There’s just something about fancy hotels. Whether it’s the room service and plush robes that woo you, or the rooftop pools, lobby bars, day spas, and marble bathrooms—at Urban List, we know living large for a night or two with luxury at your fingertips is the best kind of treat.
Sydney’s/Eora's sparkly harbour, pretty beaches, and hipster burrows are all home to some standout luxury hotels. So, if you’re visiting from afar or a local in need of the kind of R&R only a hotel stay can provide, we’ve slept around—so to speak—to give you this list of Sydney’s best luxury hotels.
Put your feet up, hit the pool, and order some bubbles to your room. These are the best Sydney hotels you can book right now.
W Sydney
31 Wheat Road, Sydney
Image credit: W Sydney | Supplied
The stunning wave-shaped W Sydney is another crowning jewel in Sydney's luxury hotel scene, with a two-storey rooftop bar, an infinity pool overlooking the harbour, a signature W Hotels AWAY Spa, a restaurant, a lounge bar, and event spaces.
The 585 ultra-luxe rooms and suites have been designed so that no two are the same, and the interior palette, crafted by Bowler James Brindle, features bold azure blues and bright turquoise to reflect the ocean environment of the surrounding harbour waters. Called 29/30, the rooftop bar atop the iconic curved building serves Basque tapas alongside a luxe selection of cocktails, wine, and vintage champagne in a yacht-inspired space looming over the hotel's 30-metre mosaic-inlaid infinity pool.
Why we love it: Despite its size, W Sydney is full of tiny whimsical design details that delight at every turn.
Ace Hotel Sydney
47-53 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney
Image credit: Ace Hotel | Supplied
Ace Hotel Sydney is the first Ace Hotel in the Southern Hemisphere. It's built into the Tyne Building in Surry Hills, which is a prime location for travelling foodies—though you may not need to step outside of the hotel thanks to Ace's epic lobby bar, its all-day diner Loam, and the rooftop restaurant and bar, Kiln.
Ace Sydney reflects Surry Hills' storied past and its many evolutions with a cinematic colour palette. Expect natural textures and tones, custom-designed furniture, a striking ochre red off-form concrete staircase in the lobby, and signature Ace touches, like in-room record players and acoustic guitars.
Why we love it: The lobby serves a mean martini, and the decor and artworks throughout are impossibly cool.
Capella Sydney
24 Loftus Street, Sydney
Image credit: Capella Sydney | Supplied
Sydney's heritage-listed Department of Education building was been transformed into the jaw-dropping Capella Sydney hotel. The Circular Quay property is the first Capella on Australian shores, and voted the #2 best hotel brand in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Capella Sydney has 192 spacious rooms and suites across eight floors, and three bars and restaurants. In the jaw-dropping foyer, Aperture restaurant features a seven-metre-tall green wall bursting with native florals. There's a 19th-century-inspired lobby bar and, most exciting of all, a grand ground-floor restaurant called Brasserie 1930 headed up by Sydney restaurant leaders the Bentley Group.
Finally, there is also a floor dedicated to wellness within the building's former art gallery—complete with a stunning indoor pool, sauna, experiential showers, and spa treatment rooms.
Why we love it: Capella Sydney is a vision of quiet luxury—perfect for channelling your inner Kendall Roy. Plus, Brasserie 1930 is one of the best restaurants in Sydney right now.
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InterContinental Sydney
117 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Image credit: InterContinetal Sydney | Supplied
Located in Sydney's historic sandstone precinct in the former Treasury building of 1851, InterContinental Sydney has stood by the harbour for over 40 years, serving spectacular views and the sort of top-notch service you expect to uncover at a five-star hotel.
In 2023, the hotel revealed a sleek new look after a $120 million dollar renovation—entering a new era complete with a roster of excellent bars and restaurants to round out your stay. The hotel now features a rooftop bar, a sleek brasserie, a hidden wine bar, and an all-day diner in the grand lobby. Also included in the renovation were three new premium suites: The Presidential Opera Suite, The Royal Opera Suite, and The Governor Opera Suite, each offering next-level luxury and panoramic views of Sydney Harbour.
Why we love it: Classic five-star service and some delightful restaurants and bars at your fingertips.
Kimpton Margot Sydney
339 Pitt Street, Sydney
Image credit: Kimpton Margot | Supplied
Kimpton Margot Sydney is the first Kimpton property in Australia—and boy, is she stunning. From the breathtaking lobby, complete with original crimson Scagliola pillars, fresh botanicals, velvet lounges, and a gin-inspired fragrance to the stunning Art Deco rooms and Harper Rooftop Bar—there is a lot to love.
Art takes centre stage at Kimpton Margot, with some 600 original pieces peppered throughout the nine levels and 172 spacious rooms. There are Lekker bikes for city cruising and a nightly social hour in the pretty lobby includes complimentary cocktails. There's also a rooftop pool, a private wine cellar available to book for events, and a pet-friendly policy too.
Why we love it: The Saturday bottomless brunch offering at Luke's Kitchen features a roving Bloody Mary trolley and live music.
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Crown Towers
1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Image credit: Crown | Supplied
Imagine the most luxurious hotel you've ever stayed in—then times that by 10. Crown Towers at Crown Sydney is Sydney's first "six-star" hotel, and you'll feel it from the moment you step into the lobby.
Beneath an enormous six-storey crystal chandelier are sweeping white marble columns sourced from Italy, Greece, China, and Turkey. The hotel's 327 guest rooms and premium villas have postcard views across the city—this is Sydney's tallest hotel, after all. Each room is fitted with a custom-made tub, bespoke fittings from Apaiser and Hansgrohe, and Nero Marquina marble floors.
The stunning west-facing infinity pool is dotted with private cabanas and swim lounges and is the perfect spot to watch the sunset (cocktail in hand, of course). There's an open-air tennis court, a list of top restaurants to visit (Nobu, Woodcut, a'Mare and Oncore by Clare Smyth), and a super-luxe spa designed by Blainey North.
Why we love it: It comes with a special-occasions-only price tag, but Crown Towers has set a new standard of luxury for Sydney.
The Langham
89-113 Kent Street, Millers Point
Image credit: The Langham | Supplied
If your idea of luxury leans towards traditional, timeless charm, rather than sleek, minimalist, and modern—you’ll fall in love with this beautiful hotel.
Alongside the sort of polished service you expect to encounter at a five-star establishment, The Langham’s long list of lavish amenities includes Kitchens on Kent complete with nine live kitchens, and a chocolate fountain. There's also the Day Spa by Chuan, home to its famous Roman bathhouse-style pool and the famous star-dappled ceiling.
Pick a room with a Juliet balcony or terrace and enjoy the spectacular sunset across Sydney’s western harbour.
Why we love it: The pool and the super stylish zodiac-themed G&T menu at Observatory Bar. The location is hard to beat too—with easy walking distance to restaurants at Barangaroo, the CBD, and Circular Quay.
Wildlife Retreat At Taronga
Bradleys Head Road, Mosman
Image credit: Taronga | Supplied
Sydney’s legendary animal kingdom has its very own sustainable eco-retreat called Wildlife Retreat at Taronga with 62 next-level luxury suites. The retreat houses four different kinds of rooms—and our top picks would be the Animal View Rooms, which overlook the retreat’s private animal sanctuary. For those who really want to live their best life, the Treetop Suites will have you drinking champagne in a tub with panoramic views of spectacular Sydney Harbour.
The Wildlife Retreat's thoughtfully designed animal sanctuary is home to tammar wallabies, red-necked pademelons, long-nosed potoroos, red kangaroos, short-beaked echidnas, koalas, and short-finned eels. During your stay, you can take guided tours through the sanctuary to meet its many inhabitants.
Why we love it: It's not just wildlife here—the two-hatted on-site restaurant Me-Gal rounds out your experience. Also, proceeds from the retreat go towards Taronga's conservation projects.
Four Seasons Sydney
199 George Street, The Rocks
Image credit: Four Seasons | Supplied
If it’s second-to-none views of the world’s most beautiful harbour (we’re not biased, we promise), let the Four Seasons be the master of your Sydney visit or staycation. Also in The Rocks, Four Seasons’ Sydney hotel lives up to the international hotel brand’s impeccable reputation.
Along with those views, you’ve got Lounge 32, a sky-high swanky bar on the 32nd floor that’s akin to the Qantas First Class Lounge with an open bar and all-day canapes. There’s an outdoor pool complete with a cabana bar; an excellent lobby bar (Grain bar), and Mode restaurant, led by head chef Francesco Mannelli.
Why we love it: Four Seasons' service is legendary and the Sydney hotel is no exception to the rule.
Pier One Sydney Harbour
11 Hickson Road, Dawes Point
Image credit: Pier One | Supplied
Picture this: you’re reclining on your own private balcony beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge while the twinkling lights of Luna Park hit the gentle waves below and ferries cruise past. That’s what you’re in for at Pier One—a beautiful hotel built into a row of historic piers on Walsh Bay. Design notes are a subtle nod to the building’s maritime history, rooms are larger than usual, most with large egg-shaped tubs for all your staycation soaking.
The hotel is a short walk to Circular Quay, the CBD, The Rocks, and just a little further over to Barangaroo, and The Gantry restaurant is a destination in and of itself.
We also love the seasonal activations Pier One regularly hosts—like snow globe bars in wintertime. Into the theatre? You’re also a stone’s throw from the Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Dance Company, and Bangarra Dance Theatre studios.
Why we love it: Book a room with that aforementioned harbourside balcony and you’ll see what we mean.
Paramount House Hotel
80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills
Image credit: Paramount House Hotel | Instagram
Paramount House Hotel is a part of the revival of a stunning Art Deco building. Once the offices of Paramount Picture Studios and the home of Hollywood’s Golden Age in Sydney, these days the building features a basement cinema and underground bar (Golden Age Cinema), chef Mat Lindsay's wine bar (Poly), the rooftop destination A.P Bakery and, of course, the hotel.
The elevator to your room is lined with flamingo pink Wes Anderson-style hibiscus wallpaper, in order to (we think) teleport you directly into a strong holiday mood. Hotel rooms are a lot less colour-saturated—think Japanese timber, poured concrete and silvery terrazzo, matched with muted emerald carpets, indoor plants, caramel leather couches, and French linen in peach, rose, and tobacco surrounded by one of Sydney's most exciting suburbs.
Why we love it: The pint-sized souvenir shop which features hotel merch slashed in the hotel's slogan, "Permanent Vacation", as well as local labels we love like Double Rainbouu and Emma Mulholland.
Park Hyatt
7 Hickson Road, The Rocks
Image credit: Park Hyatt | Supplied
Looking for show-stopping luxury from every perspective? The Park Hyatt is the answer. Situated between the Bridge and the Opera House, this opulent Sydney hotel is serene and subdued, despite its middle-of-the-action location.
Rooms are big, with designer lighting, fancy technology, and custom artworks painted by Australian artists. The hero restaurant, called The Dining Room, does tasting menus and every table enjoys uninterrupted views of the harbour.
The rooftop pool is one in a million—lined with deck chairs and cabanas, it's magically private while also being a centrepiece of Circular Quay.
Why we love it: Apart from that rooftop pool? The Le Labo products in the bathroom and the big, plush, cloud-like towels.
Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour
61 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Image credit: Pullman Quay Grand | Supplied
If it's unobstructed views of the harbour, bridge, and the Botanic Gardens you're after to top off your Sydney stay, the five-star Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour in the heart of Circular Quay is your spot. With entirely suite-style accommodation available as one- or two-bedroom spaces, you can expect luxury at every turn with fully equipped kitchens, spa baths, and spacious balconies.
For dining, check out the South American-inspired Hacienda for cocktails and snacks, or opt for a more formal culinary experience with Q Dining's refined modern menu before hitting the recreation deck's heated lap pool, relaxing spa, and fully equipped gym and sauna.
Why we love it: The views really are epic. If you're lucky, you might even get a visit on your balcony from some friendly cockatoos.
Looking for more of Sydney's best? Check out:
Image credit: Capella Sydney | Facebook
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