The Best Luxury Hotels in Sydney for a High-End Stay

Foodies, hold on to your chopsticks: the Darling’s dining options will blow you away. Try Sokyo, serving a blend of Sydney and Tokyo cuisine (it’s in the name) with a sophisticated menu designed by ex-Nobu chef Chase Kojima. Slope upstairs afterwards to luxury rooms featuring 1,000-spring king-size beds, bespoke art works, marble bathrooms and rain showers. Wake up rested, ready to burn off the night before. Grab a running map from the front desk, or enjoy laps in the outdoor heated pool. Spend the rest of the day in the Darling Spa equipped with a Moroccan hammam, steam room and jacuzzi.

Like your hotels with a side of history? The Primus Hotel Sydney is in a heritage-listed building in midtown Sydney first erected in 1939. Original features – such as the striking terracotta-tiled facade and panelled skylight in the grand lobby – were restored in all their Art Deco glory in 2015. Upstairs, 172 generously sized rooms and suites combine modern design details with heaps of historic charm. Deluxe rooms have a king bed, writing desk and chaise lounge, plus walk-in shower and Appelles toiletries. There’s also an all-day dining restaurant and a New York-style rooftop pool; the lobby bar is the place to be for a classic high tea or cocktail hour, or both.

Arrive at the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park on a Sunday and you’ll see well-dressed diners gathered around the grazing table, couples taking advantage of the free-flowing champagne and multigenerational families wrestling with giant crustaceans. Like the Grand Sunday brunch, the hotel itself feels both formal and relaxed. Many of its rooms come with gorgeous views of Hyde Park. For those looking to experience the best of Sydney, this grand old dame is in prime position.

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour won Best Luxury Hotel in Australia 2019 at the prestigious HM Awards for a multitude of reasons. The design was inspired by the port city Marseille and the indigenous clans of the Eora nation – the traditional owners of the land. Rooms here are flooded with natural light and benefit from views over Darling Harbour, an area of Sydney that has reinvented itself in recent years. There’s a French restaurant, Atelier, and an outdoor infinity pool overlooking the harbour.

This luxurious hotel gives you the key to the door of Double Bay, a ritzy beachside suburb dotted with boutiques, cool cafes and cocktail bars. Relax in a poolside lounger on the rooftop while watching the tiny yachts tack across the harbour. Later, enjoy happy-hour drinks in the Gatsby-esque Stillery Bar. If you have time, pencil in high tea, considered one of the best in Sydney; they even offer a children’s version, as well as vegan options.

The Park Hyatt is one of Sydney’s most luxurious hotels. It’s tucked underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with most rooms, the restaurant and rooftop pool looking across the water to the beloved Sydney Opera House. To make your stay extra special, check into the hotel’s spacious Opera Suite, with six balconies, each offering outstanding views. Pamper yourself in the spa with an Australian clay and hot oil massage, guaranteed to release any muscular tension.

When boutique hopping along Pitt Street becomes too much, retreat to Kitchens on Kent for lunch. The restaurant (and its afternoon tea) is reason enough to book into the Langham Sydney, as is the Observatory Bar, which serves the best Australian wines and beers, plus an array of carefully concocted cocktails. Rooms are bright and spacious, with sleek marble bathrooms and soft bathrobes to snuggle up in. Tennis fans will be pleased to hear there is a championship court, just across the road, available to use for a small fee.

Spicers Potts Point tells the architectural story of the city. It’s housed within a trio of dinky 19th-century Victorian terraces, complete with cornicing and elaborate wrought-iron railings. Enjoy the well-stocked honesty bar in the 20-room hotel, which also has a hidden courtyard garden. If you’re visiting on a Saturday, wander around Kings Cross Farmers’ Market. Mardi Gras is the perfect time to book; the morning after, you’ll find men and women dancing down the street, heels in hand, after the biggest night on the LGBTQ calendar.

Located near Sydney’s Royal Botanical Gardens, Ovolo Wooloomooloo comes with waterfront views across the colourful flora and fauna. The building’s original industrial features include high ceilings and exposed metal beams offset by bright, bespoke design choices. Rooms are kitted out with all the latest tech – think iPads, Apple TVs, Alexas and Nespresso machines – plus there’s a 24-hour indoor pool and gym waiting downstairs whenever you start feeling restless. For a truly one-of-a-kind experience, book yourself into the rock’n’roll-themed Ultraroo Suite, a loft space that includes a private (and free) cocktail bar, a unique play area, plus free snacks and an upgraded minibar.

Ask the dapper concierge at the Hilton Sydney what to do and see, and they will likely point you to the striking sculptures within the nearby Royal Botanic Garden or recommend a bottomless brunch at the hotel’s Glass Brasserie. Run by Aussie restaurateur Luke Mangan, it serves up a world-class brunch, with the barramundi, saffron mussels and fig, peach and blackberry pavlova particular highlights. You can also take a dip in the indoor pool or, if sightseeing doesn’t tire you out enough, sign up to one of the many classes offered at the gym.