The hotel boom can be felt across Sydney. Everything from boutique hotels to big resorts, there is something for everyone on every budget.
The humble hotel is also reinventing itself. While minibars and room service are staples, visitors will find apartment-style hotels, equipped with slick kitchenettes in rooms and slick bars on the rooftop.
But it’s not just the CBD which is home to fantastic new properties – Sydney’s west, Northern Beaches and Eastern Suburbs are now home great options for those looking for something different.
For a slick stay
In May 2022, Ace Hotel will take up residence in the hip inner-city suburb of Surry Hills. Situated in the Tyne House brick factory, the hotel will boast 264 rooms, a ground-floor restaurant and cafe and a further restaurant and bar on its rooftop.
Ace Hotels currently exist across North America and Japan, and is known for accommodation sporting eclectic design and vibrant communal spaces.
Rooms go all the way from small studios to the 78-square-metre ace suite which features everything from a flatscreen television and king bed to an Ace x Rega turntable and acoustic guitar. Rates start from $249 per night.
Opening this month in Sydney is Aiden Darling Harbour, a 1930s Art Deco building that’s been transformed into a modern boutique hotel. Aiming to strike the magical balance between luxurious and affordable, the hotel packs in 88 rooms, as well as a cafe and bar.
Comfort is at the forefront of your stay with a pillow menu, a meditation channel and blackout blinds acting as your lullaby for a satisfying sleep.
Location-wise you’re tucked neatly into Darling Harbour, meaning you have plenty of restaurants and activities around, as well as being only a short walk into the city.
While you won’t have a shortage of restaurants and bars around but if you are looking for something to nibble or sip on site, you’ll have the Wayfarer’s Bar & Café, which serves filling breakfast and quick bites by day and becomes a slick and sophisticated wine bar by night. Opening rates start from $249 per night.
For families
Opening earlier this year and focused on the concept of hotel living, A by Adina is in Sydney’s CBD. It’s home to Australia’s first Sky Lobby, which stands 100 metres above the street and provides a unique pitstop on your way to one of the 194 apartments.
Expect all the imagined amenities, with a 24-hour reception, indoor heated mineral pool, gym, complimentary wi-fi and secure parking.
However, one of the star attractions is sitting high in the sky, with cocktail bar Dean & Nancy on 22, sitting 22 storeys up. The bar is inspired by the moody, smoky bars of the 1950s with cocktails and food to match.
For room options you can opt for a studio, studio executive, one-bedroom apartment, one bedroom with balcony or two-bedroom apartment. Prices start from $239 per night.
The William Inglish Hotel in Warwick Farm celebrates Australia’s racing history and thoroughbred industry. The boutique five-star hotel has 144 guest rooms and each room is named after champion racehorses sold through the Inglis’ sales ring. Artwork includes even the race-winning jockeys’ silks.
The biggest room is the presidential suite – a 30-square-metre room that is named after Australian champion Black Caviar. Along with the presidential suite on level eight is the rooftop bar and pool deck that overlooks the Warwick Farm racecourse.
Onsite, there is also a day spa with five treatment rooms, all-day dining at the Newmarket Room and a lovely whisky and wine bar.
Ultimate luxury
Head about an hour’s drive north of Sydney for a genuine city escape. The second instalment of Wild Luxury properties, Crane Lodge, is a luxury eco-retreat amongst the greenery and serenity of Sydney’s upper Northern Beaches.
The properties sit surrounded by nature, yet still only a short journey from Pittwater, Avalon and Palm Beach – perfect if you want some sand and waves.
Designed as a place to recharge, depending on what you’re looking for in your stay, Wild Luxury can arrange private yoga, onsite chefs or a visit from a masseuse or beautician.
Within the property lies five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a heated swimming pool and cedar hot tub, a yoga and meditation deck and long-stretching views enclosed in vegetation. Prices start from $2200 per night.
There’s been a lot of hype around Sydney’s first six-star hotel, Crown Sydney. And it lives up to its reputation, featuring 349 rooms (including 22 villas) plus an array of blockbuster food and drink venues, including a branch of celebrity favourite Nobu and 13 other glamorous options.
Additional big-hotel features include an expansive spa, a large outdoor pool with harbour views and even a tennis court. Crown Sydney is housed in Sydney’s tallest building at the newly developed Barangaroo waterfront precinct, with some of the plush guest rooms featuring views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Prices start from $869 per night.
Friend getaways
The Blue Hotel in Bondi is young but lively, offering a stay right on the doorstep of one of Sydney and Australia’s prime attractions, Bondi Beach.
The Blue Hotel aims to jump out at the less conventional travellers, for those looking to mix adventure, home-style accommodation and five-star service all in one.
You can enjoy complimentary cocktails after 5pm, digital check-in and a series of art installations from local artists.
The rooms are designed to reflect the fun and relaxed nature of Bondi, with vibrant designs and colours with options ranging from modest yet sleek suites to the extra-large penthouse.
Onsite there’s both Blue Cafe and Italo House, so you’re equally sorted for a nourishing breakfast as you are for a woodfired pizza come dinner time. Prices start from $200 per night.
In Sydney’s Inner West, the Crowne Plaza Sydney Burwood recently joined the InterContinental Hotels stable. The hotel boasts a chic rooftop Skye Bar; a trendy restaurant serving wood-fired and charcoal-roasted fare; and characterful guest rooms featuring potted plants and marble bathrooms.
Burwood, a 30-minute drive from central Sydney and with a regular train service to the city, is home to a thriving Asian foodie scene. Head to Burwood Chinatown, a slick alleyway development on Burwood Road near Railway Parade to find more than two dozen hawker-style eateries offering plenty of options for dinner. Prices start from $170 per night.
Business and pleasure
After it’s great success in Canberra, the Little National has opened its doors in the Sydney CBD. Known for its compact Scandinavian design, in your room you’ll find T2 teas, free wi-fi and movies, products from Apelles Apothecary & Lab, a feature window wall and virtual mini bar.
The hotel is off to a flying start – it was crowned with a TripAdvisor ‘Best of the Best’ award in 2021, meaning it’s in the top one per cent of properties worldwide.
Outside of your room you’ll find a prime location with easy access to Sydney’s hotspots including Barangaroo, Martin Place and Wynyard station.
There are a range of restaurants nearby or the hotel is also happy to help you order as you please and bring it straight to your super-size king bed. There’s also a fantastic business centre, which has an outdoor lounge and winter garden, and large expansive communal workstations. Prices start from $180 per night.
Just a 10-minute drive from Sydney Airport, the Veriu Green Square brings sophisticated apartment-style accommodation which straddles parts of the inner-city suburbs of Beaconsfield, Zetland, Alexandria, Rosebery and Waterloo.
The 144 guest rooms feature kitchens, coffee machines and space to spread out and work, while the shared amenities include a gym and bar plus extensive business facilities. The hotel is around halfway between the airport and the city centre and is close to the parks and hidden-gem restaurants of Redfern and Alexandria. Prices start from $249 per night.