Best Luxury Hotels in Sydney CBD

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour is a luxurious, waterside haven with the essence of French influence present in design and feel. There are 590 luminous guestrooms and suites boasting spectacular views of the harbour, Jones Bay, and the city from floor-to-ceiling windows. The award-winning Atelier by Sofitel serves a range of French culinary experiences made with locally sourced produce while anything from coffee and croissants to tantalising tipples can be found at the elegant on-site establishments – Le Rivage Pool Bar, Champagne Bar, Lumière on Thirty Five, and Esprit Noir Lobby Bar. This sophisticated hotel is an ideal location for hosting your dream wedding but especially for conducting business – with the International Convention Centre just across the street and a wide range of meeting and event spaces on offer. Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour also features state-of-the-art spa and wellness facilities including a fitness centre complete with Peloton Bikes and a towering infinity pool.

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.

InterContinental Sydney, housed in the historical Treasury Building of 1851, seamlessly blends all of today’s comfort with the proud heritage of the hotel. This luxury stay boasts 509 beautifully decorated guestrooms and suites including 28 deluxe suites and an award-winning Club InterContinental lounge. The hotel prides itself on stunning views of iconic Sydney landmarks including the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge – it is no wonder it is included in the impressive luxury portfolio of IHG Hotels. There are top-of-the-range wellness and leisure facilities including a 31-story-high indoor, heated swimming pool overlooking the Sydney Opera House. Intercontinental Sydney offers a range of elegant local and international dining experiences, plush social spaces, and a host of function spaces – perfect for hosting MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events, celebrations, and weddings – with a selection of exquisite packages on offer and a glamourous Vera Wang bridal boutique.

Ace Hotel Sydney offers unique accommodation in Surry Hills with modern and casual interior design in a great location – on the edge of the Central Business District. There are plenty of comfortable options when it comes to guestrooms and suites including the option of a luminous terrace or the spacious Loft Suite. Guests can choose between a selection of excellent dining and bar options from – LOAM, Good Chemistry, The Lobby cocktail bar and the spectacular rooftop restaurant, Kiln. The hotel is also home to a number of meeting and event spaces for any occasion from a boardroom conference to a grandiose wedding day – the team are on hand to help with organisation and offer group bookings. Ace Hotel Sydney is within walking distance form Hyde Park and a short distance from Central Station to make getting around and exploring Sydney convenient and comfortable.

W Sydney, a new luxury hotel set in the distinctive Ribbon structure over Darling Harbour, is designed by the renowned Australian firm Hassell and features interiors by Bowler James Brindley. The design reflects Sydney’s maritime heritage with nautical-themed rooms, and its larrikin spirit seen in vibrant and unconventional spaces like the Living Room, which is reimagined as a social hub with electric blue décor and nest-like seating. The hotel offers 588 marine-inspired guestrooms, including 162 suites, and embraces a ‘Future Noir’ theme across various spaces. W Sydney enhances the local dining and nightlife with its four new venues, including BTWN which features local produce and a late-night dessert bar in collaboration with Janice Wong. Additional amenities include the AWAY Spa for relaxation, a well-equipped FIT Gym, and the WET Deck for poolside leisure, all contributing to the hotel’s dynamic and inclusive atmosphere that celebrates Sydney’s energetic culture.

Best described as quirky, this luxury hotel with 189 rooms sits on the waterfront with incredible views of the Harbour Bridge and Walsh Bay. Pier One is a great base for tourists being only a 5-minute walk from The Rocks and King George V Memorial Park. Rooms are modern, spacious, and stylish with large picture windows, while suites boast waterfront terraces. The excellent restaurant and bar also have fabulous views and there’s also a barbecue restaurant right on the harbour. Guests can enjoy leisure time in a well-equipped fitness centre. This pet-friendly hotel also has plenty of meeting facilities for business travellers.

A stroll away from Darling Harbour in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, the Hyatt Regency is the ideal choice for leisure and business travellers. This is Australia’s largest hotel (892 air-conditioned rooms) and pitched at the top end of the conference and business market and facilities are mainly aimed at business customers or customers who want a luxurious base for sightseeing without too many on-site facilities. There are excellent conference facilities and the hotel is only 15 minutes walk from the International Convention Centre. The Sailmaker restaurant serves delicious food and guests can enjoy fabulous views while sipping a cocktail in the Zephyr sky bar or a workout in two fitness rooms.

Located in the heart of the city, Kimpton Margot Sydney, is a treasured icon reimagined. The hotel combines art deco heritage with eclectic style and the result is guaranteed to delight guests. Guest rooms are modern with plush beds, stylish bathrooms, art-lined walls and even include a yoga mat! The hotel presents four restaurants each offering a myriad of dining experiences; from refined drinks and light bites in the elegant 1930s-style cocktail bar through to the flagship restaurant, helmed by renowned Australian chef, Luke Mangan. The hotel very much embraces a social spirit hosting nightly drinks receptions, pop-up events and much more. For energetic guests, there is a fully equipped on-site fitness centre with the latest Technogym machines and custom-designed Kimpton Lekker bikes for riding around town are available upon request. The rooftop swimming pool is the perfect place for a sun-soaked swim or simply a place to enjoy city views in style and comfort.

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.

If your taste in hotels runs to the quirky and hip, QT will not disappoint. Two historic buildings from 1920 have been merged and converted to form quite an amazing space. Recreating a 20s Broadway musical vibe, QT also enjoys a favourable location in the heart of Sydney’s shopping district. A dazzling mix of 20s, Gothic and Italianate on the outside, inside the 200 rooms are once both luxurious and high-tech. High design, antiques and original artworks and installations are everywhere including in the European-style brasserie, street-side café, and intimate lounge which boasts an enticing cocktail menu, Guests can chill out in the boudoir-inspired QSpa under ceilings of stained glass which offers a range of treatments including specials for couples, Hamman and relaxation lounge.

Enjoying one of the best locations in the city, the 5*Park Hyatt is luxury in every sense. Boasting views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, the S-shaped hotel hugs the cove of Dawes Point. Sophisticated and elegant, the large rooms are finished in neutral earthy tones and have big picture windows, marble bathrooms, and the latest in-room technology. The jewel of this hotel is undoubtedly its rooftop pool and terrace with incredible views. Other leisure facilities include a spa with a full menu of treatments and a fitness centre. Dining comes with a view in two restaurants, while the bar welcomes you in for a casual drink and some light bites.

A boutique hotel in a converted wool store with a sense of fun, the Ovolo 1888 is ideally located in Darling Harbour next to Barangaroo Park, a superb base for exploring the delights of Sydney. Inside the original fixtures of the wool store are on display in the public areas and rooms with rough-hewn beams, exposed brick, and pipes all incorporated into the décor, along with quirky artefacts and the silver eggs (ovo) of the brand’s signature emblem. Rooms include furniture made from original ironbark beans and screen prints of works by Aussie wunderkind Jasper Knight and range from shoebox to suite with sun terrace. The hotel bistro and bar is an eclectic rendition of industrial chic meets vintage and serves Mediterranean cuisine. Enjoy a free happy hour every day.