Best Independent Style Hotels in Australia

Four Seasons Sydney caters to guest’s needs with 531 accommodations and a wide range of options available – 7 unique guest rooms, 8 suites, and 4 accessible room types are on offer. Each of the spacious, contemporary rooms in this 5-star luxury escape offer awe-inspiring views from expansive windows of the city’s skyline or the iconic harbour. The hotel is a stone’s throw from The Rocks and Circular Bay and offers views of Sydney’s iconic landmarks. There are plenty of exquisite dining establishments and the option of room service, 24 hours a day. A luxurious array of indulgent spa treatments is available at Endota Spa for a tranquil experience. In the heart of the city’s Central Business District, Four Seasons Sydney is the ideal location for hosting sophisticated MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events for up to 900 persons, as well as unforgettable celebrations from intimate gatherings to lavish weddings.

This 175-bedroom urban lifestyle resort may be every bit the modern hotel, but it contains plenty of nods to midcentury style. Book a cabana beside the 88-foot pool (which has a glitzy US feel) for dinner or daytime sunbathing, champagne in hand. And request one of the ‘pink’ rooms for a view of this terrace – all of the bedrooms come with Bluetooth speakers, minibars and blackout drapes, with interconnecting and accessible spaces available. Tuck into some moussaka or mezze at The Calile’s Greek eatery, Hellenika, then finish your night with cocktails in the Lobby Bar.

Elegant and timeless, The Langham Melbourne welcomes its guests via a grand lobby with high ceilings and chandeliers. If you plan on staying here, do partake of its famous signature afternoon tea, served in the elegant Tea Lounge. The in-house Chuan Spa offers a range of holistic treatments inspired by traditional Chinese medicine. And there are two places to eat; Melba Restaurant for fine international cuisine (with river views through floor-to-ceiling windows and cookery views through a glass kitchen), and Aria Bar and Lounge for a more casual atmosphere with a focus on cocktails and light bites.

Hidden in the Hinterland of Mullumbimby Creek, beside Mount Koonyum, this adults-only estate is made up of low rise pavilions. The site was originally a banana plantation and many of the original materials have been salvaged and reused in the build of Blackbird. Its resulting aesthetic is earthy and simple, yet stylish. Accommodations come with Egyptian cotton linen, burnished concrete floors, reclaimed timber joinery and Moroccan tiled bathrooms A magnesium lap pool was built into the mountainside and provides enviable ocean vistas, Named in Tatler’s 2020 annual travel guide as one of the ‘Top 101 Hotels in the World’, Blackbird is one not to miss.

Laidback luxury is the philosophy at this guest house in the centre of Byron Bay. It offers TV-free accommodation for over 21s only, with the option of a private plunge pool, lighthouse view, outdoor showers and claw-footed tubs. Owner and interior designer Deb Garske has created a slow living feel, incorporating wellness touches like local beeswax candles, Hunter lab skincare and an immune-strengthening Grander water system, as well as a personally curated local guidebook. Breakfast here is typical of Byron, with paleo granola, organic yoghurt and moonshine coffee appearing on the menu. Guests at 28 Degrees have shared access to a gourmet kitchen, a pool area and a reading room.

Deep in the Derwent Valley of New Norfolk, lies this Georgian mansion turned boutique hotel. Its public rooms have a traditional country house feel, with the eight bedrooms decorated to fit a contemporary vibe. Guests can also use the library, sauna, a hot tub and access the river from the hotel’s own pontoon. Pretty gardens wind down to the water, breakfast is taken buffet style and a set dinner is served on request. Like the Islington, Woodbridge On The Derwent is exclusively for an adult clientele and is a great choice for those seeking an intimate, high-end home from home experience.

The Darling at The Star Gold Coast has 56 luxurious suites from 70 to 328msq with stylish décor and incredible views from the Penthouse Suites. Guests can enjoy a selection of delicious dishes from the comfort of their own rooms thanks to the on-demand in-room dining. This hotel features a shimmering pool for guests to enjoy and the fully equipped Azure Spa & Fitness facilities which features six treatment rooms including an exclusive outdoor cabana and 24-hour gymnasium access. There is a wide range of eateries on site which serve flavours from all over the world from Japanese specialities at Kiyomi to Italian delicacies at Cucina Vivo. The Darling at The Star is also home to an exciting casino which is open all day every day and has a whole host of games to play and win. The hotel makes for the perfect location to host any occasion in one of its chic event spaces which can hold up to 2,300 persons.

This elegant hotel was established more than a hundred years ago and is the place in Perth where history meets luxury. The hotel occupies the former Treasury, Lands and Titles offices and General Post Office and many of the original tiles and other fixtures and fittings have been retained while guests are also treated to plenty of opulence. The hotel is perfectly positioned in the very heart of Perth and just a short stroll from a large number of prominent attractions, while there are 48 different spacious guest rooms to choose from. Those who want to swim laps will be treated to full use of the indoor pool and there is also a gym and sauna on the site.

The award-winning Capella Sydney is housed in the historic, heritage-listed Department of Education building. This eight-story, five-star hotel boasts 192 guestrooms and suites – each decorated with a harmonious blend of historical and contemporary. The hotel offers four opulent prestige suites – the Capella, Farrer, Liberty, and MacQuarie Suite – each uniquely designed to provide a spacious, serene haven and panoramic views. This hotel never sleeps and offers 24-hour hotel service, in-room dining, and access to the world-class Wellness centre which includes heated indoor swimming pool and vitality pool as well as a fully equipped fitness centre. Guests can savour exquisite gastronomy in Brasserie 1930 and Aperture or opt to indulge in a signature cocktail in McRae Bar. Capella Sydney is home to sophisticated event spaces that are perfect for catered business events for up to 80 persons, and even lavish weddings, in any of their high-tech, classic function rooms.

Despite only having 31 rooms, there’s a lot going on in the Establishment so if you’re looking for a quiet stay, this hotel is not your best choice. Previously a department store dating to 1890, the building is in a discreet street 5 minutes from Circular Quay. More like an entertainment venue than a hotel, the rooms interconnect with three restaurants, three bars and a nightclub. Rooms are either dark or light with exposed brick walls, parquetry floors, contemporary furnishings and great technology including unlimited Netflix. Dining options range from fine dining to sushi to bar snacks. If you don’t want to head out in the evening, there’s food and drink aplenty as well as the call of the bright lights of the nightclub.

Attracting A-listers like Bruce Springsteen and David Beckham into its three penthouse suites, this property is set on the buzzy Chapel Street. The hotel has been around for decades, but took on a new personality under Sofitel, blending contemporary and retro elements in a fashion-forward approach. It has a breakfast brasserie and a bar, as well as room service, with lunch and evening restaurants plentiful in its neighbourhood vicinity. Be sure to make use of the heated pool on the top floor and look out for the signature rubber duck in the bathrooms; a nod to The Como’s quirky heritage.

This Art Deco-era Heritage Building took on new life welcoming high-end travellers in 2015. It is found in the hub of the city, the central business district, and is a serene, sophisticated and plush oasis. Guests can expect to find L’Occitane toiletries, a minibar stocked with complimentary local treats and media hubs and standard; those staying in the Executive category suites also benefit from Nespresso machines, a daily fruit bowl and local chocolates at turndown. The restaurant, with a menu featuring the likes of steak, seafood and caviar, is located in the basement, while the opulent Hennessy Bar occupies the Mayfair’s 13th floor rooftop.