With droughts, bush fires and floods, Australia has had a pretty tough of late but the country is very much open and as beautiful as ever.
I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Australia over the last few months, especially in Sydney, staying at and viewing all the top hotels. I’ve also tried out a fair few restaurants, so look out for that article in the next few days.
This is my guide to the best hotels in Sydney.
Paramount House Hotel
One of my favourite hotel discoveries in Sydney was Paramount House Hotel. Located in Surry Hills with its wealth of restaurants and bars, the hotel occupies the old Paramount Pictures building.
Paramount House Hotel has 29 rooms and lofts designed like your cool pied-a-terre rather than classic hotel room.
Book one of the ‘Sunny’ rooms (ideally one on the corner) for a spacious room filled with daylight.
Paramount House Hotel oozes ‘cool’ – from the bustling coffee shop, The Paramount Coffee Project, on the ground floor to the Golden Age Cinema in the basement and the rooftop Paramount Recreation Centre with its exercise, boxing and yoga classes throughout the day.
A stay here makes you really feel like a local.
Pier One Sydney Harbour
Located on the water, pretty much under the Harbour Bridge (you can almost touch it!) Pier One Sydney Harbour effortlessly combines its modern, boutique style with its historic building structure.
It’s a fantastic location in the city and has a lovely terrace that runs along the length of the hotel on the water where you can have drinks and food overlooking the harbour and Walsh Bay.
Pier One is excellent value for its prime location.
The hotel is a part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, so guests will earn full Bonvoy points and any status benefits.
The Langham
Surely Sydney’s most glamorous hotel, The Langham abounds with grey and white Marble, with just enough of its signature pink, creating an elegant, luxurious feel.
The rooms here are very spacious – the largest in the city I believe – and are beautiful decorated.
The spa is a must visit – the Roman style pool is a real highlight and you could easily spend your days here.
Try the new restaurant, Kitchens on Kent, with its take on the traditional buffet.
It’s a multi-station, interactive restaurant showcasing cuisine from around the globe including a huge selection of seafood, stone-baked pizza and pasta, a Japanese Robata grill, Tandoor and a fabulous selection of desserts.
Ovolo Woolloomooloo
Located on a gorgeous wharf, you feel far removed from the CBD and the tourist attractions at Ovolo Woolloomooloo but you are, in fact, very close.
You are right next to the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens, which you can stroll through to get to the Sydney Opera House and The Rocks in 15 minutes.
The hotel’s soaring ceilings and exposed beams reveal the hotel’s heritage but the design is more playful and current.
The industrial building and the contemporary decor work very well together, creating a great boutique hotel in a gorgeous, peaceful location that is still close to the action.
The Ovolo Woolloomooloo has 100 rooms, a plant-based restaurant and a buzzy central bar with contemporary art work and a pool table and other games.
Park Hyatt Sydney
Park Hyatt Sydney has the best location in the city with its enviable panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Its location is second to none, as is the price tag!
The style is elegant and refined, with rooms feeling more like chic residential apartments, with most featuring floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto private balconies.
There’s also the fantastic rooftop pool pictured above!
Read about the excellent value added benefits that are available with every booking here through the Hyatt Prive scheme.
Intercontinental Double Bay
A few miles outside the city in the affluent suburb of Double Bay, you’ll find the InterContinental amongst the chic boutiques and restaurants favoured by the locals.
The lobby is a visual feast for marble lovers, which also makes its way to the bedrooms with the use of beautiful grey and white marble bathrooms.
Make sure to use the cute rooftop pool and bar with views over the bay.
Four Seasons Sydney
Located in the Central Business District with The Rocks and Circular Quay on its doorsteps, the Four Seasons Sydney is a classic 5 star hotel that has recently been fully refurbished.
The rooms have city, opera house or harbour views and have a contemporary, elegant feel.
The lobby is vast and might feel a bit impersonal, but is home to Grain, an excellent spot for a cocktail, especially a whisky based one as they have over 200 different varieties.
The Four Seasons Sydney also has a lovely outdoor pool to enjoy the Sydney sunshine.
Shangri-La Sydney
It’s all about the view at the Shangri-La Sydney, whether from the bedrooms with their large windows with cushioned seating area to take in the view or its Level 36 bar and restaurant.
Level 36 is one of the best spots in Sydney for a drink or dinner with a view.
The Horizon Club lounge is worth paying for if you’re a fan of club lounges – if only for that view!
Read about the excellent value added benefits that are available with every booking here through the Shangri-La Luxury Circle scheme.
Book with Bon Vivant
Use our free luxury travel service to book your next trip to Sydney with access to the following complimentary VIP Benefits at most of these hotels:
- Room upgrade
- Complimentary breakfast
- $100 to spend at the hotel on food and drink or spa services
- Early check-in / late check-out
Contact us now to book.
The Best Hotels in Sydney
If you enjoyed this feature on the best hotels in Sydney, you’ll probaby like our guide to the best restaurants in Sydney.
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Disclaimer: None of the hotels have paid to be featured here, this is an article on some of our favourite Sydney hotels that we wanted to share with our readers. Read our editorial policy here.