Our Shortlist of the 17 Best Hotels in Sydney’s CBD
Sydney’s CBD is at a unique vantage point for appreciating the city's greatest asset: the glittering, sprawling harbour. In this tight knot of heritage-fronted buildings and water-edged pockets, tourists and locals bustle in via land and sea, some aboard the emblematic ferries that dock in the shadow of the Sydney Opera House at Circular Quay, some drive over the iconic leap of the beloved Harbour Bridge. The best hotels in Sydney’s CBD invite this varied beauty in, sometimes with a stunning view from a swimming pool or a simple design nod to the creative scene in a buzzy lobby bar. Here are our favourites.
Capella Sydney
1/18Sydney has a new address for luxury: Circular Quay’s Capella Sydney. A light-flushed, art-tinged revival of what was largely hidden from public view behind a Edwardian Baroque-style sandstone facade, the hotel is a feather in the cap of Sydney’s luxury accommodation scene. The tranquil spa — which has an intimate trio of treatment rooms, plus one for a couple — is a stunning place to start your journey, followed by a lunch of whole duck at Brasserie 1930 and an evening cocktails and canapes session in the Lobby Living Room.
Read our review of Capella Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Image credit: Anson Smart
Ace Hotel Sydney
2/18Sydney's been aching for a stay like Ace Hotel Sydney, a retro-feel spot that’s as laidback as its leather, 70s-inspired sunken lobby lounges. Designed in partnership with Flack Studio, Ace's interiors loop around a colour palette that evokes the Australian Outback, giving it a distinctive local flair. Although rooms have hunker-down features like turntables and private terraces, it's the common spaces you'll really love — the on-site Loam fits right into the cool cohort of surrounding Surry Hills eateries and the crowning eatery, Kiln, is already one of the city’s hottest spots to dine.
Read our review of Ace Hotel Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Little National Hotel Sydney
3/18Canberra’s original Little National is known for its soothing minimalism. And at Little National Hotel Sydney, there are the same cosy bed nooks alongside picture windows and other extras that signal the same low-key luxury: Appelles amenities, mink robes and teapots for T2 brews. One thing that sets it apart from its Canberra cousin? The incredible rooftop bar that casts a glance over the CBD’s glittering skyline.
Read our review of Little National Hotel Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Earn or use Qantas Points when you book hotels and accommodation. Visit qantas.com/hotels today
A By Adina Sydney
4/18It’s the little things that make the difference, as “aparthotel” A By Adina Sydney attests. Sleek, contemporary rooms have all the conveniences of an apartment – such as an in-room washing machine and kitchenette – along with extras that tip it into a higher hotel category (exquisitely soft beds and those oh-so-fancy toiletries). The crowning glory of this 22-level highrise property is the excellent Dean & Nancy on 22, which celebrates the glory days of the hotel bar with an inventive cocktail menu and impressive views of CBD Sydney.
Read our review of A By Adina Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
5/18Much was made of Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour when it opened its doors in 2017 and six years later, it still deserves the attention. There are three bars (and one restaurant) here, including the ever-sophisticated Champagne Bar, an ideal place to peer out over the sparkling city lights at sundown. Add this elevated drinking den to spacious, homey rooms, a stunning rooftop infinity pool and that all-important aspect out over Darling Harbour and you’ve got one of the buzziest stays in Sydney.
Read our review of Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
QT Sydney
6/18You could stay at QT Sydney for the location – it is, after all, smack bang in middle of the CBD – but it’s the OTT interiors you’ll really fall in love with. Everything from the spa to the almost gold-dipped interiors of on-site Italian Parlour Cucina bear an unapologetic sense of excess. Our advice? Grab a glass of champagne from the hotel’s award-winning wine list and lap it all up.
Read our review of QT Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Book your flight + hotel together and save. Visit qantas.com/holidays today
Shangri-La Sydney
7/18Even non-guests make the trip to the Shangri-La Sydney, an extravagant hotel that looms over a corner of Circular Quay. Celebratory groups flock to Blu Bar on 36, a bar and restaurant with staggering views of Sydney Harbour but it isn’t the only spot from which to admire the surrounding view. Each hotel room, complete with a marble bathroom and pillow menu, is oriented towards the water to capitalise on the city’s best asset.
Read our review of Shangri-La Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Swissôtel Sydney
8/18It’s a big call to say Swissôtel Sydney offers a stay for every kind of traveller. Need a great base for a city-centric jaunt? It’s mere metres from Pitt Street Mall and Sydney Town Hall. Ready for relaxation? Hit the heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi, open from dawn until dusk. Tots in tow? Ask for the Kids Room, which comes decked out with play tents and patterned doona covers.
Read our review of Swissôtel Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
9/18The distinctive skyline of Sydney Harbour takes centre stage at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, which towers over nearby Circular Quay and the city’s historical The Rocks precinct. You’ll see the five-star reputation across every aspect of the property: from the plush rooms decked in premium velvet and linen, to the inclusions of an on-site pool, spa and gym, as well as panoramic views over the world-famous harbour.
Read our review of Four Seasons Hotel Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Earn or use Qantas Points when you book hotels and accommodation. Visit qantas.com/hotels today
Crown Towers Sydney
10/18If marble means opulence, there’s a heap of both at Crown Towers Sydney in Barangaroo. This sculptural high-rise, which twists into the air above Darling Harbour, is populated by room, suite and villa room types, all of which include Grown Alchemist toiletries, Nespresso machines and, of course, access to that glistening infinity pool that seems to leap off the edge of level five.
Read our review of Crown Towers Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Image credit: Supplied
The Grace Sydney
11/18Take a step back in time with a stay amidst the opulent neo-Gothic architecture of The Grace Sydney, a hotel housed in one of Sydney’s best-preserved historical buildings. Although rooms are refreshingly simple, led by a simple colour palette of whites and chocolate browns, the entrance, lobby and hallways retain all the character of its 1920s heritage: angular Art Deco light fixtures, geometric tile patterns and soaring ceilings.
Read our review of The Grace Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Fullerton Hotel Sydney
12/18Anchored by a stunning glass atrium, the five-star Fullerton Hotel is just as grand as its international outposts. What makes the Sydney property special, however, is its location. Housed in the former GPO Building edging Martin Place, almost everything the harbour city has to offer is within walking distance, from the Art Gallery of NSW to the harbour views of Circular Quay, which are both 15 minutes away by foot. Leaving is optional, of course — the on-site restaurant, bar or the luxurious spa are worth a turn (or two).
Read our review of Fullerton Hotel Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Book your flight + hotel together and save. Visit qantas.com/holidays today
Image credit: Justin Nicholas
Hilton Hotel Sydney
13/18Although tempting, confinement to your spacious room at Hilton Hotel Sydney would be a shame – the best amenities of this glossy George Street stay are scattered elsewhere. The hotel, which sits just across from the QVB, boasts the country’s largest hotel gym, as well as an on-site spa, soothing sauna and steam room. There’s a cluster of atmospheric bars and a restaurant – including the unmissable Zeta Bar, perched on a rooftop – and a languid lap of the 25-metre indoor pool before breakfast is practically a must.
Read our review of Hilton Hotel Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
West Hotel Sydney
14/18What’s done at King Street Wharf’s West Hotel Sydney is done well. Most notably, the treasure of a garden hidden behind the bar and restaurant, perfect for remote working or a relaxed morning coffee. The boldly decorated and well-equipped rooms deserve a mention, too, thanks to comfy king size beds, Bluetooth speakers, eco-friendly, pod-powered coffee machines. as well as complimentary snacks and bottled water.
Read our review of West Hotel Sydney (Curio Collection by Hilton) and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney
15/18A little bit of luxury goes a long way at Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney, near Wynyard and Circular Quay. The requisite robe and slippers are here, as are blackout drapes, bathtubs and an on-site spa. The hotel’s eatery, Croft Restaurant, is a welcome surprise, too – the locally sourced ingredients are given a warm, rustic feel in the form of dishes such as Black Angus grain-fed beef eye fillet with portobello mushroom and roquefort blue.
Read our review of Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Earn or use Qantas Points when you book hotels and accommodation. Visit qantas.com/hotels today
The Star Grand
16/18You’d have to make a concerted effort to experience everything on offer at The Star Grand, a luxe stay within Pyrmont’s The Star complex. There are upmarket eateries (Sokyo, BLACK Bar and Grill, Flying Fish), casual bites (Din Tai Fung, Messina), theatre performances, a glittering casino and the indulgent Darling Spa. Leaving is optional.
Read our review of The Star Grand Hotel and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
Vibe Hotel Sydney
17/18While the rooms are spacious and thoughtfully designed, it’s the location of Vibe Hotel Sydney, which occupies a corner on Goulburn and Elizabeth Streets, that’s the real drawcard. It’s close to both Sydney CBD – it’s a 15-minute walk to central Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall – and Surry Hills, one of the city’s most exciting dining neighbourhoods, scattered with wine bars, of-the-moment restaurants and vintage stores.
Read our review of Vibe Hotel Sydney and earn 3 Qantas Points per $1 spent when you book your next stay in Sydney.
