In this new series of our luxury hotel guides, we will be sharing our top picks for luxury hotels in Australia, as well as a list of luxury hotels that can be found in Australia.
| In our previous luxury hotel guides series, we had shared our luxury hotel top picks in South Korea, focusing on cities such as Seoul, Jeju, and Busan. Feel free to check them out if you’re interested |
The guide will be compiled into a series of city hotel guides for easy reference. In the first part of this series, we will be looking at luxury hotels in Sydney.
Nestled by the Tasman Sea on Australia’s southeast coast, Sydney is the biggest and oldest city in Australia. Nicknamed “Emerald City” and “Harbour City”, the city is blessed with great beaches, a beautiful skyline, iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and a vibrant culinary scene. These factors make Sydney one of the world’s top cities and a great destination to visit.
If you’re considering visiting Sydney, here are our picks for luxury Sydney hotels (in no particular order):
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Park Hyatt Sydney – Best Sydney Opera House View
Park Hyatt Sydney is one of the best hotels in Sydney with one of the best harbour views. The hotel is ideally located between the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
Park Hyatt Sydney is situated on Hickson Road near The Rocks, approximately 25 minutes drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). The nearest train station is Circular Quay, on lines T2, T3 and T8.
Park Hyatt Sydney features 155 rooms and suites, including three rooftop suites with private terraces and panoramic views of Sydney Harbour. Most of the room has floor-to-ceiling glass doors that leads to a private balcony. Guests also have exclusive 24-hour personal butler service.
The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, The Dining Room serves up premium Australian produce, local wines, and craft beers outside breakfast hours, while The Living Room offers coffee, tea, and refreshments in the morning and relaxed harbour side dining inspired by coastal Australian ingredients throughout the rest of the day. The Bar serves fine Australian and international wines and light meals.
Check out our review here.
Address:
7 Hickson Road, The Rocks, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000
Ovolo Woolloomooloo – Best Waterfront Restaurants Near The Hotel
Ovolo Woolloomooloo is a luxury boutique hotel that offers a unique accommodation experience in the harbour area of Woolloomooloo. With a location that is close to the heart of Sydney CBD, several tourist attractions such as the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, and Woolloomooloo Wharf are within walking distance from the hotel.
The hotel is about a 30 minutes drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). The nearest train station is Kings Cross Station (Line T4).
Ovolo Woolloomooloo features a total of 100 rooms, with a mix of private rooms and loft suites. iPads are provided in all accommodations to allow the room’s switches to be controlled electronically. All rooms and suites include a free mini-bar. The “loft room” is ideal for families with young children, and the “double room” offers two double beds. There are connecting rooms on both sides of the hotel as well.
Ovolo Woolloomooloo has only one restaurant, Alibi which offers plant-based dining. Guests can also enjoy other dining options at Woolloomooloo Wharf, home to Sydney’s best waterfront restaurants such as China Doll, Kingsleys, Aki’s, Manta, and Otto; all with views of the Domain and CBD skyscrapers.
Address:
6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
InterContinental Sydney – Historic Former Treasury Building
InterContinental Sydney is housed in one of the city’s treasured icons, the beautifully restored 1851 Treasury Building. The hotel is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar refurbishment to remodel all rooms and spaces, from November 2021 to the third quarter of 2022, so the reception area has been relocated and the lounge and some facilities are closed.
The hotel is located at Macquarie Street, which is approximately a 20-minute drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). The nearest train station is Circular Quay Station on lines T2, T3, and T8.
The Royal Botanic Garden is within a 5-minute walk of the hotel. The hotel is also near the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Sydney Opera House.
InterContinental Sydney has 509 guest rooms with either city view, botanic garden view, Sydney harbour Bridge view, or Opera House view.
Dining facilities at InterContinental Sydney include The Treasury restaurant, which offers breakfast, Heritage Bar, and also Private Dining in the hotel’s private venue spaces.
Address:
117 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Jonah’s – Best Ocean Resort
Jonah’s is a luxury ocean resort, restaurant, wedding, event, and meeting venue in Whale Beach. The perfect seaside getaway, Jonah’s has a total of 11 luxurious rooms, including “Jonah’s Private”, a secluded residence with three stunning rooms. Please note that the hotel is open for bookings on Thursdays to Sunday nights only.
The hotel has had celebrity guests which included royalty, rock stars, actors, and models; from Mick Jagger to Jerry Hall, Bono, Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, and Justin Bieber to name a few.
As mentioned previously, Jonah’s is located at Whale Beach, thus it is very far from the city. The hotel is approximately an hour and 30-minute drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). There are no metro stops in the vicinity.
Dining options at Jonah’s include The Restaurant, Jonah’s main restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping ocean views. The Restaurant offers seasonal menus with the best local produce. The Terrace is a dining venue that is perched on a cliff overlooking Whale Beach and the Pacific Ocean and serves a snacking menu. Tempting cocktails with Jonah’s house-made syrup, homemade lemonade, and iced tea, can be enjoyed at The Bar.
Address:
69 Bynya Road, Whale Beach, Sydney, Australia 2107
Spicers Potts Point – 1880 Victorian Townhouse
Just steps from trendy cafes, the city centre, and the harbour, Spicers Potts Point is housed in an 1880 Victorian townhouse with a textured laneway exterior. The luxury boutique hotel has 20 rooms, including 4 suites.
Spicers Potts Point is located on Victoria Street, with attractions such as Finger Wharf and the Art Gallery of New South Wales within walking distance. The hotel is approximately a 20-minute drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). The nearest train station is Kings Cross Station (Line T4).
As a small boutique hotel, the property does not have any in-house restaurants. Despite the lack of restaurants, the hotel is located near several top local restaurants such as Cho Cho San, which cooks tempting modern Japanese dishes, and The Apollo, offering Greek delicacies and one of the best slow-cooked lamb shoulders in the city.
Address:
122 Victoria Street Sydney, NSW, Australia
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney – Specially for the Tower View
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney (formerly the Westin Sydney) is a luxury 5-star hotel situated in the historic former General Post Office building in the heart of Sydney’s financial and fashion district. Attractions such as Queen Victoria Building and Hyde Park Barracks Museum are just a short walk from the hotel.
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney is located in Martin Place, a pedestrian mall in Sydney’s central business district. The hotel is approximately a 30-minute drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). The nearest train station is Martin Place (line T4).
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney features 416 rooms, and guests can choose between modern rooms in the high-rise section and classic-style accommodation in a heritage building.
There is one bar and one restaurant in the hotel. Comprising of The Lounge and The Room, THE BAR offers an afternoon tea experience, as well as cocktails and champagne as part of the menu. THE PLACE is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant and features modern Australian cuisine and multicultural Southeast Asian specialties.
Address:
No. 1 Martin Place, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney – Best Business Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney is a luxury hotel that is nestled in the historic Rocks precinct, overlooking Sydney Harbour and just steps from the city’s shopping and business centres. The hotel features 531 rooms with stunning waterfront views and is one of the largest Four Seasons Hotel in the world.
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney is located on George Street, with bars/nightclubs just across the street. Some nearby attractions include Hyde Park Barracks Museum, Royal Botanic Gardens, and Sydney Opera House. The hotel is approximately a 20-minute drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). The closest train station to the hotel is Circular Quay, on lines T2, T3, and T8.
There is one bar and one restaurant on site. Mode Kitchen & Bar serves modern Australian cuisine using high-quality local, seasonal ingredients. GRAIN offers a variety of cocktails, wines, local beers, and craft spirits, with their signature cocktail “In Like Flyn” featuring a drinkable koala print on the surface.
Address:
199 George Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 Australia
The Darling – Sydney’s Only Forbes Five Star Luxury Hotel
The Darling is the only Forbes 5-star luxury hotel in Sydney and was awarded this accolade for six consecutive years from 2017 to 2022. The hotel features 171 rooms with breath-taking views of Pyrmont, Sydney’s CBD, and the beautiful Harbour Bridge.
The Darling is situated on the corner of Pyrmont and Union Streets at The Star in Pyrmont, just 10 minutes from Sydney’s CBD. The hotel, which is part of The Star resort has a casino as well as numerous restaurants, shops, bars, and cafes. Some attractions nearby are the Australian National Maritime Museum, Pyrmont Bridge, and Cockle Bay. The hotel is approximately a 25-minute drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). The nearest light-rail train station to the hotel is Pyrmont Bay Station.
The Darling has one of the most luxurious spas in Sydney and has partnered with luxury skincare brands La Prairie and ESPA to provide ultra-luxury pampering. The large spa has 11 treatment rooms, two couple’s suites, a Moroccan hammam, a steam bath, and a Thalasso Jacuzzi.
Dining options at the hotel include Sokyo, a Japanese restaurant with award-winning chef Chase Kojima at the helm; BLACK Bar & Grill, which offers contemporary Australian grill and trendy bar set against stunning harbour views; The Century which features Chinese food and Harvest Buffet which serves international cuisine.
Address:
The Darling, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont NSW 2009
Crystalbrook Albion – Hotel With Strong Focus On Sustainability
Crystalbrook Albion, formerly Little Albion, is a luxury boutique hotel that focuses on sustainability initiatives by not using plastic straws, water bottles, or guest room key cards and using technology to reduce paper, and offering large pump convenience bottles. The hotel is housed in a heritage building that used to be a former school convent and features 35 rooms, with no two rooms being the same. Pet owners will be delighted to know that Crystalbrook Albion is a pet-friendly hotel.
Crystalbrook Albion is located on Little Albion Street in the heart of Sydney’s Surry Hills. Some of the nearby attractions include Taylor Square and Shannon Reserve. The hotel is approximately a 25-minute drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). The closest railway station to the hotel is Central Station.
There are several dining options in the hotel including G+T Trolley, which features a rotating selection of Australian craft gins, accompanied by CAPI Australia-made sparkling drinks, fresh fruit, and citrus. Honour Bar is the other dining venue that serves exquisite custom drinks. Lastly, located next to the hotel is Shaffa, which offers Middle Eastern cuisine.
Address:
21 Little Albion Street, 2010 Sydney, Australia
Wildlife Retreat at Taronga – Resort Within the Taronga Zoo
Wildlife Retreat at Taronga is an eco-resort set within Taronga Zoo. The resort overlooks Sydney Harbour and offers four types of rooms, each with a different view.
The first room type, Bushland Room overlooks the iconic Australian bush, with wild birds scattered among native trees and native flora while the Animal View Room overlooks the wildlife sanctuary, a lush habitat where iconic Australian animals roam, climb and perch among the branches outside the window. Harbour View Room gives a glimpse of Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Treetop Suites offers panoramic views, and there are open-plan suites with bathtubs.
Wildlife Retreat at Taronga is at Bradleys Head Road within Taronga Zoo. Guests have complimentary and direct access to the Zoo, which grants them access before checking in and after checking out. The eco-resort is approximately a 35-minute drive from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD).
There is only one restaurant in the resort, Me-Gal Restaurant, which offers Australian cuisine with local ingredients.
Address:
Bradleys Head Road, Mosman NSW 2088
List Of Other Luxury Hotels In Sydney
In addition to our top picks, we have prepared a list of luxury hotels in Sydney with their locations indicated on Sydney’s rail network map for your easy reference.
Starting from the left of the above map, clockwise (excluding our top picks):
- QT Sydney
- Crown Towers Sydney
- Shangri-La Sydney
- The Langham, Sydney
- Sir Stamford at Circular Quay
- InterContinental Sydney Double Bay
- Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
- Establishment Hotel
- Kimpton Margot Sydney
- Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
Do let us know if we have missed out on any luxury hotels in Sydney. We would love to hear from you too if you have stayed at any of the luxury hotels listed and would like to share your thoughts!
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