park Hyatt Sydney via
Tablet Hotels | Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photo © Hyatt Corporation
Part of a $300-million development, Capella debuts in Sydney as a luxury destination hotel a short walk from Sydney Harbour. With 274 rooms and suites, the hotel is fully equipped to cater to a discerning clientele through various facilities. These include the Sandstone Spa, a restaurant and bar, event spaces, and an indoor swimming pool overlooking Bridge Street and Sydney Harbour. Capella Sydney’s address within the heritage-listed, former Lands and Education Buildings influenced its style — from the sandstone of the architecture to the artifacts and selected heritage pieces from the Lands Building’s collection inspired by Australia’s intrepid explorers.
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Agoda | Mr & Mrs Smith or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photos © Capella Hotels & Resorts
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Sydney’s inner-city Old Clare Hotel is a hip hangout for the locals and visitors alike. The hotel occupies a former Carlton United Brewery, in a luxury conversion from two historic buildings, with a renovated pub housing the reception and the bar, offering a fun take on a traditional “watering hole.” The hotel design preserves the heritage fabric of the buildings and their eclectic interiors, featuring marble bathrooms and super king-size beds. There are sixty-nine high-end rooms, and the guests staying here benefit from access to an outstanding restaurant, Automata. The rooftop pool and bar offer a gorgeous setting for a drink.
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Official Website. Photos (including the leading shot) © The Old Clare
“The launch of the W Sydney symbolizes the changing landscape of hotels in Australia. We are moving […] to the tomorrow hotels that hit the millennial mindset of traveling.” —Richard Crawford, senior director of development at Marriott International
Housed in The Ribbon, a spectacular $700M development in Sydney’s Darling Harbour (designed by international awarding-winning architects HASSELL), the Marriot’s W hotel adds a touch of youthful glamour to the architectural marvel of the building. W Sydney has 593 guestrooms, an infinity pool overlooking the harbor, an upgraded IMAX theatre, a casino, the Sea Life Aquarium, and a whole spectrum of other facilities. This opening joins W Brisbane, establishing a more substantial presence for the brand in Australia.
Alternatively, book W Sydney via
Marriott Bonvoy or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photos © Marriott International
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Four Seasons hotels are a safe bet — they are renowned for impeccable service and exquisite dining, and the accommodation is always supremely comfortable. The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney follows the template, with exciting local extras that define the experience. The light, airy guest room interiors are modern in style, with plush upholstered seating and soft lighting, and are completed with tactile fabrics and Australian sculptures and ceramics. The interior decor creates a home-from-home sense of place. The hotel offers dazzling views of the Harbour, and its heated pool is Sydney’s largest. Dinner at Pei Modern is a treat and a destination in itself.
Alternatively, book Four Seasons Hotel Sydney via
Four Seasons | Expedia | Agoda or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photo © Four Seasons Hotels Limited
Quirky and hip, QT Sydney expertly blends heritage and modern vibes, thanks to its location in the historic properties of State Theatre and the former Gowings department store. Both buildings, dating from 1920, were merged and converted into a boutique hotel imbued with a sense of visual drama. Recreating a 20s Broadway musical vibe with intelligent design choices, the hotel flaunts Gothic and Art Deco vibes and interiors filled with antiques and original art installations. Luxury and high-tech define the 200 rooms. The guests enjoy a boudoir-inspired QSpa featuring ceilings of stained glass, a European-style brasserie, and an intimate lounge with an enticing cocktail menu. The location is convenient for CBD (Central Business District) shopping.
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Official Website. Photo © QT
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The Langham wows with the glamour and old-world opulence of an institution established in the 19th century. The hotel sports a lavish underground spa, boosted by a heated indoor pool with a stunning starry ceiling. Dining options are excellent, as is the afternoon cocktail menu in the Palm Court. High Tea is served on Friday afternoons with petit fours and scones from the in-house pastry kitchen — a tradition at the hotel since 1865. Almost one hundred rooms and suites (some of them the biggest in the city) are furnished with king-sized beds, even in the entry-level rooms, with views of either the urban Sydney skyline or the Western Harbor. The sophisticated pastel décor with pink themes — there’s even a pink vintage car to take you on tours — is matched by elaborate floral arrangements and an art collection curated by Sotheby’s. The Langham is one of the few pet-friendly luxury hotels in the city.
Alternatively, book The Langham Sydney via
Tablet Hotels | Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photo © Langham Hotels International Limited
Ace Hotel Sydney — Ace Hotels’ first opening south of the equator — occupies Surry Hills’ former Tyne House Brick Factory. The hotel stands out with a design that pays an honest homage to the history of the neighborhood and the warm color palette of the Australian landscape. The interiors contrast natural textures and tones, from the striking ochre on the lobby staircase to the straw walls in the rooms. The comfortable rooms (264 in total) come in several options, but even within each category, they are a little personalized and different. A restaurant, bar, and cafe are available in the hotel’s communal lobby and another restaurant and bar on the rooftop.
Alternatively, book Ace Hotel Sydney via
Hotels.com | Mr & Mrs Smith or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photo © Ace Hotel
Discover the top boutique hotels in the City of Lights
Situated near some of the city’s best waterfront bars, restaurants, and retail areas, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour blends French elegance with design themes that pay tribute to Darling Harbour’s maritime heritage. The hotel has 590 rooms, and the facilities include a French grill-style restaurant and three bars, with the stunning rooftop infinity pool as the focal point. Book a corner room with a Darling Harbor view — the bathroom will permit a fantastic view thanks to windows on two sides. Guests checked in to rooms on floors 27-34 benefit from access to Club Millesime Lounge with express check-in and check-out service. They can take breakfast here, while light snacks, canapés, and drinks are available throughout the day.
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Expedia | Agoda | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photo © Sofitel
Taking its name from the Woolloomooloo Wharf, Ovolo is a 51-room boutique hotel that occupies Sydney’s first hospital, built by convicts sent to one of Australia’s penal colonies. But the neighborhood has undergone many changes since the early 1800s, and Ovolo writes itself into its industrial history. The hotel interiors feature sandstone walls and exposed metal beams, and the guest rooms (which include loft suites) are kitted out with the latest high-tech and feature iPads and Apple TVs. There is a restaurant, bar, and fitness center. An indoor pool is open 24/7. The location in a quiet wharf location ensures excellent views of the harbor and the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens.
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Official Website. Photo © Ovolo Hotels
Towering above The Rocks quarter, beside Circular Quay and the Central Business District, Shangri-La distinguishes itself among the cluster of five-star hotels in the neighborhood with the brand’s signature luxury style. There are 563 guest rooms and suites, and they all come with marble bathrooms and the largest windows of any accommodation among the hotels fronting the harbor — ensuring breathtaking bird’s-eye views of the city. The interiors, set in a gold and silver palette, are filled with purpose-commissioned artworks. A striking chandelier made of three brass rings adorns the atrium of Horizon Club. The Level 36 bar and restaurant is one of the top spots for dining with a view.
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Official Website. Photo © Shangri-La Hotel
Front-row views of Sydney Harbour Bridge are ensured throughout this relaxing five-star hotel, from rooms, restaurants, and event spaces. Located directly on the waterfront in Walsh Bay, Pier One Sydney Harbour is a casually elegant hotel with accommodation that includes suites with private balconies and dog-friendly rooms. The historic building housing the hotel today features 189 rooms featuring plush bedding, premium amenities, and complimentary WiFi. There is also a fitness center, versatile event venues, and an award-winning restaurant specializing in contemporary Australian cuisine. The interior design references heritage maritime details.
Alternatively, book Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection via
Expedia | Agoda | Marriott International or check TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photo © Marriott International
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To enter the soaring, light-filled lobby of The Darling At The Star is to be welcomed in a stylish haven of a world-class spa, gourmet cuisine, and polished, attentive service. This gorgeous hotel caters to large families and couples seeking a romantic getaway. Sokyo, the hotel’s in-house restaurant, serves the best Japanese food in Sydney. The spa features a Moroccan hammam, couples treatment rooms, a jacuzzi bath, and ESPA and La Prairie products. The 25-meter outdoor pool is open year-round. The quietly elegant rooms and suites sport bespoke furniture, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and a carefully selected pillow menu.
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Official Website. Photo © The Darling
The Woolstore 1888 by Ovolo experience is at the sweet spot between the classic and the trendy. The hotel is housed in a 19th-century wool warehouse (established in 1888), masterfully converted to a luxury boutique hotel with room options from shoebox-size to suites with terraces. Much of the building’s original texture is visible in rooms and the public areas: exposed brick, rough-hewn beams, and huge period windows. Furniture is made from salvaged eucalyptus ironbark timber, while screenprints and quirky artifacts adorn the interiors. The Woolstore 1888 has a soft spot for Instagrammers and social media enthusiasts, with selfie-friendly areas and perks for popular Instagram users.
Read our review: Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour.
Alternatively, book Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour via
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Official Website. Photo © Ovolo
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This is the first hotel in Australia from Fullerton Hotels and Resorts, the renowned luxury hotel brand from Singapore. The Sydney property is steeped in heritage and modern luxury. It occupies two tightly connected buildings: the historic former General Post Office and a modern skyscraper. The hotel experience highlights local history through complimentary heritage tours and a High Tea experience that features lobster and caviar. Several dining and drinking venues serve modern Australian cuisine and multicultural Southeast Asian creations. The Gin Parlour boasts a collection of more than 120 brands of gin from around the world. The accommodation offers two styles, depending on the building — the tower features sophisticated 2st-century design throughout all rooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows, and the heritage building offers classically inspired interiors.
Alternatively, book The Fullerton Hotel Sydney via
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Official Website. Photo © The Fullerton Hotels
“For global nomads, Pullman hotels serve as the base of operations for inspiration and contact. Its high-end services and technology dismiss the boundaries between leisure and work.” — Pullman Lifestyle Hotels
This Pullman hotel is an uber-luxe establishment with an excellent range of facilities and fully-equipped apartment-style suites — as well as spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, The Harbour Bridge, and The Opera House. The apartments wow with sophisticated chic, and the rooms facing the water’s edge take full advantage of the hotel’s premier location, with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and windows. The in-house cocktail bar, Hacienda, is one of the hottest new bars in the city, and Q Dining is a glamorous venue specializing in modern seasonal cuisine served in a breathtaking setting. There is a 24-hour gymnasium, steam room, and sauna; the recreation deck features a heated indoor pool. The business side of the equation is covered by three flexible meeting spaces that include a pre-function area overlooking Circular Quay.
Alternatively, book Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour via
Expedia | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photo © Pullman Hotels
Crystalbrook Albion, formerly Little Albion, is housed in an unassuming brick building that used to be a convent. With only thirty-five rooms and a pet-friendly attitude, the Albion feels more like a stylish guest house than a hotel. Situated on a quiet street in the heart of Sydney’s trendy district of Surry Hills, the Albion has an intimate and refreshingly unpretentious atmosphere. The service is scaled down to the minimum — for example, the bar works on an honor-based system, but there’s a host ready to assist 24/7. The charming Art Deco-ish interiors mix innovative architecture and in-vogue design, making the rooms gorgeous but functional. They vary in size from tiny crash pads to spacious suites equipped with kitchenettes and dining spaces.
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Official Website. Photo © Crystalbrook Collection
This hip boutique hotel was the first luxury hotel on Bondi Beach — and the vintage urban chic of QT is the perfect match to the surfer culture vibes of this popular destination. The colorful lobby celebrates beach life with vibrant photographic art by Australian Shaun Gladwell, while flamingo and palm tree neon-style lights pepper the seating areas. The interiors of QT Bondi charm with a mix of bespoke design objects, fine art, and luxury touches, and the quirky style carries through to the guest rooms, of which there are sixty-nine in total.
Alternatively, book QT Bondi via
Tablet Hotels | Expedia | Agoda | Mr & Mrs Smith or check TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photo © QT Hotels
Kimpton Margot Sydney is a hidden 5-star gem of the Central Business District. It’s a luxe urban retreat that stands out thanks to its refined design in a heritage-listed property, originally built as the Sydney Water Board headquarters in 1939. The interiors received a refresh in 2022, with plush new furnishings and botanical displays, and they blend modern design ideas with historic charm, resulting in pared-back elegance and refined luxury. The lobby is the hotel’s most dramatic space, featuring soaring red columns and a spectacular glass-brick atrium ceiling, calling to the original building’s Art Deco style. The hotel features 172 spacious rooms or suites, all-day dining, and a glamorous rooftop with a heated 20-meter pool, bar, and poolside cabanas.
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Official Website. Photo © IHG
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This address is a dining and nightlife destination in the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District, attracting fans of exceptional food, seekers of fun, and connoisseurs of the best hotel sleeps. The Establishment Hotel has three chic restaurants and three bars, covering food options from fine dining to sushi and bar snacks. The Garden restaurant, serving breakfast, wows with a soaring atrium-style glass ceiling. Formerly a department store and warehouse dating to 1890, the hotel embraces industrial heritage through a minimalist aesthetic in its chic interiors and designer rooms. The thirty-one rooms are styled in dark or light themes, juxtaposing exposed brick walls with designer furniture and the latest technology.
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Official Website. Photo © Merivale
Positioned on leafy Victoria Street, Spicers Potts Point occupies three beautifully converted terraced houses in the heart of the inner-city Sydney suburb of Potts Point. This boutique hotel of 16 rooms and four suites has marble fireplaces and restored floorboards, and its facade fully embraces the heritage of Sydney city life in the 19th century. But the interiors leave the quaint Old-World style behind in favor of a clean, sophisticated aesthetic inspired by the timeless mid-century Hamptons style. The hotel has a convenient location and is private, with a hidden courtyard garden. Its honesty bar is well-stocked.
Alternatively, book Spicers Potts Point via
Expedia | Agoda | Hotels.com | Mr & Mrs Smith or check TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photo © Spicers Potts Point
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Paramount House Hotel is a truly unique entry on our Best Five-Star Sydney Hotels list. Occupying a former film storage warehouse and headquarters for Paramount Studios in the trendy inner-city district of Surry Hills, the Paramount House Hotel comes with its fully-fledged cinema, located in the basement. But catching up on old classics is hardly the only attraction of the hotel. There is a rooftop Paramount Recreation Club for fitness, adjacent wine bar Poly for, well, wine, and Paramount Coffee Project for excellent breakfasts — always popular among the locals and visitors alike. And an evening cocktail at Golden Age Bar is a must. The accommodation mixes old and new with heaps of style. Then the rooms also have tiled floors and exposed pipes, and custom pieces by high-end Australian furniture maker Jardan sit alongside Pakistani kilim rugs. The minimalistic decor feels classy, but exposed brick walls and wooden beams add more than a rustic touch.
See what others think about Paramount House Hotel on TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photo © Paramount House Hotel
The five-star InterContinental Double Bay stands on a quiet harbor side of Double Bay, a glitzy beachside suburb known for upmarket boutiques, cool cafes and cocktail bars, and high-end dining. Boasting 140 comfortable rooms and suites, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay also features several restaurants and bars, retail space, and a stylish rooftop lap pool surrounded by loungers and cabanas, with magnificent views stretching out to the harbor. Guests benefit from happy-hour drinks in the Stillery Bar, and the High Tea is said to be one of the best in Sydney. This InterContinental is a luxurious hotel reborn — in its previous life as a glamorous Sydney resort, it hosted Princess Diana, U.S. presidents, and, infamously, the musician Michael Hutchence on the last night of his life.
Alternatively, book InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, an IHG Hotel via
Expedia | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Official Website. Photo © IHG
The below shortlist makes a worthy companion to the main list.
Getting there: The flight-comparison sites such as Skyscanner (www.skyscanner.com) or Kayak (www.kayak.com) will help you find the best flights and deals.
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Author: Travel+Style. Last updated: 01/09/2024
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