The best hotels 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: Head upstairs to Kiln for a fire-powered feast you won't forget, and then chuck on a vinyl in your room. This is like being in the '70s, but without the downer bits. 

The Old Clare Hotel is full of ghosts – not the Stephen King kind, but the ghosts of parties past. If you listen closely you can probably hear echoes of Brit pop reverb off the mottled yellow tiles. But a whole new era has begun at the old Carlton Brewery site: now stands a vintage-styled cocktail bar beneath a slick boutique hotel, complete with rooftop pool. 

Time Out tip: 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.

Built in an existing 1930's Art Deco building in Darling Harbour, Hotel Aiden is the first Australian launch from the Great Western's boutique brand. There's old-world charm in the contemporary space, thanks to the classic hotel touches (like mammoth fluffy white beds) combined with futuristic notions of sustainability and tech (like a touch-screen self check-in station and an F7 air filtration system that blitzes COVID-19 particles). The rooms are extremely compact, but they do the job well for anyone coming to Sydney on business, or for those who prefer exploring town to sitting inside their hotel room. Full of hyper-modern touches, accomodating staff and cosy (and clean) vibes, this is an excellent and affordable hotel. 

Time Out tip: Get a balcony room for stretching views across Darling Harbour, peruse their pillow menu, and order their avocado toast in the morning. You won't regret it. 

Nestled comfortably in the middle of Sydney's historic district, the Rocks, Sydney Harbour YHA is fitted with airconditioning, barbecue and internet, and is a brilliant, yet budget accomodation option right in the heart of Sydney. The thing to really write home about, however, is the view from the rooftop terrace of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House – wow barely covers it. The hostel is surrounded by colonial pubs and is only a short trip via public transport to the city's premier nightlife areas.

Time Out tip: Head up to the rooftop at literally anytime of day for million dollar views that won't cost you your left leg. 

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. 

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: There’s an indoor pool on the premises, but don’t waste warm-weather months swimming inside. The 50-metre, eight-lane Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool, with great views, is only a short stroll away.

In Sydney, waking up to the sound of waves crashing tends to be a luxury reserved for the wealthy, but at this harbourside hotel in Watsons Bay, anyone willing to splash out on one of the waterfront rooms can enjoy a slice of that Eastern Suburbs' lifestyle for a day. The 31-room hotel was renovated in 2013, but its roots as a pitstop by the beach date back to the 19th century, when it was called the Palace Hotel. 

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. 

Yes, it's in a casino and it's in Pyrmont, but don't hold that against the Darling, which is all about contemporary design and the latest in-room technology. It's in a prime position near Sydney Harbour, and has panoramic views of the city skyline. Plus, the Darling offers four different kind of suites: Penthouse, Stellar, Adored and Jewel. 

Time Out tip: Just downstairs from the Darling, in the same complex, you’ll find Sokyo Japanese restaurant, which serves up some of the very best sashimi in the city. It's truly sagoi!

It’s surprising that they’ve managed to create such an intimate feel at the new West Hotel Sydney, a boutique accommodation project from the Hilton, down among Barangaroo’s new towers.

Time Out tip: There’s a beautiful rooftop bar at Barangaroo House that is extremely popular with the locals.

Talk about a breakfast of champions. The aptly named Horizon Club Lounge up on levels 30-36 is where Horizon Club guests can lap up an Asian, Continental or whatever-you-like brekky buffet alongside views of Sydney Harbour, the Bridge and the Opera House. Ferries and cruise ships putter around below you like toys in a bathtub, and the view extends from the Blue Mountains in the west to the heads and the Pacific Ocean in the east. 

Time Out tip: The Shangri-La Hotel Sydney is perfectly located for access to the historical area of the Rocks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, visiting the Sydney Opera House, and ferries to Taronga Zoo and Manly.

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.

Housed in an ex-woolstore built in 1888, Ovolo’s Darling Harbour outpost works carefully with its heritage features. A brightly coloured painting by Sydney-based artist Jasper Knight has been digitised and used as wallpaper throughout the hotel, adding splashes of yellow and red to the old-school brickwork. Thanks to 19th-century thick walls, the rooms are whisper-quiet and equipped with iPads and Apple TVs. 

Time Out tip: If you’re in town for a convention at the ICC, the Ovolo is the most “boutique” choice within easy walking distance. 

If you’re wondering why so many boutique hotels in Sydney are built in old woolsheds, it’s because colonial Australia was built on a sheep’s back. Renovated in 2016, the hotel offers the “full Sydney” view. The decor is Hamptons holiday house, with a touch of global nomad – in the form of woven hangings and ikat print cushions.

Time Out tip: Walsh Bay is the centre of Sydney’s mainstage theatre precinct. Sydney Theatre Company is 20 minutes on foot from the Opera House.

Since opening in 1990, the Park Hyatt has played host to a steady stream of celebrities, heads of state and international jetsetters with money to burn. The carpets are so plush you’ll want to roll around on them like a dog – and the rooms are quiet, to the point they feel hermetically sealed. The biggest selling point here (beyond the deluxe rooms and incredible view of the Sydney Opera House) is the heated rooftop pool.

Time Out tip: The Park Hyatt’s food offerings are led by culinary director James Viles. Make sure you book in for a dining experience with one-hatted food and five-star views, at the Dining Room by James Viles.

Taking up residence on Campbell Parade just metres back from one of the world’s most famous beaches, QT Bondi feels like a hip apartment – it's far from a stock-standard hotel. You’ll find long, rectangular rooms kitted out with glossy surf magazines, thongs and beach bags (available to purchase), a decent-sized kitchenette and a spacious balcony. 

Time Out tip: Head to Porch and Parlour for dinner and Bondi Markets for a hangover brekky on weekends.

Newtown and Enmore are incredibly popular neighbourhoods with Sydneysiders. Urban Newtown, which sits on Enmore Road right near the fork of the neighbourhood’s other main drag, King Street, opened in late 2014. It brings the Inner West vibes inside, with corkboard and bare concrete finishes, as well as graffiti-inspired art on the walls. Even the mini bar is stocked with beer from local craft brewery Young Henry's.

Time Out tip: The Urban is by far the most convenient hotel to the Enmore Theatre – one of Sydney’s most-loved live music and comedy venues.

Above the many dumpling houses of Chinatown and just across the road from the energetic bustle of Paddy’s Market is the world’s first astrology hotel. The heritage building has been primped with sweet pastel touches that complement the industrial bare brick, scattered with minimal Scandinavian-style furniture and original Jodi Clark prints. Plus, you get a charming city guide according to your star sign.

Time Out tip: Who needs room service when you’re staying in the centre of one of Sydney’s great Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine districts? Grab some dumplings to go and eat them in a posh hotel bed.    

Relaxation isn’t a word most people associate with airports, but as you watch planes cross the tarmac from the retro-chic, eighth-floor bar of this hotel, you might start to wonder where all your travel stress comes from. The Citadines Connect Sydney Airport is one of the newest hotels near Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport, and it’s a brilliant place to stay if you need quick access to the terminals. 

Time Out tip: Perch yourself at the bar that overlooks the runway and pretend you’re Don Draper on very important business.

At their Broadway hotel you’ll find slightly-larger-than-standard rooms, as well as kitchen or kitchenette facilities in almost every room. Decor is a little livelier than the polite hotel standards – the warehouse renovation has kept its exposed beams and added Scandi-style furnishings and brightly coloured art. You’ll also get fast free Wi-Fi and plenty of health-conscious eating options at breakfast.

Time Out tip: Veriu is less than five minutes' walk from one of our favourite Sydney venues, the Lansdowne. Head there for cheap eats or to catch a live band.

What’s not to love about a heritage-listed Victorian mansion that’s been painted pink? The Medusa is located in the middle of Sydney’s queerest neighbourhood, Darlinghurst, and it embodies a sense of urban chic that’s very much in line with its surroundings. All rooms have luxe touches like Aesop toiletries and fluffy bathrobes, plus a kitchenette, cable TV and a stereo. 

Time Out tip: Check out Hayes for musicals, the Griffin for new Australian writing, or the Old Fitz for a tiny but influential theatre in the basement of a pub.